University of Minnesota Athletics
USATF Minnesota Honors Three Gophers
1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS - Three individuals with ties to the University of Minnesota women's track & field program are among the 2016 USATF Minnesota award recipients. Freshman Meleah Biermaier, alumna Heather (Dorniden) Kampf, and former coach Gary Wilson will be honored at the ninth annual USATF Minnesota Awards Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Braemar Country Club in Edina, Minn.
USATF Minnesota will present awards to long distance running individuals and teams, youth, race walking, officials and track & field athletes, honoring some of the state's best athletes of the past year.
Biermaier was named the 2016 Female High School Athlete of the Year after a standout career at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minn., where she won the 300-meter hurdles and was the 100-meter hurdles runner-up at the 2016 Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championship and was a three-time Heart of Lakes Conference champion in the 100m, 200m, and 300m hurdles as a senior. Biermaier is a true freshman for the Gophers this season.
University of Minnesota alumna Heather Kampf was honored for her 2016 success as the Women's Open Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Kampf placed fourth in the 1,500-meter run in 4:11.56 at the 2016 USATF Indoor Championships and she was the 2016 USATF One Mile Road Champion. Kampf was a nine-time All-American with the Gophers from 2005-06 to 2008-09, including becoming Minnesota's first-ever NCAA champion with a first-place showing in the 800-meter run at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship.
Former Gophers coach Gary Wilson is the 2016 recipient of USATF Minnesota's Life Time Contribution Award. Wilson retired from coaching in spring 2013, following 28 years as the head coach of Minnesota's women's cross country program. The 2007 and 2008 Midwest Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year led Minnesota cross country to its first two conference titles (2007 and 2008) and three consecutive Midwest Region crowns (2007-09). He guided the Gophers to 15 consecutive NCAA Championships appearances and coached six different runners to nine All-America certificates. Wilson also served as the Gophers' head track & field coach for 21 seasons before taking on an assistant role in 2007. Wilson was part of four Big Ten titles on the track (2006-09).
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