University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Gophers, Wolverines Share B1G Crown
5/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 15, 2016
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Gophers' 4x400-meter relay team of Erin Hawkins, Kat Keller, Emerald Egwim, and Titania Markland placed fourth to clinch a share of the 2016 Big Ten Conference Outdoor Track & Field team title. Minnesota and Michigan share the team title with 106 points each ahead of third place Nebraska (94 points) at the Huskers' Ed Weir Stadium.
Led by event titles from Jess Lehman (heptathlon) and Nicolle Murphy (javelin) and points from 16 different Gophers, Minnesota secured its second outdoor and fifth overall Big Ten Conference title in program history. Prior to this year's title, the Gophers won the 2006 outdoor crown before winning three-straight indoor conference championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
"Even before the meet, we knew it was going to be close," Minnesota director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle said. "It played out a lot differently, how we got there. Things kept playing back and forth all day. but it was a heck of a journey."
Minnesota had a 13-point lead in the team race heading into the third and final day of competition. The Gophers then sealed a share of the championship by scoring points in nine of 11 possible events on Sunday, including four top-three finishes.
The Gophers led the team race nearly the entire meet, including sitting in first place with 94 points, ahead of Michigan (92) and Nebraska (91) with two events remaining. Michigan then took a one-point lead over Minnesota, 102-101, following the 5,000-meter run. The Wolverines' Gina Sereno won the event, but the Gophers earned a huge seven points as Kaila Urick placed fifth (16:34.27) and Liz Berkholtz was sixth (16:40.08).
"It was unbelieveable when you think about what they did over the weekend," Bingle said of Minnesota's distance runners. "Kaila, Maddie, and Liz lining up so many times and laying it all on the line. They came through. It was very, very special."
It came down to the 4x400-meter relay, where the Gophers earned five points to Michigan's four to finish in a tie at 106 points. Minnesota ran a program-record 3:32.50, cutting over three seconds off the quartet's previous fastest time this season (3:35.93).
Up next for the Gophers is the NCAA West Preliminary as the championship portion of the season continues. The NCAA qualifiers are scheduled to be announced next Thursday, May 19, with the meet set for Thursday, May 26 through Saturday, May 28 in Lawrence, Kan.
Minnesota's Day Three B1G Results
Shanique Wright finished third in the triple jump with a collegiate-best jump of 12.73m (41-09.25); she ends her freshman campaign as the third-ranked Gopher triple jumper in program history.
The mid-distance Gophers picked up two third-place finishes. Ally McSherry took third in the 800-meter run in a career-best 2:07.10, and Madeline Strandemo also used a career-best time to finish third in the 1,500-meter run. Strandemo's 4:22.50 moves her into eighth in Minnesota history. Haley Johnson placed ninth in the 1,500m in 4:24.96 as well.
The Gophers picked up 11 points in the 100-meter hurdles as Kimberly Golding and Emma Spagnola finished third and fourth at 13.39 seconds and 13.43 seconds, respectively.
Agnes Esser picked up four points for the Gophers in the team standings with a fifth-place finish in the discus at 53.20m (174-06.50). Angie Guenther (48.48m, 159-00.75), Ke-ke Burks (45.07m, 147-10.50), and Kiley Sabin (44.60m, 146-04) placed 10th, 16th, and 17th, respectively.
Titania Markland finished sixth in the 400-meter dash in 53.91 seconds.
Heta Tuuri placed seventh in the high jump, tying her outdoor collegiate-best mark at 1.76m (5-09.25). Taylor Wiebke (1.71m, 5-07.25) tied for 11th and Alex Beckman and Sofie Albrechtsen tied for 14th at 1.71m (5-07.25) as well.
Cami Gilson just missed a scoring finish, tying for ninth in the pole vault at a season-best 3.91m (12-10.00).
The Gophers' 4x100-meter relay did not finish after dropping the baton on the second exchange.
Gopher B1G Scoring Finishes
1. Jess Lehman, heptathlon (5,763), 10 points
1. Nicolle Murphy, javelin (53.54m, 175-08), 10 points
2. Madeline Strandemo, 3,000m steeplechase (10:09.78), eight points
2. Liz Berkholtz, 10,000m (34:21.89), eight points
3. Ally McSherry, 800m (2:07.10), six points
3. Madeline Strandemo, 1,500m (4:22.50), six points
3. Shanique Wright, triple jump (12.73m, 41-09.25), six points
3. Kimberly Golding, 100m hurdles (13.39), six points
4. Erin Hawkins, Kat Keller, Emerald Egwim, Titania Markland, 4x400m relay (3:32.50), five points
4. Emma Spagnola, 100m hurdles (13.43), five points
4. Taylor Mikkalson, 3,000m steeplechase (10:15.26), five points
5. Kaila Urick, 5,000m (16:34.27), four points
5. Agnes Esser, discus (53.20m, 174-06.50), four points
5. Lyndsey Thorpe, hammer throw (61.29m, 201-01), four points
6. Liz Berkholtz, 5,000m (16:40.08), three points
6. Titania Markland, 400m (53.91), three points
6. Kaila Urick, 3,000m steeplechase (10:22.85), three points
6. Audra Winter, heptathlon (5,203), three points
7. Heta Tuuri, high jump (1.76m, 5-09.25), two points
7. Agnes Esser, hammer throw (61.00m, 200-01), two points
7. Jess Lehman, javelin (46.56m, 152-09), two points
8. Ke-ke Burks, hammer throw (60.13m, 197-03), one point
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Players Mentioned
