University of Minnesota Athletics
MTF: Gophers Set to Compete at Conference Meet
5/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
A full slate of event trials are scheduled for Saturday, and conference titles will also be earned in the decathlon, the 3,000-meter steeplechase and three field events including the high jump. The Championships conclude on Sunday afternoon with the 4x400-meter relay.
Highlighting the weekend’s events for Minnesota is senior Travis Brandstatter’s defense of his decathlon title. Brandstatter set the Minnesota school decathlon point total record in 2004, tallying 7,724 points en route to earning the honorary title of "Big Ten's best athlete.” (He later reset his decathlon mark at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors by scoring 7,736 points and finishing fourth.)
This season, Brandstatter automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the decathlon by posting a winning score of 7,641 points at the Mt. SAC Relays. He has also posted a regional qualifying mark in javelin, an event he will compete in separately on Sunday.
The Gophers also boast the conference favorite in the javelin. Senior Jason Swenson, who finished second in last year’s event, enters this year's championships ranked at the top of the Big Ten.
Minnesota is also the likely choice to take home the high jump title. The Gophers claimed the top two spots in 2004 and are again in position to sweep with senior Bryant Howe and junior John Albert leading the way. Howe, last year’s silver medalist, currently holds the No. 1 ranking among conference high jumpers, edging out Albert by one-quarter inch. Including indoor titles, Golden Gopher high jumpers have won the last three Big Ten titles.
Head coach Phil Lundin leads his Minnesota squad to the Outdoor Championships for the 10th time. During his decade span at the helm, the Gophers have compiled an impressive record by finishing either first or second in the standings in eight of the nine previous outdoor conference meets. Though this year’s squad probably lacks the depth to contend for a top placing, Lundin expects numerous regional qualifying performances during the weekend.
