University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Wisconsin Dual
Gophers Dominate in Border Battle Dual
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Link: Dual Results
MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com) - The University of Minnesota men's track & field program dominated a rare dual meet on Saturday afternoon against Border Battle rival Wisconsin, picking up a 98-59 win over the Badgers.
The Gophers won 11 of 15 events in the dual meet including eight events with the top two finishers, giving Minnesota eight team points in each of them.
"We really had a great dual today, and I can't say enough about the way the guys came out and competed," Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "We knew there would be a lot of excitement for this dual especially against a rival as big as Wisconsin, and our team really stepped up from top to bottom."
Saturday's dual format featured scores of 5-3-2-1 for each event with the top performer earning five team points, the runner-up earning three points and so on with the top two finishers from each team earning points.
Among the eight point events for Minnesota was the shot put, led by Luke Johnson's winning attempt of 18.68 meters (61-03.50 ft.). Not only was it a new personal record for Johnson, but it currently stands as the third best toss in the Big Ten this season. Mark Jennings finished second at 18.14 meters (59-06.25 ft.) while Bryan Bjerk came in fourth at 16.74 meters (54-11.25 ft.) - both stand as personal records for the Gophers.
Likewise, Minnesota had the top four finishers in the 60-meter dash with Brad Neumann besting Gemechu Godi for the title at 6.85 and 6.93, respectively. Neumann and Godi also finished first and third, respectively, in the 200 meter dash at 21.88 and 22.42 as Neumann ended the dual with two titles and now sits at four wins on the season in two meets.
Minnesota also posted top two finishes in the 600 meters (Mitch Hechsel at 1:19.31, Goaner Deng at 1:21.26), the 800 meters (Bradley Johnson at 1:53.38, Derek Wiebke at 1:54.02), the 3,000 meters (Aaron Bartnik at 8:39.30, Adam Zutz at 8:41.52), the 60-meter hurdles (Luca Wieland at 8.26, Ben Holcomb at 8.39), the long jump (Trevor Yedoni at 7.26 meters/23-10.00 ft., Wieland at 7.25 meters/23-09.50 ft.) and the high jump (Nick Bachinski and Danny Schiller in a jump off at 2.05 meters/6-08.75 ft.).
The Gophers also paced the 4x400 meter relay with the team of Nate Roese, Hechsel, Deng and Bradley Johnson running a 3:15.99 while Jordan Charles won the triple jump at 13.87 meters (45-06.25 ft.). Glen Harold and Logan Markuson finished second and third, respectively, in a jump off in the pole vault at 4.80 meters, 15-09.00 ft., and Justin Barber and Gian Ferretti both hit personal records to finish second and third in the weight throw at 21.34 meters (70-00.25 ft.) and 20.86 meters (68-05.25 ft.).
Minnesota returns to action next weekend with the Jack Johnson Invitational Jan. 30-31 at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse on campus.
Players Mentioned
