University of Minnesota Athletics
Jack Johnson on Deck for 'U'
1/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
| 2016 Jack Johnson Invitational | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, Jan. 29-Saturday, Jan. 30 | ||||||||||
| Time | Friday: 1 p.m. CT, Saturday: 9:30 a.m. CT | ||||||||||
| Location | U of M Fieldhouse | Minneapolis, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Meet Links | Heat Sheets | Schedule | Live Results | ||||||||||
| Social Media | @GopherMCCTF | Facebook | ||||||||||
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- The University of Minnesota men's track & field program returns to action this weekend with the Jack Johnson Invitational, Jan. 29-30, at the University of Minnesota Field House.
Last Time Out: Minnesota/Wisconsin Dual
The Gophers repeated as Minnesota/Wisconsin Dual champions with an 88-72 victory over the Badgers last Saturday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse. The Maroon & Gold won nine out of 15 events at the meet and scored the maximum eight points in five of those event wins.
Full Recap
Rewind: 2015 Jack Johnson Invitational
Minnesota garnered nine titles at last year's Jack Johnson Invitational.
Full Recap
Three to Lead in 2016
The Gophers have tabbed a trio of seniors to serve as team captains this season with Luke Johnson(Redwing, Minn.), Goaner Deng (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Adam Zutz (St. Francis, Minn.) earning the honor for the Maroon & Gold.
Wieland Returns as NCAA Champion
Minnesota All-American junior Luca Wieland set a school record to win the NCAA heptathlon title last year with 6,070 points -- the eighth-most points ever by a collegiate athlete in the event, while his two-point win over Georgia's Garrett Scantling marked the closest finish in NCAA championships history. Wieland's national championship is the 13th individual NCAA title in program history. A native of Saarbrucken, Germany, the sophomore is just the fourth Gopher in the program's 117-year history to sweep the Big Ten multi-events titles -- joining Benjamin Jensen (1997), Travis Brandstatter (2005) and R.J. McGinnis (2010). Wieland originally broke Jensen's 17-year old school record with 5,787 points to win the Big Ten heptathlon title (later re-set his own record at the NCAA meet) and added the Big Ten decathlon title with 7,635 points -- the 10th-most points ever by a Gopher in the event.
Gophers Bring Back Three All-Americans
The Maroon & Gold bring back a trio of All-Americans from last year's squad including Wieland's national championship performance in the heptathlon. During the outdoor season, Minnesota earned an additional pair of All-America honors. Goaner Deng picked up his second career All-America accolade (first was as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team in 2013) with his performance in the 800 meters while Gian Ferrettiadded his first career All-America showing in the hammer throw, marking the fifth-straight season Minnesota has carried an All-American in the event.
Strength in the 600
Not only did Gophers Mitch Hechsel and Nate Roese finish first and second in the Big Ten indoor 600 meter finals last year, the duo also tallied the fastest times in the event nation-wide. Hechsel's winning time of 1:16.26 was the NCAA's top mark last year -- just beatin Roese's runner-up time of 1:16.47.
Johnson Continues to Move Up
Senior captain Luke Johnson continues to move up Minnesota's all-time top performers list in the shot put. With a win last Saturday, 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.
Remembering Roy Griak
For the first time in more than half a century, the University of Minnesota men's track & field team will head into competition without Roy Griak on its coaching staff. The legendary coach passed away in July after dedicating his life to the University of Minnesota and the sports of cross country and track & field. A Minnesota alum, Griak spent more than 50 years on the Gophers coaching staff including 33 as head coach of the men's track & field and cross country programs. In that time, he guided the Gophers to three Big Ten titles, three national champions, 47 All-Americans and 60 Big Ten champions.
Next Up: Gene Glader Classic
The Gophers return to action next Saturday with the Gene Glader Classic in St. Paul. Bethl hosts the meet with the action starting at 11 a.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
