University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
UW-La Crosse Eagle Open
Gophers Win Three Titles at Eagle Open
5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 8, 2015
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Lyndsey Thorpe, Taylor Mikkalson and Katie Murgic won event titles and the Gophers combined for 23 career-best marks as members of the Minnesota women's track & field team competed at the Eagle Open hosted by UW-La Crosse Friday evening.
The meet marked the final meet of the 2015 season for many of the Gophers while others used it as a final tune-up before next weekend's Big Ten Championship. Three Gophers climbed in Minnesota's all-time ranks with their career-best performances as well.
Thorpe won the hammer throw with a career-best toss of 58.80m (192-11) to move into fifth among all-time Gophers. Angie Guenther and Allie Heifort also secured career bests as Guenther was second and moved into ninth all-time at 58.22m (191-00). Heifort placed eighth with a personal-best 49.10m (161-01).
All seven Gophers recorded career-best times in the 3,000m steeplechase led by Mikkalson's first-place time of 10:30.64 to move into seventh in Minnesota history. Kate Bucknam was second in 10:41.65, followed by Madeline Strandemo in third (10:46.28).
Seniors Andie Zeman and Chelsea Pettit had strong performances as well. Zeman led seven Gophers in the 800-meter run in a season-best 2:15.06, and Pettit placed fifth in the 1,500-meter run in a career-best 4:40.21.
Murgic and Cami Gilson were first and second in pole vault, and Kelly Flynn placed third in long jump with a season-best jump of 5.70m (18-8.50).
In total, the Gophers collected 23 career-best marks, including 20 in the distance events.
Bailey Ness (17:20.43) and Patty O'Brien (17:29.50) set career-bests and finished first and second in the 5,000m run, and Emily Castanias (4:39.24, 1,500m run) and Paige Peschel (2:16.42, 800m) finished fourth in their respective events to lead the unattached Gophers. Kiley Sabin placed second in the shot put (13.89m, 45-07) and third in the discus (43.89m, 144-00) competing unattached as well.
Next weekend, the Gophers travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the 2015 Big Ten Championships hosted by Michigan State at Ralph Young Field May 15-17.
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Players Mentioned
