BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Lindsey Gallo etched her name into the University of Michigan record book at the Big 10 Conference Track and Field Championships.
Gallo, a senior with junior eligibility, became the first Wolverine to win both the 800- and 1,500-meter titles at the Big 10 meet. The former Howell High School state champion is only the fourth athlete in Big 10 history to accomplish the middle distance double.
"That is really exciting, because I know the caliber of runners we have had here at Michigan in the past," Gallo said of her historic double. "I feel very proud to be able to do this for our team this weekend.
"I am very excited," she added. "I would have been overjoyed with one and surprised with one. To get two is very exciting. I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet."
Gallo’s double helped Michigan win its third straight conference title with 148 points. The Big 10 Championships were held May 14-16 at Purdue University in West LaFayette, Ind.
First up on the schedule for Gallo was the 1,500 final. She used a big kick in the final 50 meters to win the race in 4:24.37, just ahead of Wisconsin’s Hillary Edmondson (4:25.23). This was Gallo’s first-ever individual Big 10 victory and it snapped Wisconsin’s 17-year win streak at these championships in the metric mile. The streak started in 1987 with Suzy Favor Hamilton’s first of four straight wins.
"Wisconsin has won the past 17 years, so it is really cool to be able to break that streak," Gallo remarked. "I have been training for this for a long time. It is really exciting to finally do it.
"Our team has been doing so well, it is very inspiring to watch them perform, so you feel that you need to step up and do your part to win the team title," she added. "I was just doing my part."
Gallo, runner-up in the one-mile run at the Big 10 indoor championships this winter, used the first three laps of the 1,500 to set herself up for a last lap sprint. With 400 meters to go, Gallo turned it on and took the lead with Edmondson the only runner in the final following her.
Edmondson, looking to extend the Badgers’ winning streak, would not let Gallo get any separation. She stayed with her Wolverine rival down the back straight and into the far turn. The Badger took the lead exiting the last turn with 100 meters to go. But Gallo, whose 800 running during the indoor season restored the confidence she had in her kick while dominating high school runners at Howell, flew by Edmondson in the final 50 meters to win that elusive first Big 10 crown.
Having bagged one title, it was time for a second.
In the 800, Gallo was on the other side of a winning streak. Michigan runners had won the last five outdoor 800 meter titles, and the Wolverines were looking to her for points and to continue the streak.
A pedestrian first lap of 66.5 played right into Gallo’s hand. Despite having extended herself earlier in the day in the 1,500, the easy opening 400 kept her and her kick in the race.
Gallo took the lead on the backstretch and gradually pulled away from the field, posting a 2:07.02 for her victory.
"I would have to say that this race was the easier of the two today," said Gallo. "The first lap came through very slow, something like 66.5, which really helped me because I had just run. I felt really strong and I was positioned perfectly at the 400 mark.
"I slowly began to move up and made my move with 300 to go, and with 200 to go I began to pull away," she added. "It wasn’t quite as stressful as the 1,500."
Gallo was pleased to keep the Wolverines’ streak alive.
"It is pretty exciting to have that sort of dynasty going," she pointed out. "I was able to continue the tradition, but we still have [injured] Katie Erdman for the next three years, so I don’t see this streak ending any time soon."
Mike McGuire, the assistant head coach of the Wolverines, said that this was a breakout meet for Gallo.
"It was her best performance at this level for sure," he noted. "I hope we can use this as a springboard into her final season next year."
Head coach James Henry was equally impressed.
"She dedicated the races to Katie Erdman, who was not able to compete this weekend," he said. "She had to step in and do something inhuman. I was totally impressed with what she was able to do for us this weekend. She is my athlete of the meet."
Next up for Gallo and the Wolverines are the NCAA Regionals that start May 28 in Baton Rouge, La., home to Louisiana State University. Gallo has posted an NCAA Qualifier for both the 800 and 1,500.