University of Minnesota Athletics
Sixteen Gophers Earn NCAA Track Bids
5/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Regional Accepted Entries | Combined Events Accepted Entries
MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com) -- Sixteen members of the University of Minnesota men's track & field program have qualified for the NCAA postseason with 15 Gophers heading to the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Preliminary Championships, May 28-30, in Austin Texas.
Big Ten decathlon champion Luca Wieland, meanwhile, has earned a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 10-13, in Eugene, Ore.
Eight Gophers return to the regional meet from last year's squad including three-fourths of Minnesota's 4x400 meter relay team in Nate Roese, Mitch Hechsel and Goaner Deng (along with newcomer Rashawn Fountain). Roese will also represent the Gophers in the 400 meters while Hechsel, Deng and fellow returner Bradley Johnson will run in the 800 meters. Senior captain Blayne Dulian also qualified in the 1,500 meters while Aaron Bartnik will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Meanwhile, the Gophers throwers will once again send a large contingency of competitors to the NCAA regional meet including senior captains Mark Jennings and Justin Barber. Jennings will compete in the shot put along with Luke Johnson while Johnson, Barber, Sam Elsner and Bryan Bjerk qualified for the discus. Barber will also compete in the hammer throw along with school record holder Gian Ferretti.
The Gophers also qualified a pair of competitors in the high jump competition in returning senior Danny Schiller and Ryan Lockard.
Qualifiers from both NCAA regional meets move on to the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 10-13, in Eugene, Ore.
Players Mentioned
