University of Minnesota Athletics
McGinnis Second in Drake Relays Decathlon
4/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Golden Gopher junior R.J. McGinnis scored 4,010 points in the first day of the decathlon and stands in second place at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, in Wednesday. McGinnis is the top collegian in the day-one standings trailing only former Minnesota standout Derek Gearman who leads with 4,086 points.
McGinnis, the Big Ten champion in the heptathlon, opened his first decathlon of the 2009 season with a career-best time of 11.26 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He then posted another career best in the long jump landing a leap of 23 feet, 8 3/4 inches. McGinnis held the lead after the third event, the shot put, where he marked a throw of 46-11 1/2.
Gearman took the decathlon lead in the fourth event of the day, the high jump, where he cleared 7-0 1/4. McGinnis kept pace with his third career best of the day clearing 6-7 1/2. McGinnis finished the day with by clocking a time of 51.03 in the 400-meter dash.
McGinnis’ first-day total of 4,010 easily surpasses his best midway tally from a year ago, 3,860 at the Big Ten Championships. He is in solid standing to chase an NCAA Championships automatic (7,500 points) or provisional (6,900) qualifying score.
Led by Aaron Studt’s titles in the shot put and hammer, Minnesota swept the four throwing events at the Macalester Invitational on Wednesday. Overall, the Golden Gophers collected 10 first-place finishes.
Studt captured the shot put title with a throw of 60 feet, 5 inches, then added the hammer crown with a heave of 190-3. Trey Davis won the discus with a throw of 163-11, while David Gierut placed first in the javelin with a throw of 162-0. Redshirt freshman Tyler Kleinhuizen enjoyed a banner day landing career bests in all three of his events. Kleinhuizen was second in the discus (163-10), second in the shot put (58-1 3/4 and fourth in the hammer (172-7).
The Gophers also picked up titles in three other field events. Brock Spandl won the pole vault with an effort of 16-6 3/4, while Matt Clauer cleared 6-5 to win the high jump. Addison Demer was first in the triple jump with a leap of 44-1 1/4 and added a second-place showing in the long jump at 22-3.
Gophers won both hurdles competition with Luke Silovich topping the field in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.75 seconds. Mike Linnemann captured the win in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54-41 seconds.
Completing the list to meet champions for the Gophers is the 4x100-meter relay of Sayfe Jassim, Ibrahim Kabia, Sean King and Blake Bowers finished first in 41.13 seconds.
Led by Aaron Studt’s titles in the shot put and hammer, Minnesota swept the four throwing events at the Macalester Invitational on Wednesday. Overall, the Golden Gophers collected 10 first-place finishes.
Studt captured the shot put title with a throw of 60 feet, 5 inches, then added the hammer crown with a heave of 190-3. Trey Davis won the discus with a throw of 163-11, while David Gierut placed first in the javelin with a throw of 162-0. Redshirt freshman Tyler Kleinhuizen enjoyed a banner day landing career bests in all three of his events. Kleinhuizen was second in the discus (163-10), second in the shot put (58-1 3/4 and fourth in the hammer (172-7).
The Gophers also picked up titles in three other field events. Brock Spandl won the pole vault with an effort of 16-6 3/4, while Matt Clauer cleared 6-5 to win the high jump. Addison Demer was first in the triple jump with a leap of 44-1 1/4 and added a second-place showing in the long jump at 22-3.
Gophers won both hurdles competition with Luke Silovich topping the field in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.75 seconds. Mike Linnemann captured the win in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54-41 seconds.
Completing the list to meet champions for the Gophers is the 4x100-meter relay of Sayfe Jassim, Ibrahim Kabia, Sean King and Blake Bowers finished first in 41.13 seconds.
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