University of Minnesota Athletics
Karl Erickson Captures All-America Honors in Discus
6/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
The All-America honor is the third of Erickson's career but his first in the discus, despite winning the last three Big Ten titles in the event. His first two All-America citations were in the shot put, an event in which he will chase his third honor on Saturday.
Mitch Potter advanced to Saturday's final in the 400-meter dash, but Adam Steele saw his quest to defend his national title in the event end in the preliminary round. Potter posted the sixth-fastest time of 45.52 seconds in the prelims. Steele finished 15th with a time of 46.50.
Junior Travis Brandstatter stands in fourth place after the first day of the decathlon with 4,033 points. Brandstatter moved up the standings as the day progressed. He was in 13th place after the first event, the 100-meter dash, where he clocked a time of 11.02 seconds. Brandstatter began his move upward with a leap of 22-11 in the long jump. A career best throw of 45-2 ˝ followed in the shot put. Brandstater jumped up to seventh place after clearing 6-8 in the high jump. Brandstatter closed the first day of the decathlon with a time of 49.85 in the 400-meters. On Saturday, the decathlon will continue on Saturday with the 100-meter hurdles, discus, javelin, pole vault and 1,500-meter run.
Also competing on Friday was senior Mikael Jakobsson in the 400-meter hurdles. Jakobsson placed 20th in a time of 51.53 seconds. Jakobsson will be a member of the Golden Gophers' 4x400-meter relay that will chase a national title in the final of the event on Saturday.
