University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Jack Johnson Classic this Weekend
1/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
| Jack Johnson Classic | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, Jan. 30-Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 | ||||||||||
| Location | University of Minnesota Fieldhouse | Minneapolis, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Meet Info | Schedule | Heat Sheets | Performance List | ||||||||||
| Time | Friday: 2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday: 9:39 a.m. CT | ||||||||||
| Coverage | Live Results | @GopherMCCTF | ||||||||||
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- The University of Minnesota men's track & field team returns to action this weekend with the Jack Johnson Classic at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse on campus. Competition kicks off on Friday, Jan. 30 with the meet concluding on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Gophers Rank Fifth in Midwest Region
The USTFCCCA announced its first regional rankings of the season this week with the Maroon & Gold coming in fifth in the Midwest Region. Illinois paces the region in first, followed by Nebraska, Kansas State, Southern Illinois and then Minnesota.
Throwers Among the Best in the Nation
Three Gophers rank among the top-25 performances in the nation this year including a pair of student-athletes in the weight throw. In the weight throw, Justin Barber's throw of 21.34 meters (70-00.25 ft) ranks ninth in the nation this year while Gian Ferretti's 20.86 meters (68-05.25 ft.) currently sits 17th in the nation. Meanwhile in the shot put, Luke Johnson's 18.68 meters (61-03.50 ft.) ranks 18th nationally. All three throws were recorded at last weekend's dual against the Badgers.
Last Time Out - Wisconsin/Minnesota Dual
The University of Minnesota men's track & field program dominated a rare dual meet on last 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.
Meet Recap
Barber, Jennings, Dulian to Serve as Captains
Three seniors will serve as captains for the 2015 campaign -- Justin Barber, Blayne Dulian and Mark Jennings.
"As a program, we are very proud to name Mark Jennings, Blayne Dulian and Justin Barber as our team captains for the upcoming season," Plasencia said. "All three are terrific representatives of the University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics. They've all shown great dedication to our program in the classroom and in competition and will be great leaders for us this season.
Barber and Jennings are two veterans of Minnesota's throwing corps while Dulian, who also served as captain of the cross country team last fall, runs distance for the Gophers.
Next Up -- Bethel Open/Bison Open
The Gophers return to action next Saturday with a pair of regional meets. Minnesota will send contigencies to the Bethel Open in St. Paul and the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D.
Players Mentioned
