University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Track & Field
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/ Women's Track & Field
Seven Gophers Set to Compete at USATF Outdoor Championships
7/23/2019 5:20:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS – Seven athletes with ties to the University of Minnesota track & field program are set to compete this weekend at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships, hosted at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Representing the Maroon & Gold at the national championships are Harun Abda, Obsa Ali, Ben Blankenship, Sean Donnelly, Heather Kampf, Hassan Mead and Kiley Sabin.
The 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships are scheduled to run from Thursday, July 25-Sunday, July 28. The meet serves as a selection event for international competitions including the 2019 IAAF World Championships and the 2019 Thorpe Cup.
Harun Abda (Men's 800 Meters)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 6:47 p.m. CT
Semifinal: Friday, July 26 at 6:32 p.m. CT
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:02 p.m. CT
Harun Abda will compete in the men's 800 meters at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a time of 1:46.50. A 13-time All-American, Abda is the most decorated All-American in program history as well as a six-time Big Ten champion. He owns six school records --- the outdoor 800 meters (1:46.38), the indoor 800 meters (1:46.97), the indoor 600 meters (1:15.80), the indoor distance medley relay (9:29.22), the outdoor 4x800 meter relay (7:18.18) and the outdoor distance medley relay (9:36.21).
Obsa Ali (Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 8:21 p.m. CT
Final: Saturday, July 27 at 3:54 p.m. CT
Gophers All-American alum and national champion Obsa Ali will compete in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase this week at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a personal record of 8:28.49, ran in Ali's pro debut – a winning effort at the Sunset Tour. Ali rewrote Minnesota's record book when it came to the men's steeplechase -- posting the fastest three steeplechase performances in program history while earning three-straight All-America honors in the event along with back-to-back Big Ten titles and the 2018 NCAA championship. Earlier this year, Ali an 8:31.15 at the 2019 Payton Jordan Invitational – setting a new school record for the third and final time. A four-time All-America selection for the Maroon & Gold, Ali also earned the accolade in the indoor 5,000 meters in addition to his three merits in the steeplechase. The redshirt senior was also a five-time All-Big Ten pick between track and cross country.
Ben Blankenship (Men's 1,500 Meters)
First Round: Friday, July 26 at 4:30 p.m. CT
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 7:33 p.m. CT
Ben Blankenship enters the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships with a qualifying time of 3:36.22 in the men's 1,500 meters – the seventh best mark among this year's field. The Gophers alum finished third in the event in 2016 to punch his ticket to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games while he also won the 2018 USATF National Club Cross Country Championship (10K) and the 2017 USATF indoor mile championship. 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 also 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.
Sean Donnelly (Men's Hammer Throw)
Final: Friday, July 26 at 4:00 p.m. CT
Sean Donnelly enters the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships with the top qualifying mark in the men's hammer throw at 77.59 meters after finishing third in the event in 2017 and 2018. Donnelly, who is already set to compete in the hammer throw at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru later this summer, has also finished third in the men's weight throw at the USATF Indoor Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018. A four-time Division III national champion and an eight-time Division III All-American at Mount Union, Donnelly broke the school men's hammer throw record in his debut with the program at 74.35 meters (243-11 ft.) before picking up Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2016. He went on to earn First Team All-America accolades with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA outdoor track & field championships – recording the Maroon & Gold's top NCAA finish in the discipline.
Heather Kampf (Women's 1,500 Meters)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. CT
Final: Saturday, July 27 at 3:42 p.m. CT
Heather Kampf is set to race in the 1,500-meter run at the USATF Outdoor Championships this week. Competing for ASICS/Team USA Minnesota, Kampf enters the competition with a season-best time of 4:13.65, which was good for third place at the 2019 Drake Relays. Most recently, she ran 4:16.87 as 1,500-meter runner-up at the Rabbit Track Classic. As a Gopher, Kampf, then Dorniden, was the program's first NCAA champion, winning the indoor 800-meter run in 2006, and she graduated as a nine-time All-American and 10-time All-Big Ten honoree.
Hassan Mead (Men's 5,000 Meters)
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:23 p.m. CT
Hassan mead is set to compete in the men's 5,000 meters at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a time of 13:19.81. The Minnesota alum has medaled at the USATF Outdoor Championships in each of the last five years, finishing third in the men's 5,000 meters in 2018, first in 2017, second in 2016 and third in 2014. Additionally, Mead finished third in the men's 10,000 meters in 2015. Mead's runner-up showing in 2016 punched his ticket to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. An eight-time All-American and a nine-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers, Mead still owns Minnesota records in the outdoor 10,000 meters (28:12.74), the outdoor 5,000 meters (13:28.45), the indoor 5,000 meters (13:33.42) and the 8,000 meters in cross country (23:29).
Kiley Sabin (Women's Shot Put)
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:20 p.m. CT
Kiley Sabin is set to compete in the shot put at the USATF Outdoor Championships this Sunday. She enters the competition with a mark of 17.47 meters (57-03.75), a career-best mark set during the 2019 indoor season. This spring, Sabin wrapped up her Gophers career as a three-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten honoree for the Maroon & Gold. She holds Minnesota's indoor shot put record at 17.47 meters and ranks second in program history outdoors at 16.89 meters (55-05.00).
Signed Gophers Prospect Set for USATF National Junior Olympics
Incoming University of Minnesota freshman Noah Cvetnic will also be in action this weekend, competing in the men's high jump (17-18 division) at the 2019 USATF National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Cvetnic, who won the 2019 MSHSL Class AA state high jump title out of Chaska High School, will be in action on Sunday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. CT.
Representing the Maroon & Gold at the national championships are Harun Abda, Obsa Ali, Ben Blankenship, Sean Donnelly, Heather Kampf, Hassan Mead and Kiley Sabin.
The 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships are scheduled to run from Thursday, July 25-Sunday, July 28. The meet serves as a selection event for international competitions including the 2019 IAAF World Championships and the 2019 Thorpe Cup.
Harun Abda (Men's 800 Meters)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 6:47 p.m. CT
Semifinal: Friday, July 26 at 6:32 p.m. CT
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:02 p.m. CT
Harun Abda will compete in the men's 800 meters at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a time of 1:46.50. A 13-time All-American, Abda is the most decorated All-American in program history as well as a six-time Big Ten champion. He owns six school records --- the outdoor 800 meters (1:46.38), the indoor 800 meters (1:46.97), the indoor 600 meters (1:15.80), the indoor distance medley relay (9:29.22), the outdoor 4x800 meter relay (7:18.18) and the outdoor distance medley relay (9:36.21).
Obsa Ali (Men's 3,000 Meter Steeplechase)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 8:21 p.m. CT
Final: Saturday, July 27 at 3:54 p.m. CT
Gophers All-American alum and national champion Obsa Ali will compete in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase this week at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a personal record of 8:28.49, ran in Ali's pro debut – a winning effort at the Sunset Tour. Ali rewrote Minnesota's record book when it came to the men's steeplechase -- posting the fastest three steeplechase performances in program history while earning three-straight All-America honors in the event along with back-to-back Big Ten titles and the 2018 NCAA championship. Earlier this year, Ali an 8:31.15 at the 2019 Payton Jordan Invitational – setting a new school record for the third and final time. A four-time All-America selection for the Maroon & Gold, Ali also earned the accolade in the indoor 5,000 meters in addition to his three merits in the steeplechase. The redshirt senior was also a five-time All-Big Ten pick between track and cross country.
Ben Blankenship (Men's 1,500 Meters)
First Round: Friday, July 26 at 4:30 p.m. CT
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 7:33 p.m. CT
Ben Blankenship enters the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships with a qualifying time of 3:36.22 in the men's 1,500 meters – the seventh best mark among this year's field. The Gophers alum finished third in the event in 2016 to punch his ticket to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games while he also won the 2018 USATF National Club Cross Country Championship (10K) and the 2017 USATF indoor mile championship. 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 also 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.
Sean Donnelly (Men's Hammer Throw)
Final: Friday, July 26 at 4:00 p.m. CT
Sean Donnelly enters the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships with the top qualifying mark in the men's hammer throw at 77.59 meters after finishing third in the event in 2017 and 2018. Donnelly, who is already set to compete in the hammer throw at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru later this summer, has also finished third in the men's weight throw at the USATF Indoor Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018. A four-time Division III national champion and an eight-time Division III All-American at Mount Union, Donnelly broke the school men's hammer throw record in his debut with the program at 74.35 meters (243-11 ft.) before picking up Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2016. He went on to earn First Team All-America accolades with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA outdoor track & field championships – recording the Maroon & Gold's top NCAA finish in the discipline.
Heather Kampf (Women's 1,500 Meters)
First Round: Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. CT
Final: Saturday, July 27 at 3:42 p.m. CT
Heather Kampf is set to race in the 1,500-meter run at the USATF Outdoor Championships this week. Competing for ASICS/Team USA Minnesota, Kampf enters the competition with a season-best time of 4:13.65, which was good for third place at the 2019 Drake Relays. Most recently, she ran 4:16.87 as 1,500-meter runner-up at the Rabbit Track Classic. As a Gopher, Kampf, then Dorniden, was the program's first NCAA champion, winning the indoor 800-meter run in 2006, and she graduated as a nine-time All-American and 10-time All-Big Ten honoree.
Hassan Mead (Men's 5,000 Meters)
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:23 p.m. CT
Hassan mead is set to compete in the men's 5,000 meters at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships after qualifying with a time of 13:19.81. The Minnesota alum has medaled at the USATF Outdoor Championships in each of the last five years, finishing third in the men's 5,000 meters in 2018, first in 2017, second in 2016 and third in 2014. Additionally, Mead finished third in the men's 10,000 meters in 2015. Mead's runner-up showing in 2016 punched his ticket to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. An eight-time All-American and a nine-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers, Mead still owns Minnesota records in the outdoor 10,000 meters (28:12.74), the outdoor 5,000 meters (13:28.45), the indoor 5,000 meters (13:33.42) and the 8,000 meters in cross country (23:29).
Kiley Sabin (Women's Shot Put)
Final: Sunday, July 28 at 6:20 p.m. CT
Kiley Sabin is set to compete in the shot put at the USATF Outdoor Championships this Sunday. She enters the competition with a mark of 17.47 meters (57-03.75), a career-best mark set during the 2019 indoor season. This spring, Sabin wrapped up her Gophers career as a three-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten honoree for the Maroon & Gold. She holds Minnesota's indoor shot put record at 17.47 meters and ranks second in program history outdoors at 16.89 meters (55-05.00).
Signed Gophers Prospect Set for USATF National Junior Olympics
Incoming University of Minnesota freshman Noah Cvetnic will also be in action this weekend, competing in the men's high jump (17-18 division) at the 2019 USATF National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Cvetnic, who won the 2019 MSHSL Class AA state high jump title out of Chaska High School, will be in action on Sunday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. CT.
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