University of Minnesota Athletics
Swenson Leads Gophers at Big Ten Meet, Minnesota Seventh
5/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Nikki Swenson finished second in the 1,500 meters and fourth in the 800 meters to lead the Minnesota women’s track and field team at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday. The Golden Gophers finished seventh in the team standings with 63.5 points.
With about an hour between her races, Swenson first ran to runner-up honors in a time of 4 minutes, 27.43 seconds then gutted out her season-best time in the 800 finishing fourth in 2:07.69.
The Gophers’ 4x400-meter relay closed the meet in impressive fashion by placing third in the event with a school-record time of 3 minutes, 38.03 seconds. The foursome consisted of Sharyn Dahl, Nyoka Giles, Kelly Staples and Alena Brooks.
“I’m very disappointed by our team finish overall; it’s just not what this team is all about,” said Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle. “With that said, though, we did have some excellent individual performances, like Nikki Swenson, Chimerem Okoroji, Sharyn Dahl and the 4x400 relay that should be applauded. We’ll get back to work and make our team better.”
Brooks and Giles were also members of the Gophers’ third-place 4x100-meter relay that ran a season-best and No. 3 all-time clocking of 44.96 seconds. Also running on the relay were Todea-Kay Willis and Chimerem Okoroji. Okoroji added a fourth-place showing in the 100 meters in a time of 11.53, the third-best time in Gopher history. Brooks chipped in a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters in 54.85 seconds.
Dahl clocked a career-best time of 58.44 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in Minnesota history, in placing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.
Elizabeth Yetzer also ran a difficult double on Sunday, scoring in both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter races. Yetzer finished seventh in the 1,500 with a time of 4:28.79 and eighth in the 5,000 in 16:38.07.
Others scoring for the Gophers on Sunday were Nikki Tzanakis, who was fifth in the discus (169-0) and Natalie Devine, who tied for seventh in the high jump (5-7).
The Gophers now turn their attention to the NCAA West Preliminary Meet. Minnesota is expected to have over 20 athletes at the meet, which is May 26-28, in Eugene, Ore.
Ohio State won the team title with 135 points.
With about an hour between her races, Swenson first ran to runner-up honors in a time of 4 minutes, 27.43 seconds then gutted out her season-best time in the 800 finishing fourth in 2:07.69.
The Gophers’ 4x400-meter relay closed the meet in impressive fashion by placing third in the event with a school-record time of 3 minutes, 38.03 seconds. The foursome consisted of Sharyn Dahl, Nyoka Giles, Kelly Staples and Alena Brooks.
“I’m very disappointed by our team finish overall; it’s just not what this team is all about,” said Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle. “With that said, though, we did have some excellent individual performances, like Nikki Swenson, Chimerem Okoroji, Sharyn Dahl and the 4x400 relay that should be applauded. We’ll get back to work and make our team better.”
Brooks and Giles were also members of the Gophers’ third-place 4x100-meter relay that ran a season-best and No. 3 all-time clocking of 44.96 seconds. Also running on the relay were Todea-Kay Willis and Chimerem Okoroji. Okoroji added a fourth-place showing in the 100 meters in a time of 11.53, the third-best time in Gopher history. Brooks chipped in a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters in 54.85 seconds.
Dahl clocked a career-best time of 58.44 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in Minnesota history, in placing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.
Elizabeth Yetzer also ran a difficult double on Sunday, scoring in both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter races. Yetzer finished seventh in the 1,500 with a time of 4:28.79 and eighth in the 5,000 in 16:38.07.
Others scoring for the Gophers on Sunday were Nikki Tzanakis, who was fifth in the discus (169-0) and Natalie Devine, who tied for seventh in the high jump (5-7).
The Gophers now turn their attention to the NCAA West Preliminary Meet. Minnesota is expected to have over 20 athletes at the meet, which is May 26-28, in Eugene, Ore.
Ohio State won the team title with 135 points.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
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THR
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Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
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