University of Minnesota Athletics
Marks, Dorniden Compete in USA Track Championships
6/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Defending USA triple jump champion, former Golden Gopher All-American Shani Marks struggled at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and finished 13th in the event on Thursday in Eugene, Ore. Marks was a U.S. Olympian in 2008.
Marks, who serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Minnesota women’s track team, managed to land one legal attempt in the preliminary round marking a distance of 43 feet, 1 1/2 inches. As luck would have it, she fell a quarter of an inch short of qualifying for the final and earning three more jumps. Marks’ training partner Amanda Thieschafer, who is also a Gopher volunteer assistant coach, finished sixth with a leap of 44-9.
Gopher senior Heather Dorniden completed her 2009 track season in the USA semifinal of the 800 meters. Dorniden clocked a time of 2 minutes, 6.00 seconds to finish 13th of 16 semifinalists.
Former Gopher Emily Brown finished 13th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:07.84.
Gopher All-American Liz Roehrig begins the heptathlon competition on Saturday, while another All-American, pole vaulter Alicia Rue competes on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
