University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Minnesota/Wisconsin Dual
Gophers Repeat as Border Battle Champs
1/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Results | Photo Gallery
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - For the second year in a row, the University of Minnesota men's track & field program came out on top in the Border Battle, winning the Minnesota/Wisconsin Dual 88-72 on Saturday afternoon at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse on campus.
The meet - dubbed "The Dual" - saw the Gophers win nine out of 15 events while the Maroon & Gold garnered the maximum eight points in five of those event wins.
"Our guys have been anticipating this dual for a long time, and it was great to see the determination they had to defend their title," Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "We have a lot of respect for the Badgers program. They made us work for it today, and we're certainly happy with the end result."
Luca Wieland led the charge for the Gophers with 12 points towards the team total, winning the long jump (7.46 meters, 24-05.75 ft.) and the 60-meter hurdles (8.07) for five points each while coming in third in the high jump (2.03 meters, 6-08.00 ft.) for an additional two points.
Wieland's performance in the high jump combined with Nick Bachinski's winning jump of 2.14 meters (7-00.25 ft.) gave the Gophers seven points in the event. Bachinski's performance marked a personal record for the Gopher.
In addition to Wieland and Bachinski's notable performances, the Gophers also featured a big win in the shot put as Luke Johnson hit a new personal record of 18.98 meters (62-03.25 ft.). The showing moves Johnson up to fourth on Minnesota's all-time top performers list. Bryan Bjerk added two points in the event, finishing third at 16.09 meters (52-09.50 ft.).
The Maroon & Gold also posted the top four finishers in the weight throw as the Gophers garnered eight points in the event. Gian Ferretti led the way at 20.41 meters (66-11.50 ft.) followed by Mac Riedy in second at 18.95 meters (62-02.25 ft.), Viktor Stelter in third at 17.67 meters (57-11.75 ft.) and Sam Elsner in fourth at 17.58 meters (57-08.25 ft.).
Mitch Hechsel and Rashawn Fountain paced the 600 meters to combine for eight points in the event. Hechsel won the event with a time of 1:18.89 while Fountain crossed the finish line at 1:19.81. Minnesota also boasted the top pair of finishers in the 800 meters with Goaner Deng coming in at 1:51.51 and Shane Streich finishing second at 1:52.75.
Minnesota grabbed another eight points with a first and second place finish in the triple jump. Jordan Charles won the event at 14.70 meters (48-02.75 ft.) while James Travis finished as the runner up at 14.31 meters (46-11.50 ft.)
The Gophers also added five points in the 4x400 meter relay as Roese, Hechsel, Deng and Jack Wellenstein clocked a 3:14.69 to beat the Wisconsin squad.
Additionally, Gemechu Godi and Brad Neumann finished second (21.80) and third (22.09), respectively in the 200 meters to combined for five points. Wellenstein and Roese finished second (48.58) and fourth (49.17), respectively in the 400 meters for four points. Ben Holcomb totaled five points with his runner-up finish in the 60-meter hurdles (8.19) and his fourth-place showing in the pole vault (4.30 meters, 14-01.25 ft.).
Derek Wiebke came in second (4:07.76) and Wayde Hall finished fifth (4:10.94) in the mile run for a total of four points. Obsa Ali's third-place finish (8:34.26) and Aaron Bartnik's fifth-place showing (8:35.54) in the 3,000 meters added three points to the team total. Andrew Ajaluwa added a point with his fourth-place performance in the long jump (6.84 meters, 22-05.25 ft.).
The Gophers continue the home indoor schedule next weekend with the Jack Johnson Invitational, Jan. 29-30, at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.
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Players Mentioned
