University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Men Win Big Ten Track Title
5/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Minnesota used a 21-point performance, including a title run by Hassan Mead, in the 5,000-meter run to secure the team crown at the 2009 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Gophers, who also won the Big Ten indoor team title, compiled 130 points, 27 better than runner-up and host Ohio State.
Mead added his fifth Big Ten individual title to his spectacular sophomore season. The Minneapolis native won the individual cross country crown last fall, the 3,000 and 5,000-meter races at the indoor Big Ten track championships and then the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events this weekend.
Mead was the headliner in the 5,000 meters, crossing the finish line in 14 minutes, 20.75 seconds, but the Gophers once again displayed the team depth that made the difference in so many events. Junior Chris Rombough finished third in a time of 14:25.98, while Ben Blankenship placed fourth in 14:26.15.
“I can’t say enough good things about Hassan,” said Golden Gopher Steve Plasencia. “But he certainly wasn’t the only guy to step it up this weekend. We got points from the people who we expected we would and more from a lot of other events across the board.”
A Gopher who was expected to contribute big points and who delivered was junior Aaron Studt in the shot put. Studt landed the winning throw 61-6 1/4 - on his fifth attempt after firing a long throw just outside the sector on her first throw of finals.
Senior Ibrahim Kabia sprinted to runner-up honors in the 100-meter dash clocking a time of 10.44 seconds. Kabia added a sixth-place showing in the 200 meters in 21.44 seconds.
The Gophers scored two runners in the 1,500-meter run. Blankenship finished fourth in a time of 3:58.48, while Andy Richardson placed seventh in 4:00.68. Joe McFarland chipped in a sixth-place effort in the 800 meters with a time of 1:51.44.
Minnesota scored in both hurdles events. Mike Linnemann finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 53.61 seconds and Sean Duling placed eighth in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.62 seconds.
The Gophers scored in two of the three other field events contested on Sunday. Joe Plencner finished fourth in the pole vault clearing 16-10 3/4, while Raymond Blackledge placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 48-9 1/2.
The next competition for Golden Gophers is the NCAA Midwest Region Championships on May 29-30 in Norman, Okla.
Mead added his fifth Big Ten individual title to his spectacular sophomore season. The Minneapolis native won the individual cross country crown last fall, the 3,000 and 5,000-meter races at the indoor Big Ten track championships and then the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events this weekend.
Mead was the headliner in the 5,000 meters, crossing the finish line in 14 minutes, 20.75 seconds, but the Gophers once again displayed the team depth that made the difference in so many events. Junior Chris Rombough finished third in a time of 14:25.98, while Ben Blankenship placed fourth in 14:26.15.
“I can’t say enough good things about Hassan,” said Golden Gopher Steve Plasencia. “But he certainly wasn’t the only guy to step it up this weekend. We got points from the people who we expected we would and more from a lot of other events across the board.”
A Gopher who was expected to contribute big points and who delivered was junior Aaron Studt in the shot put. Studt landed the winning throw 61-6 1/4 - on his fifth attempt after firing a long throw just outside the sector on her first throw of finals.
Senior Ibrahim Kabia sprinted to runner-up honors in the 100-meter dash clocking a time of 10.44 seconds. Kabia added a sixth-place showing in the 200 meters in 21.44 seconds.
The Gophers scored two runners in the 1,500-meter run. Blankenship finished fourth in a time of 3:58.48, while Andy Richardson placed seventh in 4:00.68. Joe McFarland chipped in a sixth-place effort in the 800 meters with a time of 1:51.44.
Minnesota scored in both hurdles events. Mike Linnemann finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 53.61 seconds and Sean Duling placed eighth in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.62 seconds.
The Gophers scored in two of the three other field events contested on Sunday. Joe Plencner finished fourth in the pole vault clearing 16-10 3/4, while Raymond Blackledge placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 48-9 1/2.
The next competition for Golden Gophers is the NCAA Midwest Region Championships on May 29-30 in Norman, Okla.
Players Mentioned
JU
/ Men's Track & Field
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
HUR
/ Men's Track & FieldSPR
/ Men's Track & FieldHUR
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & FieldPV
/ Men's Track & Field
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & Field
THR
/ Men's Track & FieldCHS Home Grown Gophers: Emmett Gerres
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