University of Minnesota Athletics
'U' Sends Five to NCAA Indoor Meet
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
| 2016 NCAA Indoor Indoor Track & Field Championships | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, March 11-Saturday, March 12 | ||||||||||
| Time | Friday: 12 p.m. CT; Saturday: 12 p.m. CT | ||||||||||
| Location | Birmingham CrossPlex | Birmingham, Ala. | ||||||||||
| Meet Links | Heat Sheets | Schedule | Live Results | ||||||||||
| Social Media | @GopherMCCTF | Facebook | ||||||||||
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- The No. 24 University of Minnesota men's track & field program will send five competitors to the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend, Marcy 11-12, in Birmingham, Ala.
All-Big Ten honorees Goaner Deng, Gian Ferretti and Ryan Lockard as well as Luke Johnson and Luca Wieland will represent the Maroon & Gold.
Luca Wieland/Heptahlon Preview
Defending NCAA heptathlon champion Luca Wieland returns to the indoor national championships this year after turning heads at the meet one year ago. 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 and the first under Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia. Wieland qualified for this year's NCAA meet with a score of 5,814 points -- the sixth-best mark in the nation this year.
Gian Ferretti/Weight Throw Preview
Gian Ferretti paces the nation's top weight throwing group as the Gophers led this year's USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Event Squad Rankings. Ferretti led the way for the Maroon & Gold after posting a personal record of 21.62 meters (70-11.00 ft.) to finish second at the Big Ten indoor meet and earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The performance ranks third all-time at Minnesota and currently ranks 13th in the nation.
Luke Johnson/Shot Put Preview
Senior captain Luke Johnson qualified for the NCAA meet with his personal record of 19.48 meters (63-11.00 ft.) in the shot put -- a performance that ranks eighth in the nation this year. Johnson now ranks third all-time at Minnesota in the indoor shot put and seventh all-time in school history in the outdoor shot put.
Goaner Deng/800 Meters Preview
Senior captain Goaner Deng has two outdoor All-America honors under his belt and will look to add his first indoor accolade this weekend after a runner-up finish at the Big Ten indoor meet. The Second Team All-Big Ten runner posted a personal record at the conference meet of 1:47.13 -- the ninth-best qualifying time in the nation this year and a mark that ranks third all-time at the University of Minnesota.
Ryan Lockard/High Jump Preview
Ryan Lockard posted a Second Team All-Big Ten performance with his second-place showing at the conference meet last month and will make his NCAA championships debut this weekend for the Maroon & Gold. Lockard hit a personal record in the high jump at the Big Ten indoor meet of 2.19 meters (7-02.25 ft.). Lockard and fellow Gopher Nick Bachinski, who finished third at the Big Ten meet, gave the Gophers their best event of the championships, combining for 14 of Minnesota's 72 points.
Six Gophers Head to USATF Indoor Championships
Additionally, current Gopher senior thrower Sean Donnelly as well as five Minnesota alums will be in action at the 2016 USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend, March 11-12, in Portland, Ore. Donnelly will compete in the weight throw while Harun Abda (800 meters), Hassan Mead (3,000 meters), Ben Blankenship (1,500 meters), Travis Burkstrand (800 meters, 1,500 meters) and Zach Siegmeier (pole vault) will also be in action.
Minnesota Finishes Third at Big Tens
Behind Second Team All-Big Ten honorees Goaner Deng, Ryan Lockard and Gian Ferretti, the Maroon & Gold finished third at the 2016 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio. Minnesota tallied 72 points as a team -- one behind Wisconsin in second and one in front of Michigan in fourth.
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.
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.
ESPN Network to Broadcast NCAA Indoor Meet
ESPN3 will stream the meet live on March 11 starting at 6:25 p.m. Eastern time and March 12 starting at 4:55 p.m. Eastern time. A re-air of the championship will take place on Sunday, March 13 starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN2 and also Wednesday, March 23 starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
