University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Ferretti, Deng Notch All-America Performances
6/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Link: NCAA Results
Eugene, Ore. (GopherSports.com) --Goaner Deng and Gian Ferretti put together All-America performances on Wednesday as the University of Minnesota men's track & field program closed out the season at the 2015 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships.
Ferretti finished 12th in the hammer throw to give the Maroon & Gold an All-American in the event for the fifth-straight year while Deng finished seventh in the 800 meters with a new personal record and one of the best times in school history.
"It's always tough to see the season end, but this is the most competitive meet of the year, and our guys gained some valuable experience," Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "Goaner and Gian worked hard for us all season long, and it's great to see them be rewarded as All-Americans."
An Apple Valley, Minn., native, Deng bested his personal record by more than a second with a 1:47.32 -- the eighth-fastest 800 time in Minnesota history -- while Deng moved from 10th on the Gophers' top outdoor performers list to fourth behind only Harun Abda, David Pachuta and Toby Henkels.
Deng, who locked up his second career All-America honor on Wednesday (previously was a member of Minnesota's 4x400 meter relay team that earned All-America honors in 2013), actually clocked the seventh-fastest time in the preliminary round. But with the top two finishers in each of Wednesday's three heats advancing along with the next two fastest times, Deng's fifth-place showing in his heat wasn't enough to push him to Friday's finals.
A native of Cascina, Italy, Ferretti earned Second Team All-America accolades after hitting 65.28 meters (214-03 ft.) with his third and final attempt at Hayward Field on Wednesday afternoon. The junior closes out his first season of competition at Minnesota with seven of the top 20 hammer throws in school history including a school record performance of 69.65 meters (228-06.50 ft.) at the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships last month.
Ferretti is now the fourth Gopher to earn All-America honors in the hammer throw, joining three-time honoree Micah Hegerle (2011-13), two-time honoree Quentin Mege (2012-13) and 2014 honoree Jon Lehman as all seven of the team's All-America accolades in the event have come under Plasencia and throws coach Lynden Reder.
Meanwhile, Luke Johnson finished 21st in his first NCAA outdoor meet in the shot put. The junior hit 18.45 meters (60-06.50 ft.).
Big Ten decathlon champion Luca Wieland, who also won the NCAA and Big Ten heptathlon titles during the indoor season, was forced to withdraw from competition after aggravating an injury during warm-ups.
Players Mentioned
