University of Minnesota Athletics
McFarland, Clauer Join Regional Qualifiers
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
High jumper Matt Clauer and middle distance runner Joe McFarland notched NCAA Midwest Region Championships-qualifying performances on Friday at the Minnesota Open held at the Bierman Track & Field Complex. The Golden Gophers, who rested several of their top athletes for next week’s Big Ten Championships, now have 18 athletes qualified to compete in the regional meet.
Clauer won the high jump with a career best of 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches. McFarland finished second in the 800 meters with a time of 1 minute, 50.26 seconds. Ben Blankenship was third in the 800 meters in 1:50.33, adding the event to the 1,500 meters where he had posted a regional qualifier earlier this season.
Overall Minnesota captured eight titles in the meet. Sean King won the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.85 seconds. The Gophers swept the hurdles events with Sean Duling capturing the win in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.50 seconds. Mike Linnemann took the title in the 400-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 53.71 seconds.
Sean Olson topped a one-two finish in the 1,500 meters for the Gophers. Olson clocked a time of 3:51.63, while Paul Hilsen was second in 3:55.06. Ben Puhl won an abbreviated 2,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 5:50.51.
Aaron Studt led the charge in the field events winning the shot put with a heave of 60-6. Studt also enjoyed a career day in the hammer landing a throw of 197-0 to place second and move up to fourth on the Gophers’ all-time top-10 list in the event.
Completing the list of champion for Minnesota was Raymond Blackledge in the triple jump. Blackledge marked a season-best effort of 48-4 1/2.
Minnesota’s next competition is the Big Ten Championships on May 15-17, in Columbus, Ohio.
Clauer won the high jump with a career best of 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches. McFarland finished second in the 800 meters with a time of 1 minute, 50.26 seconds. Ben Blankenship was third in the 800 meters in 1:50.33, adding the event to the 1,500 meters where he had posted a regional qualifier earlier this season.
Overall Minnesota captured eight titles in the meet. Sean King won the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.85 seconds. The Gophers swept the hurdles events with Sean Duling capturing the win in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.50 seconds. Mike Linnemann took the title in the 400-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 53.71 seconds.
Sean Olson topped a one-two finish in the 1,500 meters for the Gophers. Olson clocked a time of 3:51.63, while Paul Hilsen was second in 3:55.06. Ben Puhl won an abbreviated 2,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 5:50.51.
Aaron Studt led the charge in the field events winning the shot put with a heave of 60-6. Studt also enjoyed a career day in the hammer landing a throw of 197-0 to place second and move up to fourth on the Gophers’ all-time top-10 list in the event.
Completing the list of champion for Minnesota was Raymond Blackledge in the triple jump. Blackledge marked a season-best effort of 48-4 1/2.
Minnesota’s next competition is the Big Ten Championships on May 15-17, in Columbus, Ohio.
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