University of Minnesota Athletics
Marks Leads Gopher Contingent at USA Meet
6/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Five current or former Golden Gopher women’s track & field athletes will compete this week at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held at the historic Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore. The USA Championships run from June 25-28.
Leading the pack of athletes with Minnesota ties is defending USA triple jump champion Shani Marks. Marks will compete in the event on Friday. Marks, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, serves as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater.
The trio of 2009 All-Americans Alicia Rue, Liz Roehrig and Heather Dorniden return to the national meet this season.
Pole vaulter Rue is coming off her junior season where she earned All-America honors at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA meets and won both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten titles. The pole vault competition is Sunday.
Roerhig placed fifth in the USA Championships in the heptathlon a year ago, missing out on the Olympic team but getting the chance to represent the U.S. in the Thorpe Cup. The heptathlon will be held on Saturday and Sunday.
Dorniden completed her Gopher track career as a nine-time All-American. She will compete in the first round of the 800 meters on Thursday. The semi-finals are set for Friday and the final on Sunday.
Former Gopher standout Emily Brown will compete in the 5,000-meter run on Friday evening.
Amanda Thieschafter, a volunteer assistant coach of the Gophers, will join Marks in the triple jump competition.
The top three finishers at the USA Championships will represent the U.S. at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany, this August.
Flotrack.com will provide live video streaming from the USA Championships.
Players Mentioned
