University of Minnesota Athletics
Tim Heikkila
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Tim Heikkila |
Tim Heikkila came to the Golden Gophers after a stellar high school career and etched his name in the Minnesota high jump record books. A native of Superior, Wis., Heikkila became the first University of Minnesota athlete to clear the seven-foot barrier. The 1967 Wisconsin State High School High Jump Champion, Heikkila was one of Minnesota’s top performers during the last 1960s and early 1970s.
During his 1969 season, Heikkila became the Maroon and Gold’s first outdoor Big Ten high jump champion since 1950 with a seven-foot leap, earning himself a top 10 ranking among all U.S. high jumpers. His seven-foot jump was also the first in Big Ten Championships history.
During his senior season, the team captain became the first Golden Gopher high jumper to earn an outdoor All-America accolade after a second-place finish at the 1971 NCAA Championships. During that season, Heikkila was ranked third in the U.S. All-Time Ranking and seventh in the world. In 1971, Heikkila was named to the USA Track & Field Team that toured Europe. Today, Heikkila’s top performances in the high jump rank eighth (7-2) and ninth (7-1) on Minnesota’s outdoor and indoor top performers lists, respectively.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in education, Heikkila became the 1990 Masters National Indoor and Outdoor High Jump Champion. In 2000, he was inducted into the USA Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame.
For the past 14 years, Heikkila has been employed in Tallahassee, Fla., by The State of Florida, Department of the Lottery in Sales & Marketing as a Corporate Account Sales Executive. Prior to moving to Florida, Heikkila worked 14 years for the Clairol Company as a Sales Representative and District Sales Manager in the Minnesota and Wisconsin districts.
M Club Hall of Fame
