University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
The Dual
`U' Claims Fourth-Straight Border Battle Title
1/13/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Jan. 13, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota men's track & field program claimed its fourth-straight Border Battle title with a 93-65 victory in the Minnesota/Wisconsin Dual on Saturday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse on campus.
"We're awfully excited about our team's performance today. We had a lot of guys contribute in the win," Minnesota associate head coach Paul Thornton said. "It's still early in the season, but we're happy with where we are at so far in terms of training, and we are excited to see what we have in store for the rest of the year."
The Gophers, who have now won all four dual competitions with the Badgers since the event returned to the schedule in 2015, earned nine event titles on the day including scoring the maximum eight points in six events with both the first and second-place competitors.
Jonathan Webb led the way for the Maroon & Gold on Saturday with two individual titles as well as a relay title. Webb and Brad Neumann finished first and second, respectively, in the 60 meters and the 200 meters with Webb claiming both event titles at 6.80 in the 60 meters and 21.86 in the 200 meters. Neumann ran 6.92 in the 60 meters and 22.54 in the 200 meters. Webb also ran the opening leg of Minnesota's winning 4x400 meter relay team with Matthew Baker, Ben Psicihulis and Jackson Wellenstein that finished in 3:18.73.
Wellenstein and Psicihulis added a 1-2 finish in the 400 meters with the All-American pacing the race at 48.47 and the newcomer coming in second at 49.24. The Maroon & Gold added another eight points in the 60-meter hurdles behind Eric Walker's win at 8.16 and newcomer Teddy Frid's runner-up showing at 8.20. Chris Trotter also picked up the win in the 600 meters with a time of 1:19.20.
In the field events, the Gophers picked up titles in the high jump, the pole vault and the triple jump including All-American Ryan Lockard's meet record of 2.17 meters (7-01.50 ft.) to win the high jump. Ben Gucinski was the runner-up at 2.06 meters (6-09.00 ft.). Sammie Houston and Mason Roomes finished first and second, respectively, in the triple jump with Houston leading the way at 14.45 meters (47-05.00 ft.) and Roomes following at 14.39 meters (47-02.50 ft.). John Uchytil claimed the pole vault title at 4.90 meters (16-00.75 ft.).
Meanwhile in the throws events, all four Gopher competitors hit personal records with Jonathan Tharaldsen coming in second in the shot put (17.36 meters, 56-11.50 ft.) and Connor Rousemiller (19.02 meters, 62-05.00 ft.), Jon Nerdal (18.35 meters, 60-02.50 ft.) and Kieran McKeag (17.78 meters, 58-04.00 ft.) posting new career bests in the weight throw.
The Gophers continue the 2018 indoor campaign next weekend at the UST Invite on Friday, Jan. 19 and the Jim Emmerich Invitational in Brookings, S.D., on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Players Mentioned
