University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open Season Ranked No. 13
1/10/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's track & field team ranks No. 13 in the nation in this season's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason National Team Computer Rankings, released Wednesday.
The Gophers are ranked third among Big Ten Conference teams, just behind No. 11 Wisconsin and No. 12 Michigan and ahead of No. 23 Penn State.
No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 USC, and No. 5 Texas make up the nation's top five teams in the preseason rankings.
In the event rankings, five Gophers begin the season among the top 15. Emerald Egwim is ranked seventh in the 400m at 52.73, and Emma Spagnola comes in ninth in the 60m hurdles at 8.13 seconds. In the weight throw, Kaitlyn Long (22.70m, 74-05.75) is third and Agnes Esser (20.94m, 68-08.50) is 15th while Kiley Sabin (17.17m, 56-04.00) is 10th in the shot put.
Minnesota finished the 2017 indoor season with four Second Team All-Americans in Emerald Egwim (400m), Kimberly Golding (60m hurdles), Kiley Sabin (shot put), and Emma Spagnola (60m hurdles); the team's four individual NCAA indoor qualifiers was the most since the program sent five individuals and a relay to the 2008 NCAA indoor meet.
Minnesota is set to host the No. 11 Badgers in the fourth-annual Minnesota vs. Wisconsin Dual at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse at 12 p.m. CT this Saturday. The Golden Gophers have won all three previous head-to-head meets with their border rivals.
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