University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 16 Gophers Set for NCAA Championships
11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
| 2015 NCAA Championships | |||||||||||
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 | ||||||||||
| Location | E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park | Louisville, Ky. | ||||||||||
| Time | Men's 10K: 12 p.m. CT | Women's 6K: 11 p.m. Ct | ||||||||||
| Coverage | Live Results | Notes | Performance List | ||||||||||
| Social | @GopherMCCTF | Facebook | ||||||||||
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- One of the hottest teams in the country entering the weekend, the No. 16 University of Minnesota men's cross country program returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 21 with the 2015 NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky. The E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park hosts this year's national meet with the men's 10-kilometer race set for 12 p.m. CT.
Minnesota Earns Auto Bid to Championships
Minnesota will make its first NCAA championships appearance as a team after securing a second-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 13 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kans. Minnesota, which also won the season-opening Bob Timmons Dual Classic on the course, combined for 95 points and was one of only two teams to score below 100 (Oklahoma State: 59).
Gophers Garner All-Region Honors
The Maroon & Gold claimed four All-Region honors last weekend in Kansas with Aaron Bartnik, Adam Zutz, Obsa Ali and Charlie Lawrence posting top-25 finishes. Bartnik nabbed his second-straight honor with a 12th-place showing while Ali (14th), Zutz (18th) and Lawrence (19th) claimed their first career honors.
Plasencia Named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
Minnesota Men's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia has now led the Gophers to 15 NCAA championships in his 20 seasons as head coach of the Maroon & Gold. After clinching another bid this year, Plasencia has been tabbed the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year. The award marks Plasencia's fourth regional accolade from the USTFCCCA (2015, 2004, 2001, 1991).
Jumping Up in the Polls
Minnesota has vaulted up in the USTFCCCA national polls over the last month, emerging at No. 26 following a third-place finish at the Big Ten meet and now jumping to No. 16 following the NCAA Midwest Regional. The 10-place jump marks the largest jump of any team ranked in the newest USTFCCCA national poll.
Minnesota Made
It's worth noting that the only Division I program in the state of Minnesota will send its cross country squad to the national championships using exclusively in-state products. All eight Gophers heading to Louisville hail from Minnesota as does Men's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia. In fact, 16 of Minnesota's 17 student-athletes this year claim Minnesota as their home state.
'U' Celebrates Three All-Big Ten Runners
Adam Zutz ran the fifth-fastest eight-kilometer time in school history (23:40.0) to earn his first career First Team All-Big Ten honor with a seventh-place finish at the 2015 Big Ten Championships in Chicago on Nov. 1. Aaron Bartnik, who earned First Team All-Big Ten honors a year ago, added his second-straight conference accolade with a Second Team All-Big Ten honor while Obsa Ali ran a personal record to pick up Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The Gophers finished third at the conference meet this year.
Three to Lead in 2015
A trio of redshirt seniors will serve as team captains for the Minnesota men's cross country team this year. Christian Skaret (Minnetonka, Minn.), Adam Zutz (St. Francis, Minn.) and First Team All-Big Ten honoree Aaron Bartnik (Eden Prairie, Minn.) were selected as captains for the 105th season of Gopher cross country.
Success Under Plasencia
Now in his 20th 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 20-year tenure, the Gophers have earned 15 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 33 All-Big Ten honors. A two-time All-American for the Gophers, Plasencia still holds the school record for a 10-kilometer race.
Remembering Roy Griak
For the first time in more than half a century, the University of Minnesota men's cross country team will head into competition without Roy Griak on its coaching staff. The legendary coach passed away in July after dedicating his life to the University of Minnesota and the sports of cross country and track & field. A Minnesota alum, Griak spent more than 50 years on the Gophers coaching staff including 33 as head coach of the men's track & field and cross country programs. In that time, he guided the Gophers to three Big Ten titles, three national champions, 47 All-Americans and 60 Big Ten champions. The Gophers will wear a special commemorative patch to honor Griak this season.
Players Mentioned
