University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Iowa State Classic
Gophers Earn 16 Career Bests at Iowa State
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 14, 2015
AMES, Iowa - Including record-breaking performances in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash and eight mid-distance personal milestones, the Golden Gopher women's track & field team finished the Iowa State Classic with 16 career-best marks as the two-day meet concluded on Saturday.
Minnesota's record-breaking efforts included Emma Spagnola and Kimberly Golding in the 60m hurdles. Spagnola clocked an 8.48 for second place at the meet with Golding on her heels in third at 8.50 seconds. The duo now ranks first and second in Minnesota track & field history, and they have already combined to beat the previous Gopher record five times this season.
Meanwhile, a day after running the second-best time in Minnesota history in the 200-meter dash (24.14), Erin Hawkins clocked a 7.65 for fourth place in the 60-meter dash final.
Eight of Minnesota's career-best performances were among the mid-distance Gophers as four runners in both the 800-meter run and the mile recorded personal bests.
Lauren Domski led six Gophers in the 800m. Domski placed 24th in a season-best 2:12.44, followed by Anne Ferguson (2:13.06), Stacey Swatek (2:13.74), Andie Zeman (2:14.95) and Anne Haakenstad (2:20.13) with indoor career-bests. Kate Shelerud (2:19.58) made her 2015 debut as well.
Likewise, four Gophers ran career-best times in the mile, and five posted sub-5:00 miles. Led by Kaila Urick's career-best 4:50.37 for 11th place, Minnesota had four top-20 finishes. Becca Dyson ran 4:52.37 for 14th, followed by Ally McSherry (career-best 4:53.01), Haley Johnson (career-best 4:53.44), Madeline Strandemo (career-best 4:59.51) and Taylor Mikkalson (5:01.48).
Minnesota secured three top-nine finishes in the 400-meter dash. Titania Markland placed fourth in 55.21 seconds, followed by Jessica Waldvogel in seventh in 55.88. Kat Keller placed ninth with a career-best time of 56.18. The Gophers' 4x400-meter relay team of Keller, Hawkins, Spagnola and Markland finished fourth in 3:43.03, marking Minnesota's second-fastest 4x400m relay of the season.
Jamie Piepenburg and Danielle Anderson started the meet for the Gophers by clocking career-best times in the 3,000-meter run. Piepenburg placed 18th in 9:42.29, while Anderson was 21st in 9:50.72.
Saturday's field events included the pole vault where Minnesota picked up two top-five showings. Katie Murgic cleared 4.06m for third place, and Cami Gilson cleared 3.91m to tie for fifth place.
In total, the Gophers recorded 16 career-best marks at the Iowa State Classic, including performances on both Friday and Saturday: Hawkins (200m), Keller (200m, 400m), Ferguson (800m), Swatek (800m), Zeman (800m), Haakenstad (800m), Urick (mile), McSherry (mile), Johnson (mile), Strandemo (mile), Piepenburg (3,000m), Anderson (3,000m), Megan Bailey (5,000m), Spagnola (60m hurdles) and Golding (60m hurdles).
Up next for Minnesota is the team's final home meet of the indoor season. The Gophers host the annual Parents Day Invite at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse next Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Gophers will honor their 20 seniors at the meet: Lisa Bailey, Megan Bailey, Frances Conlin, Lauren Domski, Anne Ferguson, Kelly Flynn, Marnie Kinnaird, Ally McSherry, Rachel Melum, Katie Murgic, Nicole Murphey, Megan Petermann, Chelsea Pettit, Rebecca Rethwisch, Devin Stanford, Stacey Swatek, Hannah Trasser, Sara Tseng, Jessica Waldvogel and Andie Zeman.
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