University of Minnesota Athletics
Blankenship Advances to Olympic Semis
8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
RIO DE JANEIRO (GopherSports.com) - Gophers All-American alum Ben Blankenship qualified for Thursday's 1,500-meter semifinals after running a 3:38.92 in the first round on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium.
A native of Stillwater, Minn., Blankenship finished ninth in his heat - the fastest of three opening round heats (the nine fastest semifinal qualifiers came from Blankenship's heat) - and advanced based on his time.
"I really thought if, being the last [heat], and having everyone jog the first two, if we would have just clipped along we could get 12 through our heat. I made it through, it just wasn't very pretty."
Treat rounds with respect
Take nothing for granted
Assume nothing is given#rio2016- Benjamin Blankenship (@benfblankenship) August 16, 2016
A four-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree for the Gophers, Blankenship won three individual conference crowns while helping the program to five total Big Ten titles. He still holds the school record for the indoor mile (3:57.87), the indoor 3,000 meters (7:52.52) and the outdoor 1,500 meters (3:39.77). Blankenship anchored the U.S. distance medley relay squad to a new world record (9:15.50) at the 2015 IAAF/BTC World Relays and set a new course record (3:55.8) to win the 2016 Medtronic TC One Mile earlier this year.
Blankenship is one of two Gophers alums making their Olympic debut this year with the U.S. squad. Hassan Mead competes in the 5,000 meter first round on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 10:05 a.m. CT.
Blankenship returns to action in the 1,500 meter semifinals on Thursday at 6:52 p.m. CT.
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