University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women Head to Jim Click Shootout
3/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Jim Click Shootout
Saturday
April 3, 2010
Hosted by the University of Arizona
Drachman Stadium
Tuscon, Ariz.
Rue and Sonneberg to Compete at Jim Click Shootout
All-American pole vaulters Alicia Rue and Samantha Sonnenberg will compete for the first time in the 2010 outdoor season at the Jim Click Shootout in Tuscon, Ariz. this weekend.
The Shootout Field
The Arizona Wildcats will host the men's and women's squads from four visiting schools: UC Berkeley, Nebraska, Kansas State and Minnesota.
Pilkerton Earns Career Best
Sophomore Becca Pilkerton captured first place in the pole vault at the Coastal Carolina Shamrock Invitational. Her 12 foot 5 1/2 inch vault was career best. With the vault, Pilkerton replaced her eighth place time on Minnesota's top ten list.
Gabe Anderson Granted Sixth Season of Outdoor Track Eligibility
Track/cross country standout Gabriele Anderson was honored with the Richard "Pinky" McNamara Student-Athlete Achievement Award at the recent U of M Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony. The award is given to a student-athlete who has inspired all by making an extraordinary effort to succeed despite difficult circumstances, persevering during a time of tremendous adversity and/or overcoming a great challenge.
After helping the Gopher cross country team to back-to-back Big Ten titles, Anderson embarked on her senior track season in 2009 with high expectations. She ran a runner-up finish in the mile helping the Gophers win another Big Ten indoor track team title. Then in April, she was diagnosed with adenoid cystic caranoma (a cancer of the neck). With an uncertain future and knowing of her battle ahead, Anderson decided to run one more race before treatment five days ahead of her. She responded by running a career-best time, the seventh-fastest time in school history, in the 1,500-meter run. Anderson underwent surgery and treatment while her team wore "Gabe" patches on their uniforms. She made a successful petition to the NCAA for a sixth season and will complete her Minnesota track career this outdoor season.
Gophers Open Outdoor Season at Shamrock Invitational
Minnesota opened its outdoor season by winning five events at the Coastal Carolina Shamrock Invitational in Mertle Beach, S.C. The non-scoring meet was hosted by Coastal Carolina University.
Becca Pilkerton won the pole vault with a career best performance of 12 feet, 5 1/2 inches. Nikki Tzanakis took first in the discus with a toss of 158-7. Finishing first in the long jump was Todea-Kay Willis with a leap of 18-7 1/4.
On the track, Amy Laskwoske led the Gophers to a sweep of the top four places in the 5,000-meter run. Laswoske won the event with a time of 16 minutes, 42.74 seconds. Completing the list of Gopher wins was the 4x800 relay of Alena Brooks, Kathryn Ritter, Nikki Swenson, and Jamie Dittmar.
Other top finishers for the Gophers included Jessica Cagle, who finished second in the discus (155-3), Gabriele Anderson, who placed second in the 5,000-meter run. Anderson was followed in the 5,000 by Mallory Van Ness (16:54.92) and Meghan Mason (17:27.63) in third and fourth place respectively. In the 1,500-meter run Elizabeth Yetzer (4:29.34), Nikki Swenson (4:31.91), and Kathryn Ritter (4:35.97) finished second, third, and fourth respectively.
Players Mentioned
