Runners get involved in Big Ten spirit

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WISH) - Hours before Minnesota and Ohio State tipped off inside Conseco Fieldhouse Sunday hundreds of basketball fans laced up their shoes for a 5K run.

This is the second annual Big Ten Hoops Day 5K Run. It's part of the festivities leading up to the Men's Big Ten Championship.

"We had over 12 hundred pre-register which is up from last year and a couple of people showed up this morning to run," said John Dedman with Indiana Sports Corporation.

Hundreds of runners and walkers represented 11 Big Ten Schools. Michael Suer took the challenge supporting Purdue with his girlfriend.

"It's a lot of fun, we’ve been looking forward to this for a couple of weeks,” said Suer. “We're both really big into it.”

Organizers said the run is more than celebrating school pride.

"It's just another great event that really celebrates two weeks of Big Ten Basketball here in Indianapolis as well as a nice fitness aspect," said Dedman.

"When we went after this bid, for the 2008-2012 Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments we really promised a two week celebration of Big Ten Basketball and that's what we've done," Dedman said.

WISH-TV is a proud sponsor of the Big Ten Hoops Day 5K.

Ryan Wells of Fishers, Indiana came in first place. 24 Hour News 8 Photo-journalist Kevin Stinson also participated in the run.