University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Headed to USATF Championships
6/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) --Two-time Gopher All-American Goaner Deng along with Gopher All-American alums Harun Abda, Ben Blankenship and Hassan Mead will compete at the 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships this week at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
A native of Apple Valley, Minn., Deng is set for the 800 meters competition after qualifying with a 1:47.32 at the NCAA championships earlier this month in Eugene. The performance gave Deng a new personal record for the second race in a row while the mark stands as the eighth-fastest time ever in the event by a Gopher (Deng also ranks fourth all-time on Minnesota's top outdoor performers list in the 800 meters).
Abda, Minnesota's school record holder in the 800 meters, also qualified, meaning two of the best 800 runners in school history will face off this week. With 13 All-America honors to his name, Abda is the most decorated All-American in program history. He qualified for the event with a 1:45.85.
Blankenship, who helped the U.S. set a new distance medley relay world record earlier this year, qualified for the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:35.28 -- the fourth fastest qualifying time for the event and a personal record. Mead boasts the second fastest 5,000 meters qualifying time at 13:07.81 and the third fastest 10,000 meters qualifying time at 27:33.04 -- also a personal record.
Abda, Blankenship and Mead all currently compete for Nike's Oregon Track Club Elite program.
Meanwhile, incoming Gopher freshman Shane Streich will compete in the 800 meters at the 2015 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, held in conjunction with the USATF Outdoor Championships. The decorated runner from Waseca, Minn., closed out his prep career with three state titles earlier this month in the 800 meters, the 1,600 meters and as a member of the 4x400 meter relay while Waseca picked up the MSHSL Class A state championship. A six-time state champion including a cross country title in the fall, Streich qualified with a 1:49.73 -- a personal record that came in a first-place finish at the U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic in June.
Athletes at both events will look to earn roster spots on the 2015 IAAF World Championships team set for August 22-30 in Beijing, China as well as on the Pan Am Games, Thorpe Cup, Pan Am Juniors and NACAC Championships teams.
Schedule (All Times Central)
Thursday, June 25
6:00 pm -- Men's 800 Meter First Round
8:45 pm -- Men's 1,500 Meter First Round
10:15 pm -- Men's 10,000 Meter Finals
Friday, June 26
4:45 pm -- Men's Junior 800 Meter First Round
10:44 pm -- Men's 800 Meter Semifinals
Saturday, June 27
4:20 pm -- Men's 1,500 Meter Final
6:23 pm -- Men's Junior 800 Meter Finals
Sunday, June 28
12:45 pm -- Men's 5,000 Meter Finals (Updated)
3:57 pm -- Men's 800 Meter Finals
Television coverage for the weekend
Thursday: 9:00-11:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports
Friday: 3:00-5:00 p.m. CT on NBC
Saturday: 2:00-3:00 p.m. CT on Universal Sports
Sunday: 3:00-5:00p.m. CT on NBC
Players Mentioned
