University of Minnesota Athletics
Swenson, Tzanakis, Relay Make NCAA Championships
5/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Swenson advanced in the 1,500-meter run by grabbing an automatic qualifying spot with a fourth-place finish in her heat. She clocked a career-best time of 4 minutes, 18.38 seconds, the fifth-fastest time in Minnesota history. Elizabeth Yetzer also competed in the quarterfinal race and placed 15th in a time of 4:24.39.
Tzanakis secured her second straight trip to the NCAA Championships in the discus, placing sixth with a throw of 172 feet, 7 inches.
The 4x100-meter relay of Todea-Kay Willis, Nyoka Giles, Chimerem Okoroji and Alena Brooks set Minnesota history capturing an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships with a third-place finish in their heat in a time of 44.99 seconds. Willis also earned an NCAA berth in the long jump.
Other Gophers competing on Saturday were Missa Varpness, Natalie Devine and the 4x400-meter relay. Varpness finished 44th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:22.60, while Devine did not make the opening height of 5-5 1/4. During to illness of Giles, the Gophers needed to switch up their 4x400-meter relay. Swenson jumped into relay to replace Giles. The relay of Sharyn Dahl, Alena Brooks, Kelly Stalpes and Swenson finished 23rd with a time of 3:46.64.
In addition to Swenson, Tzanakis and the relay, other Gophers who qualified in the first two days of the NCAA West Prelim was Willis in the long jump and Samantha Sonnenberg in the pole vault.
“It was exciting today to see the relay and the two Nikkis qualify to the NCAA Championships,” said Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle. “It was a good day and overall a decent meet. We competed well and came in ready after a disappointing Big Ten meet.”
Players Mentioned
