University of Minnesota Athletics
Cross Country Opens its 2011 Season
9/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 7, 2011
Golden Gopher Men's Cross Country This Week
The Minnesota Men's cross country team will open its season this weekend at two different locations. The Gophers' will send half of the squad out west to Sacramento, Calif., to compete in the Hornet Jamboree (Saturday) while the other half will compete at home on Friday at the 12th annual Oz Memorial. After this weekend's races Minnesota will have a week off before the 26th Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday Sept. 24.
Hornet Jamboree
Sacramento Granite Regional Park (4 mile)
Saturday, Sept. 10 - Sacramento, Calif.
12:15 p.m. CT
Minnesota Men Open in Sunny California
The Minnesota men's cross country team travels to Sacramento, Calif., to open the 2011 season at the Hornet Jamboree. The 4-mile event begins at 12:30 p.m. CT.
He's Back!
Senior All-American Hassan Mead is back healthy at 100 percent for the season. Mead, who sat out last year due to an injury, is ready to ignite in his final campaign as a Gopher. The Minneapolis, Minn., product is coming off an impressive outdoor track season for the Maroon and Gold, after winning the Big Ten Championship in the 10,000m. Mead will be making the trip out west to compete at the Hornet Jamboree.
The Gopher Lineup
Minnesota will send nine competitors out west to race in the Golden State to open 2011. Joining Mead will be seniors Paul Hilsen, Sean Olson and Oklahoma transfer Bob Nicolls. Junior Pieter Gagnon along with sophomores Andrew Larsen, Steve Sulkin, Eric Truedson and redshirt freshman Marcus Paulson will also be competing for the Gophers.
Minnesota Coaching Staff
Golden Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia is in his 16th season leading the Minnesota program. Plasencia has guided the Gophers to NCAA Championships berths in 13 seasons as the Maroon and Gold leader. The 2007 squad took eighth-place at the NCAA's, which was the best since 1969. Assistant coach Chris Rombough is back for his second year on the Gopher coaching staff.
12th Annual Oz Memorial
Les Bolstad Golf Course (6k)
Friday, Sept. 9 - Minneapolis, Minn.
4:30 p.m. CT
Newcomers Open 2011 at Home
Minnesota will have the rest of its squad competing at the Oz Memorial this Friday. Senior Matt Volz as well as junior Travis Burkstrand sophomore Drew Paradis and redshirt freshman Balyne Dulian will wear the Maroon and Gold at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Friday. Junior John Simons along with freshman Matt Jergenson, Adam Zutz and Christian Skaret will compete in the 6k race as well, but run as an un-attached.
-UM-
By: Athletic Communications Assistant Michael Levy
Players Mentioned
