University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Lead, Spandl Second in Decathlon
5/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Brock Spandl finished second as four Gophers scored in the decathlon and 10 runners advanced to finals as the Golden Gophers set themselves up for a big finish at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Minnesota leads with 65.5 points as the Gophers chase their third consecutive Big Ten outdoor track team title.
Spandl used a big performance in the pole vault to take the lead in the decathlon but couldn’t hang on in the 10th and final event, the 1,500 meters, and slipped to second behind Ohio State’s Heath Nickles. Entering the 1,500, Nickles needed to beat Spandl by over seven seconds and ran a time of 4 minutes, 37.90 seconds, over 10 seconds faster than Spandl’s valiant effort of 4:48.99. Spandl jumped into the lead after clearing 16-10 3/4 in the pole vault. Nickles finished with 7,208 points, 21 points ahead of Spandl’s tally of 7,187.
Minnesota scored 16 points in the decathlon with Joey Schwecke adding a fourth-place finish (7,047) and Jack Szmanda finishing seventh (6,885) and Kenny Schofield eighth (6,623).
The Gophers scored two throwers in the discus to add to their meet-leading total. Tyler Kleinhuizen finished third with a throw of 168-2. Trey Davis added a sixth-place finish with a throw of 164-5.
The Gophers scored in two other field events as well. Oladipo Fagbemi was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 23-7 1/2, while Matt Clauer tied for fifth in the high jump with a height of 6-8 3/4.
Minnesota’s 10 qualifiers for finals are spread among five events but impressively, the Gophers will have three participants in the finals for both the 400 and 800-meter races. Harun Abda, John Holton and Kevin Bradley will run the 400, while David Pachuta, Nick Hutton and Max Hanson advanced in the 800 meters.
Paul Hilsen and Andy Richardson advanced out of the 1,500-meter run prelims. Sean King made the 100 meters final and Sean Duling will compete in the finals of the 110-meter high hurdles.
The Gophers’ 4x100-meter relay of Ryan Todhunter, King, Cameron Boy and Fagbemi also advanced.
Minnesota holds a 20.5-point lead over second-place Ohio State (48) heading into the final day of the Championships. The Buckeyes have only five qualified for finals. Host Iowa has an impressive 12 qualifiers, but will start the day with just 15 points.
Spandl used a big performance in the pole vault to take the lead in the decathlon but couldn’t hang on in the 10th and final event, the 1,500 meters, and slipped to second behind Ohio State’s Heath Nickles. Entering the 1,500, Nickles needed to beat Spandl by over seven seconds and ran a time of 4 minutes, 37.90 seconds, over 10 seconds faster than Spandl’s valiant effort of 4:48.99. Spandl jumped into the lead after clearing 16-10 3/4 in the pole vault. Nickles finished with 7,208 points, 21 points ahead of Spandl’s tally of 7,187.
Minnesota scored 16 points in the decathlon with Joey Schwecke adding a fourth-place finish (7,047) and Jack Szmanda finishing seventh (6,885) and Kenny Schofield eighth (6,623).
The Gophers scored two throwers in the discus to add to their meet-leading total. Tyler Kleinhuizen finished third with a throw of 168-2. Trey Davis added a sixth-place finish with a throw of 164-5.
The Gophers scored in two other field events as well. Oladipo Fagbemi was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 23-7 1/2, while Matt Clauer tied for fifth in the high jump with a height of 6-8 3/4.
Minnesota’s 10 qualifiers for finals are spread among five events but impressively, the Gophers will have three participants in the finals for both the 400 and 800-meter races. Harun Abda, John Holton and Kevin Bradley will run the 400, while David Pachuta, Nick Hutton and Max Hanson advanced in the 800 meters.
Paul Hilsen and Andy Richardson advanced out of the 1,500-meter run prelims. Sean King made the 100 meters final and Sean Duling will compete in the finals of the 110-meter high hurdles.
The Gophers’ 4x100-meter relay of Ryan Todhunter, King, Cameron Boy and Fagbemi also advanced.
Minnesota holds a 20.5-point lead over second-place Ohio State (48) heading into the final day of the Championships. The Buckeyes have only five qualified for finals. Host Iowa has an impressive 12 qualifiers, but will start the day with just 15 points.
Players Mentioned
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
SPR
/ Men's Track & Field
SPR
/ Men's Track & Field
HJ
/ Men's Track & Field
THR
/ Men's Track & Field
HUR
/ Men's Track & Field
JU
/ Men's Track & Field
DIS
/ Men's Track & Field
SPR
/ Men's Track & Field
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
SPR
/ Men's Track & Field
THR
/ Men's Track & Field
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
MD
/ Men's Track & Field
JU
/ Men's Track & Field
JU
/ Men's Track & Field
PV
/ Men's Track & Field
PV
/ Men's Track & Field
SPR
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