University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Raleigh Relays
Gophers Earn Two Third-Place Finishes
3/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
RALEIGH, N.C. - The University of Minnesota women's track & field team wrapped up competition at the Raleigh Relays with a pair of third-place finishes in the 800-meter run and 4x800-meter relay on Saturday.
The Golden Gophers took home podium finishes in both events they competed in on day two of the meet at NC State's Paul Derr Track & Field Facility.
After winning the Raleigh Relays 3,000-meter steeplechase in a meet-record time of 10:07.46 on Friday, Madeline Strandemo earned a third-place finish in the 800-meter run. She clocked a career-best time of 2:08.57, winning her heat ahead of overall fourth-place finisher Keaton Case of High Point (2:09.43).
Strandemo took over 10 seconds off her last outdoor open 800m, a 2:18.72 at the Jaguar Challenge in March 2015. Her time of 2:08.57 was just shy of making the Gophers' all-time top-10 list, where the 10th-ranked time is 2:08.09.
The Gophers also earned a third-place finish in the 4x800-meter relay on Saturday. Minnesota's team of Paige Peschel, Abby Lange, Samantha Prouty, and Tess Wasowicz recorded a time of 9:01.41 to take third. Michigan State won the event in 8:50.13, and Walsh came in second in 8:57.55.
Peschel had the Gophers in third after her lead-off leg, and Lange moved into second early on before taking the lead with one lap to go. However, Walsh's second runner passed Lange just before her exchange to Prouty. The third leg saw the pack catch up before Michigan State pulled ahead, going from fifth place to the lead over the last 200 meters.
Prouty handed off to Wasowicz in roughly fifth place, in the mix with the chase pack, and Wasowicz moved up to third place on her first lap and secured Minnesota's third-place finish.
Day one of the Raleigh Relays saw the Gophers record nine career-best marks as the team competed in the 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run, and 10,000-meter run in addition to Strandemo racing the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
The Gophers' sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws crew is back in action at the UCLA Legends Invitational next Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1. Members of the team will also compete locally at the Hamline Invite on Saturday, April 1.
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