University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, September 5
Les Bolstad Golf Course
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Oz Memorial
Zutz Paces Gophers at Oz Memorial
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 5, 2014
Link: 2014 Oz Memorial Results
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (GopherSports.com) - Junior Adam Zutz's runner-up finish paced the University of Minnesota men's cross country team on Friday night at the Oz Memorial in the 2014 season opener.
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (GopherSports.com) - Junior Adam Zutz's runner-up finish paced the University of Minnesota men's cross country team on Friday night at the Oz Memorial in the 2014 season opener.
The junior from St. Francis, Minn., clocked a 19:05.0 to place second in the six-kilometer race while Drake's Brogan Austin captured the individual medal at 18:49.4.
"It's pretty early in the season, so we were just trying to get the legs moving for the first time," Zutz said. "It's always nice to place high. There's some pretty good runners here. It's always fun to get out there and compete."
"It's pretty early in the season, so we were just trying to get the legs moving for the first time," Zutz said. "It's always nice to place high. There's some pretty good runners here. It's always fun to get out there and compete."
Alex Brend quickly followed his teammate across the finish line at 19:07.1 to finish fourth in the event - besting his previous personal six-kilometer record by more than 16 seconds. Riley Macon and Brad Woodford also posted new personal records on Friday night with Macon crossing the finish line at 19:22.1 to finish eighth and Woodford coming in at 19:45.3 to finish 14th.
Matthew Jergenson rounded out the Gophers scoring, finishing 22nd overall and 21st among attached competitors. Jergenson clocked a 20:07.3 in his first official race as a Gopher. Freshman Derek Wiebke made his collegiate debut for the Maroon & Gold by placing 26th with a time of 20:17.6.
The Gophers finished second in their season opener with a team score of 49 points behind only Drake with 44.
"We had a great day for running, and the race times were pretty good across the board," Minnesota Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "We have some things to learn, but we're a young group. That's to be expected."
"We had a great day for running, and the race times were pretty good across the board," Minnesota Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "We have some things to learn, but we're a young group. That's to be expected."
Newcomer Sam Carlson finished 15th as unattached competitor with a time of 19:48.9 while fellow incoming freshman and unattached runner Isaiah Barlow clocked a 21:18.6 to place 38th.
The Gophers return to action next Saturday, Sept. 13 with the UC Riverside Invitational in Riverside, Calif.
The Gophers return to action next Saturday, Sept. 13 with the UC Riverside Invitational in Riverside, Calif.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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