University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Gophers Second After B1G Day One
5/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 15, 2015
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Golden Gophers are second with 21 points after day one action at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Minnesota secured four top-seven finishes in the hammer throw and picked up points in the pole vault and 10,000-meter run as the B1G Championship began at Michigan State's Ralph Young Track and Field Friday.
Minnesota picked up 17 points with four top-seven finishes in the hammer throw led by Devin Stanford's runner-up showing with a throw of 61.44m (201-7.25). Lyndsey Thorpe, Angie Guenther, and Ke-ke Burks placed fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, each with career-best throws. The trio increased their positions on the Gophers' all-time list as well.
"Hammer was awesome today," director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle said. "They really competed well and came together as a group. Any time you have all four women score in an event, it's an awesome thing. I'm excited for Devin and the PRs in that group. It was great to see them compete."
Katie Murgic also scored points for the Gophers with a sixth-place finish in pole vault. Murgic cleared 4.02m (13-2.25) to earn three points in the team standings. Cami Gilson was 16th at 3.92m (12-10.25).
Liz Berkholtz scored one point with an eighth-place finish in the 10,000m as well. She clocked a 34:55.80 in her first 10,000m race of the season.
"Liz gave a great effort to finish eighth in her first 10K of the year, and I was also pleased with Katie Murgic, who did a good job getting some points for us as well," Bingle added.
Gophers Rank in Top Seven through Four Heptathlon Events
The heptathlon began on Friday as well, and Gophers Jess Herauf, Alex Beckman, and Amanda Beckman are all in the top seven through four events. Herauf is currently in third with 3,439 points, just 19 points out of second place. Alex Beckman has 3,399 points for fourth place, and Amanda Beckman is seventh (2,944 points).
"Overall, I'm really pleased with the day," Bingle said. "All three heptathletes had a good day. They competed well with lots of good efforts. It was a good team day with lots of energy. I'm excited to get the full meet rolling tomorrow and see how we get after it."
Herauf set personal bests in the 100-meter hurdles (14.41) and the high jump (1.76m, 5-09.25). Her high jump mark of 1.76m placed second in the heptathlon and is tied for third in Minnesota history. Herauf also picked up third-place finishes in both the 100m hurdles and the shot put (12.59m, 41-03.75).
Alex Beckman set personal bests in the heptathlon 200-meter dash, where she was second in 24.70, and the heptathlon high jump, where she placed third and moved into a tie for ninth in Minnesota history at 1.73m (5-8). She also clocked a season-best 14.44 in the 100-meter hurdles for fourth place.
Meanwhile, Amanda Beckman also recorded a personal best in the heptathlon 200m at 25.10 seconds for fifth place. She was eighth in both the heptathlon high jump (1.58m, 5-02.25) and shot put (10.50m, 34-5.50) as well.
Action at the Big Ten Championship continues Saturday and Sunday, beginning with the remaining heptathlon events Saturday morning. The heptathlon long jump is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. CT, followed by the javelin at 10:30 a.m. CT and the 800-meter run at 12:45 p.m. CT. The first women's event on the track is the 1,500-meter run preliminary at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Gophers' B1G Scoring Finishes through Day One
2. Devin Stanford, hammer throw, 61.44m (201-7.25), 8 points
5. Lyndsey Thorpe, hammer throw, 59.78m (196-1.75), 4 points
6. Angie Guenther, hammer throw, 59.38m (194-10), 3 points
6. Katie Murgic, pole vault, 4.02m (13-2.25), 3 points
7. Ke-ke Burks, hammer throw, 58.90m (193-3.25), 2 points
8. Liz Berkholtz, 10,000m, 34:55.80, 1 point
2015 Big Ten Team Standings
1. Michigan State, 26
2. Minnesota, 21
3. Nebraska, 18
4. Indiana, 14
5. Michigan, 12
6. Illinois, 11.5
7. Wisconsin, 6
7. Iowa, 6
9. Purdue, 1.5
9. Penn State, 1
###
Players Mentioned
