University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA LEADS BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER TWO DAYS
5/22/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
University of Minnesota junior Staffan Strand won his sixth consecutive Big Ten high jump title with a height of 7-4 1/2 (2.22m), which is also a NCAA automatic qualifying mark Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind. Strand has won the Big Ten high jump title every season he has competed for the U of M. Sophomore Marc Johannsen took runner up honors with a personal record and a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 7-3 1/4 (2.22m). Minnesota leads the conference after two days of competition with 75.50 points.
"It's great to win back-to-back Big Ten Championships," Strand said. "It was my sixth in a row, so I'm very excited."
Junior Eric Pierce won his first Big Ten title when he won the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:55.74.
"I'm glad I won," Pierce said. "It's so great to be a Big Ten champion."
Senior Benjamin Jensen won his first Big Ten title when he decathlon with 7,649 points. Jensen was a four-time Big Ten Indoor champion in the heptathlon. Teammate Lyndon McDowell finished with 6,918 points to take fourth place.
"It was a victory," Jensen said. "It's great for me and the team."
Sophomore Adam Reed took home his first Big Ten title when he won the discus with a throw of 184-04 (56.20m). Minnesota also took home fourth, fifth and sixth places, with Justin Asher taking fourth with a throw of 172-04 (52.54m), Mark Fahey taking fifth with a throw of 170-02 and Jeff Marsh taking sixth with a throw of 166-03 (50.68m).
"Obviously, I'm very happy to be a Big Ten Champion," Reed said. "I'm also glad I scored some points for the team."
The Golden Gophers had 10 athletes qualify for Sunday's finals. Three runners qualified in the 1,500m run, with Nate Clay, Andrew McKessock and Sami Valtonen. Robert Quade qualified in the 400m hurdles; Steve Burkholder qualified in the 100m dash with a school record and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 10.34; Jason Owen, Toby Henkels and Ron Hoffner qualified in the 800m run and Steve Burkholder and Thomas Gerding qualified in the 200m dash.
The Championships conclude on Sunday.
Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships West Lafayette, Ind. May 22, 1999
Standings after day two: Minnesota, 75 1/2; Michigan State, 46; Iowa, 30; Wisconsin, 29; Penn State, 24; Indiana, 19; Michigan, 15; Purdue, 13 1/2; Illinois, 13; Ohio State, 8.
Finals (Minnesota events only) 3000m Steeplechase 1. Eric Pierce, Minnesota, 8:55.74; 2. Ryan Taylor, Michigan State, 8:58.06; 3. Jared Cordes, Wisconsin, 8:59.63.
High Jump 1. Staffan Strand, Minnesota, 7-4 1/2 (2.25m); 2. Marc Johannsen, Minnesota, 7-3 1/4 (2.22m); 3. Bobby Meyers, Wisconsin, 7-0 1/4 (2.14m); 5, Wil Kurth, Minnesota, 6- 10 1/4 (2.09m); 8. Tyler McCormick, 6-8 1/4 (2.04m).
Decathlon 1. Benjamin Jensen, Minnesota, 7,649 points, 2. Paul Terek, Michigan State, 7,225 points, 3. Jabari Pride, Wisconsin, 6,947 points, 4. Lyndon McDowell, Minnesota, 6,918 points.
Long Jump 1. George Audu, Penn State, 25-8 3/4 (7.84m), 2. Babatunde Ridley, Illinois, 25-5 1/2 (7.76m), 3. Ryan Olkowski, Penn State, 25-2 (7,67m), 9. Tyler McCormick, 23-8 (7.21m)
Discus 1. Adam Reed, Minnesota, 184-04 (56.20); 2. Jeremy Allen, Iowa, 180-04 (54.96m); 3. Kurt Krick, Indiana, 175-07 (53.52m) 4. Justin Asher, Minnesota, 172-04 (52.54m), 5. Mark Fahey, 170-02 (51.86m); 6. Jeff Marsh, Minnesota, 166-03 (50.68m).
Trials (finals qualifiers and Minnesota events only)
1,500m run (In order of qualifying time) 1. Nate Clay, Minnesota, 3:49.43; 2. Andrew McKessock, Minnesota, 3:49.53; 3.Jay Cantin, Michigan, 3:L50.41; 4. Ryan Taylor, Michigan State, 3:50.70; 12. Sami Valtonen, Minnesota, 3:52.19.
400m Hurdles (in order of qualifying time) 1. Sherman Armstrong, Illinois, 51.83, 2. Ben Karcz, Penn State, 51.96; 3. Robert Quade, Minnesota, 52.70.
100m Dash ( In order of qualifying time) 1. Steve Burkholder, Minnesota, 10.34; 2. Lenton Herring, Wisconsin, 10.34; 3. Joshua Dickerson, Wisconsin, 10.41. 4. Tim Dwight, Iowa, 10.41. Other Golden Gopher finishers: 10. Fred Rodgers, Minnesota, 10.50
800m run (In order of qualifying time) 1. Jason Van Swol, Illinois, 1:50.35; 2. Bobby True, Illinois, 1:51.34; 3. Jason Owen, Minnesota, 1:51.34; 4. Toby Henkels, Minnesota, 1:51.49; 8. Ron Hoffner, Minnesota, 1:52.45.
200m dash 1.Bashir Yamini, Iowa, 20.82; 2. Tim Dodge, Iowa, 20.98; 3. Steve Burkholder, Minnesota, 21.11; 4. Andrew Pierce, Ohio State, 20.99; 5. Russell Brooks, Indiana, 21.19; 6. George McDonald, Illinois, 21.33; 7. Tim Dwight, Iowa, 21.09; 9. Tom Gerding, Minnesota, 21.13
