Indiana's Adam Judge sets Big Ten hammer record

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana's Adam Judge knew he only had once chance to make his presence felt at the Big Ten track and field championships.
So he made sure he left Minnesota's Bierman Track and Field Stadium Friday with his name in the conference record books.
Judge, who transferred from Southern Illinois to compete for the Hoosiers in his senior season, won the hammer throw on Friday -- the first day of competition -- and smashed the meet record by five feet with a throw of 223-5. He posted the sixth best throw in the nation this year.
"When I let that throw go, I knew it was going to be a big one," he said. "It felt fast, and I thought it might be the winner."
Judge's title helped Indiana to 22 points Friday, giving the Hoosiers a four-point lead over Ohio State, who used a win from junior Derrick Butler in the 10,000-meter run to move into second.
On the women's side, defending champion Michigan also rode a meet record in the hammer throw to an early lead, using senior April Phillips' 199-3 mark as part of a 25-point first day.
The Wolverines, who received second and third-place finishes in the 10,000-meter run from freshman Rebecca Walter and sophomore Chelsea Loomis, lead Penn State by six points.