University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Head West for UCLA Contests
3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
| 2017 UCLA Legends of Track & Field Invitational/Bob Larsen Distance Carnival | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, March 31-Saturday, April 1 | ||||||||||
| Location | Drake Stadium | Los Angeles, Calif. | ||||||||||
| Meet Info | Host Info | Schedule | Legends Heat Sheets | Distance Heat Sheets | ||||||||||
| Live Coverage | FloTrack | Live Results | @GopherMCCTF | #Gophers | ||||||||||
| 2017 Hamline Invitational | |||||||||||
| Date | Saturday, April 1 | ||||||||||
| Location | Klas Field | St. Paul, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Meet Info | Host Info | Heat Sheets | ||||||||||
| Live Coverage | Live Results | @GopherMCCTF | #Gophers | ||||||||||
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- The No. 19 University of Minnesota men's track & field program returns to action this weekend with a pair of competitions over the weekend at UCLA -- the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival and the Legends of Track & Field Invitational.
The Bob Larsen Distance Carnival takes place Friday evening with the Legends of Track & Field Invitational starting on Friday and concluding Saturday.
Minnesota will also send a contingency of competitors to the Hamline Invitational on Saturday in St. Paul.
FloTrack to Stream Events
The Bruin Legends of Track & Field Invitational and Bob Larson Distance Carnival is coming to Flotrack. FloTrack will provide live coverage of every race, archived videos, and more exclusive content from nationally recognized teams and athletes. Catch all the action and become a FloPRO member today!
Lockard Leads the Way in Outdoor Opener
Ryan Lockard paced Minnesota with a runner-up finish in the high jump two weeks ago at the Baldy Castillo Invitational as the Maroon & Gold opened the outdoor season. Lockard's best attempt of 2.14 meters (7-00.25 ft.) currently ranks tied for ninth in the nation and second in the Big Ten.
Looking Back at the Indoor Season
The Minnesota distance medley relay team of Shane Streich, Jackson Wellenstein, Mitch Hechsel and Derek Wiebke earned Second Team All-America honors following a ninth-place showing at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships last week. Wiebke added a Big Ten title in the mile -- his first conference crown as a Gopher -- with a personal record of 4:01.85.
Alum: Ben Blankenship Wins National Title in Men's Mile
Ben Blankenship claimed his first career U.S. title last weekend, winning the men's mile at the 2017 U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Blankenship, who made his Olympic debut last year in the 1,500 meters, pushed hard in the bell lap to finish with a time of 3:59.22. Meanwhile, a pair of former Gophers throwers competed in the men's weight throw with Sean Donnelly finishing third behind a new personal record of 23.57 meters (77-04.00 ft.) and Justin Barber finishing eighth at 20.55 meters (67-05.25 ft.).
Rink Helps USATF to NACAC Title
Nick Rink finished eighth at the 2017 NACAC Cross Country Championships to help the U.S. Under-20 Men's Team win a gold medal on last Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla. Rink covered the 6,500-meter course at South County Regional Park in 19:30.09 to finish eighth overall and fourth among U.S. competitors. The United States totaled 25 points in the team victory, besting Mexico with 31, Canada with 42 and Puerto Rico with 49.
Ali, Plasencia Rep 'U' at IAAF World Cross Country Championships
True freshman Hamza Ali and Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia represented the University of Minnesota and the United States at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kamapla, Uganda.
Ali finished 52nd overall in the men's U20 race, clocking a time of 26:14 for the eight-kilometer race at the Kololo Independence Grounds. Ali's time was third among American runners in the event. Plasencia served as head coach of the U.S. Men's Junior Team for the event.
Four to Lead in 2017
The Minnesota track & field program will feature four new captains for the 2017 season as Luca Wieland, Gian Ferretti, Mitch Hechsel and Charlie Lawrence will lead the Gophers throughout the year. Wieland, Ferretti and Hechsel were all honored as All-Americans during the 2016 season while Lawrence also served as captain of the cross country team this year and earned All-Big Ten honors.
Next Up: Two Meets in Arizona
The Maroon & Gold will return to action with a pair of two-day competitions in Arizona, competing at the Sun Angel Classic and the Mesa Classic, April 7-8).
Players Mentioned
