Gophers Set for Big Ten Meet

2014 Big Ten Cross Country Championships
Date	Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014
Time	Women: 10:45 a.m. \| Men: 11:45 a.m.
Location	Ashton Cross Country Course \| Iowa City, Iowa.
Distance	Women: 6K \| Men: 8K, 11:45 a.m.
Television	BTN (Tape delay at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12)
Coverage	Meet Central \| Live Results \| 8K Course Map \| Meet Notes

Oct. 30, 2014

The University of Minnesota men's cross country team returns to action this Sunday at the 2014 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa hosts this year's conference meet at the Ashton Cross Country Course

New Blood for the Gophers

After graduating five seniors from last year's Big Ten squad, Minnesota will bring a new crop of competitors to the conference meet in 2014. The Gophers return three runners with Big Ten experience in Adam Zutz (two-time competitor), Alex Brend and Christian Skaret -- all three factored into the Maroon & Gold's team score last year as the Gophers finished fourth with 136 points.

Points from Plasencia

On the size of the field...

"You know we've got another challenge ahead of us. It's bigger in a lot of our minds, but at the same time it's more intimate size-wise compared to some of the fields we get into. Outside of the Oz, this will be one of the smallest fields we get into based on the number of runners our guys have faced, so things are a little bit different in that regard. In some respects that is a little bit of a breath of fresh air."

On the conference meet...

"I just look forward to taking these guys out there. We know that there is a lot of good competition in the conference, there always is. We are quite familiar with the coaches and each other's teams. From that stand point you have a little bit of a family feud going on. It makes it fun and a little bit stressful."

On preparations in a competitive conference...

"I think you take care of yourself and the only thing we can influence is what we do in preparation for the competition and what we do when we get to the course. It's about how we handle the situations in front of us and then letting the chips fall. I think we have a positive mind frame going into the competition. You know to this point, we've had some guys fill in from what we expected to be a young group. Given what we graduated last year, we have had some guys fill in pretty well."

BTN to Air Conference Meet

The Big Ten Network will offer delayed coverage of the 2014 Big Ten Cross Country Championships at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Up Next - Fall Finale/NCAA Midwest Regional

The 2014 season continues for the Gophers next Friday, Nov. 7 with the Fall Finale in Collegeville, Minn. Aaron Bartnik won the event last year in his collegiate debut. Minnesota then competes at the 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Ill., on Friday, Nov. 14 before the NCAA Championship on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.

100 Years of the Big Ten Cross Country Championships

The 2014 Big Ten Cross Country Championships mark the 100th annivesary of the Big Ten meet, dating back to 1908 (the meet was not held from 1917-18 due to World War I and from 1933-37). The Gophers have won a total of four Big Ten team titles (1909, 1914, 1964, 1969) and 10 individual Big Ten titles.

Celebrating Gopher Cross Country History

The University of Minnesota celebrates a pair of notable cross country anniversaries during the 2014 season. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Gophers' 1914 Big Ten cross country title as well as the 50th anniversary of the team's 1964 Big Ten cross country title. The 1914 title represented Minnesota's second conference crown (1909) in just the seventh year of Big Ten competition while Fred Watson won his second of three straight individual Big Ten titles that year for Minnesota. Meanwhile, the 1964 title marked the Gophers' third conference title with then-head coach Roy Griak leading the team to the title in just his second year at the helm. Griak continues to work with the program and is in his 51st year with the Gophers.

Success Under Plasencia

Now in his 19th season at the helm of the Minnesota men's cross country program, Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia has continued to guide the Gophers program to successful season after successful season. During his 18-year tenure, the Gophers have earned 14 NCAA Championship bids as well as three NCAA regional titles. Plasencia has also coached the Gophers to a total of 12 All-America honors and 28 All-Big Ten honors. A two-time All-American for the Gophers, Plasencia still holds the school record for a 10-kilometer race.

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Aaron Bartnik

Alex Brend

Christian Skaret

Adam Zutz

Upcoming Events

University of Minnesota Athletics