University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Receive B1G Awards
5/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS - Ten Gophers were named to the All-Big Ten Conference teams and University of Minnesota director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle was named the 2018 Big Ten Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year after the Golden Gophers won the program's third outdoor and seventh overall B1G title last weekend.
Two Golden Gophers were named to the All-Big Ten First Team, and another eight individuals were honored as second team honorees.
Big Ten champions Temi Ogunrinde (hammer throw) and Nicolle Murphy (javelin) earned All-Big Ten First Team honors while B1G runners-up Ashley Ramacher (high jump), Kiley Sabin (shot put), Madeline Strandemo (3,000m steeplechase), Shanique Wright (triple jump), and the 4x100m relay of Rachel Schow, Titania Markland, Emma Spagnola, and Emerald Egwim were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Bingle repeated as Big Ten Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year after receiving the same award for the B1G indoor season. The accolade marks his sixth overall and second outdoor B1G coaching award of his career after also receiving the award in the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2018 indoor seasons and the 2016 outdoor season.
The 2017-18 season marks Bingle's seventh season as director of women's track & field and cross country at the University of Minnesota. Bingle has been with the Gophers since October 2002 and became the first person to hold the title of director of women's track & field and cross country at the 'U' in October 2011.
This season, Bingle coached the Gophers to Minnesota's third outdoor and seventh overall Big Ten Conference title. The Maroon & Gold never trailed in the team race at this year's B1G outdoor championship, including holding an insurmountable 12-point lead heading into the 4x400m relay after Bethany Hasz (fifth) and Megan Hasz (eighth) both scored points in the 5,000m. The Gophers led by 46 points after two days and nine events scored and went on to win by two points, edging runner-up Purdue 134-132 after the Boilermakers won the 4x400m relay.
This year marked the first time in program history the Gophers won both the indoor and outdoor conference crowns. Prior to this year's title, the Gophers most recently shared the 2016 outdoor crown with Michigan and also won the outdoor title in 2006. Indoors, Minnesota won three-straight indoor conference championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009 in addition to this year's title.
The Big Ten Conference has also honored Gophers hurdler Lindsey Smits as Minnesota's women's outdoor track & field Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient. The B1G recognizes one student-athlete from each team, honoring individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the students must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
###
