University of Minnesota Athletics
Blankenship Wins U.S. Indoor Mile
3/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Results
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (GopherSports.com) - University of Minnesota alum Ben Blankenship claimed his first career U.S. title over the 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
"I was a little further back than I would like to be with 400 to go, but it was still in my wheelhouse, and I closed pretty well, "Blankenship told USATF. "I wanted to come out here and make sure everybody knows I am here to contend in every race I am in."
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.
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.)
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Players Mentioned
