University of Minnesota Athletics
Mead and Studt Advance in NCAA First Day
6/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Hassan Mead and Aaron Studt advanced to event finals to highlight the first day of competition for the Minnesota men’s track team at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on Wednesday and into the early hours of Thursday. The meet was delayed for over three hours due to inclement weather.
Mead won the second heat of the 5,000-meter run in a time of 14 minutes, 0.79 seconds. The race, the final event of the first day’s schedule, was originally set to start at 9:25 p.m. but after the delay hit the starting line at 12:40 a.m. Mead’s race was the second of two heats of the 5,000 meters, so the gun went off close to 12:55 a.m. in his race.
The top six qualify for Friday’s final and Mead’s preliminary race strategy worked perfectly. The pack stayed intact until 1,200 meters remained. By this time, Mead had comfortably positioned himself in the leaders. At the bell lap, Mead moved to the outside shoulder of the leader then dashed to the front in the last 300 meters. Mead is undefeated in races run during this outdoor season. Chris Rombough also competed in the event but failed to advance to the final clocking a time of 14:09.79.
Studt, the national runner-up in the event at this spring’s NCAA Indoor Championships, punched his ticket to Thursday’s final in his third attempt landing a throw of 60 feet, 5 3/4 inches. The final, which includes the top 12 performers from the qualifying round, features defending champion Ryan Whiting of Arizona State. Whiting owned the top qualifying throw by over 4 feet, tossing the shot a distance of 68-7 1/4.
Gopher junior decathlete R.J. McGinnis enjoyed two career bests in the first day of competition in the decathlon. McGinnis is 11th in the standings with 3,972 points.
McGinnis, making his second NCAA decathlon appearance, started the day with a career-best performance in the 100-meter dash clocking a time of 11.09 seconds. He landed a jump of 22-11 1/4 in the long jump and a throw of 47-8 1/2, before adding his second career-best effort in clearing 6-8 3/4 in the high jump. After the high jump, McGinnis had climbed to a tie for fourth in the 25-man field.
The 400 meters was a struggle for McGinnis, perhaps feeling the effects of a long day of tough competition in the humid Arkansas conditions. McGinnis ran a time of 52.37 seconds to fall seven spots to 11th in the standings.
Oregon All-American Ashton Eaton owns a commanding lead after five events with an NCAA first-day record 4,367 points. Competition continues on Thursday at 11:15 p.m. with the 110-meter high hurdles.
High jumper Matt Fisher fell victim to an ankle injury and was forced to withdraw from the qualifying round. Fisher cleared the opening height of 6-8 3/4 on his third attempt, but slipped on his approach on his second attempt at 6-10 3/4. Having cleared 7-4 1/2 earlier this season, Fisher was a definite contender for All-America honors.
The University of Arkansas is hosting the NCAA Championships at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The Championships run through Saturday.
Mead won the second heat of the 5,000-meter run in a time of 14 minutes, 0.79 seconds. The race, the final event of the first day’s schedule, was originally set to start at 9:25 p.m. but after the delay hit the starting line at 12:40 a.m. Mead’s race was the second of two heats of the 5,000 meters, so the gun went off close to 12:55 a.m. in his race.
The top six qualify for Friday’s final and Mead’s preliminary race strategy worked perfectly. The pack stayed intact until 1,200 meters remained. By this time, Mead had comfortably positioned himself in the leaders. At the bell lap, Mead moved to the outside shoulder of the leader then dashed to the front in the last 300 meters. Mead is undefeated in races run during this outdoor season. Chris Rombough also competed in the event but failed to advance to the final clocking a time of 14:09.79.
Studt, the national runner-up in the event at this spring’s NCAA Indoor Championships, punched his ticket to Thursday’s final in his third attempt landing a throw of 60 feet, 5 3/4 inches. The final, which includes the top 12 performers from the qualifying round, features defending champion Ryan Whiting of Arizona State. Whiting owned the top qualifying throw by over 4 feet, tossing the shot a distance of 68-7 1/4.
Gopher junior decathlete R.J. McGinnis enjoyed two career bests in the first day of competition in the decathlon. McGinnis is 11th in the standings with 3,972 points.
McGinnis, making his second NCAA decathlon appearance, started the day with a career-best performance in the 100-meter dash clocking a time of 11.09 seconds. He landed a jump of 22-11 1/4 in the long jump and a throw of 47-8 1/2, before adding his second career-best effort in clearing 6-8 3/4 in the high jump. After the high jump, McGinnis had climbed to a tie for fourth in the 25-man field.
The 400 meters was a struggle for McGinnis, perhaps feeling the effects of a long day of tough competition in the humid Arkansas conditions. McGinnis ran a time of 52.37 seconds to fall seven spots to 11th in the standings.
Oregon All-American Ashton Eaton owns a commanding lead after five events with an NCAA first-day record 4,367 points. Competition continues on Thursday at 11:15 p.m. with the 110-meter high hurdles.
High jumper Matt Fisher fell victim to an ankle injury and was forced to withdraw from the qualifying round. Fisher cleared the opening height of 6-8 3/4 on his third attempt, but slipped on his approach on his second attempt at 6-10 3/4. Having cleared 7-4 1/2 earlier this season, Fisher was a definite contender for All-America honors.
The University of Arkansas is hosting the NCAA Championships at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The Championships run through Saturday.
Players Mentioned
HJ
/ Men's Track & FieldJS
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & Field
THR
/ Men's Track & FieldCHS Home Grown Gophers: Emmett Gerres
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