University of Minnesota Athletics
Kevin Netzer, Derek Gearman Win Big Ten Track Titles
5/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Netzer, a Rib Lake, Wis., native, cleared a height of 6 feet, 11 3/4 inches to add the 2006 Big Ten crown to titles he won in 2002 and 2004. He was also this season’s indoor Conference champion.
Gearman enjoyed a sensational day competing in this first Big Ten Outdoor Championships after transferring to Minnesota from South Dakota. Gearman won the long jump with a career-best distance of 25-0, landing the winning mark on his second attempt in finals. Competing in the high jump at the same time, Gearman cleared 6-10 1/4 to finish second, contributing 18 points to the team total.
Minnesota has compiled 62.5 points after two days of competition and trails border-rival Wisconsin by two points with seven of 21 events scored. The Badgers have seven runners in final events on the track to six for the Gophers. Minnesota will need big points from some of the remaining field events, including Karl Erickson in the shot put, to counter a loaded 5,000-meter run Badger contingent if the Gophers hope to win their first team title since 2003.
Erickson fell short in his bid to make Minnesota history in the discus on Saturday. The senior from Zumbro Falls, Minn., entered the Championship looking for his fourth career title in the event but finished second with a throw of 179-5.
Gopher senior Andy Newman added a third-place finish in the long jump with a career-best jump of 24-2 1/4. The distance is a regional qualifier and the 10th- best mark in school history.
In addition to Netzer and Gearman, senior John Albert contributed to the scoring in the high jump, placing in a tie for third with a height of 6-10 1/4. The trio combined to contribute 23.5 points to the Gophers’ team point total.
Pacing the Gophers’ qualifiers for Sunday’s finals is junior Aaron Buzard. Buzard owns the top qualifying time in the 400-meter dash, running a time of 46.48 seconds in the prelims. Buzard also advanced in the 200-meters, tying a season-best time of 21.18 seconds.
The Gophers have strong contingents that advanced in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs. Trent Riter ran a season-best time of 1:49.56 in the 800 meters and will be joined by teammates Hans Storvick (1:51.18) and Walter Langkau (1:51.28) in the final. Eddie Kibira (3:53.16), Ben Hanson (3:53.36) and Michael VanBeusekom (4:00.05) will compete in the final of the 1,500 meters.
2006 Big Ten Conference Track & Field Championships
Friday-Sunday, May 12-14, 2006
Ralph Young Track Complex East Lansing, Mich.
Saturday Notes Men
The Gopher high jumpers have won the last three, and four of the last five, Big Ten outdoor titles in the event. Kevin Netzer captured the 2006 title, adding it to outdoor wins in 2002 and 2004, as well as the indoor title this season, making him a four-time Big Ten high jump champion. John Albert, who finished third, was the 2005 outdoor titlist.
The Minnesota high jump crew contributed 23.5 points on Saturday, going 1-2 and tying for third. Joining Netzer and Albert was Derek Gearman, who placed second.
Derek Gearman scored 18 points in his first Big Ten outdoor meet, capturing the title in the long jump and placing second in the high jump. Gearman, who landed a career-best leap of 25-0, is the fourth Gopher to win the outdoor long jump outdoor title and the first since 1995.
Quotes
Kevin Netzer, high jump champion
On winning his third and final outdoor Big Ten title:
“It’s was my last one so it was a big one for me. In a fun way, it was also about bragging rights with my roommate John Albert (2005 champ).
Netzer on Gophers’ scoring in the event:
“We shoot for it every year. We’ve had a lot of success in the past.”
Derek Gearman, long jump champion
On his winning jump:
“The runway felt good. I knew I was taking speed to the board and got the whole board. I was definitely excited. I figured anyone with a jump over 24-10 could win it. I only takes one good jump.”
Gearman on teammate Andy Newman taking third in the long jump:
“I was really excited for him. Knowing he got a PR and a qualified really got me pumped up.”
Gearman on first Big Ten outdoor meet after transferring to Minnesota:
“This is why I transferred. I wanted the opportunity to compete at a higher level.”
