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Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Minnesota Earns 19 All-America Nods
5/26/2020 1:23:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota track & field program earned a total of 19 All-America honors for the 2020 indoor season after the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the annual honors on Tuesday.
Nayoka Clunis (shot put and weight throw) and Elliott Davis (distance medley relay and 4x400 meter relay) led the way with a pair of All-America honors each while Devia Brown (shot put), Ayesha Champagnie (pentathlon), Bethany Hasz (5,000 meters), Jackson Wellenstein (4x400 meter relay), Jonathan Webb (4x400 meter relay), Ben Psicihulis (4x400 meter relay), Shane Streich (distance medley relay), Dawson LaRance (distance medley relay), Owen Hoeft (distance medley relay), Michael Burke (high jump), Sammie Houston (triple jump), Kieran McKeag (weight throw), Jon Nerdal (weight throw), Kaleb Siekmeier (weight throw) and Jonathan Tharaldsen (shot put) also earned All-America honor for the Maroon & Gold.
On the men's side, the Gophers were one of three programs to earn an NCAA-best 14 All-America merits for the 2020 indoor season.
Normal policies dictate that All-America honors are awarded based on classifications of performance at the NCAA Championships. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, the NCAA Division I Track & Field Executive Committee adopted the following criteria:
*Individual events: All student-athletes listed on the startlist for the anticipated event.
*Relay events: The four student-athletes per anticipated relay who produced the performance that was declared and accepted into their event. Those listed as alternates will not be recognized.
*There will not be a distinction of "first-team", "second-team", or "honorable mention" to these recognitions.
Women's All-Americans
Devia Brown, Shot Put
Brown was set to make her NCAA Indoor Championships debut, entering the national meet ranked 13th in shot put at 16.87 meters (55-04.25 ft). She was a five-time NJCAA national champion during her two seasons competing for Central Arizona College prior to joining the Gophers this season. Most recently, Brown placed 10th in shot put (15.48 meters) and 11th in weight throw (18.89 meters) at the Big Ten Championships. She ranks third in Minnesota history in indoor shot put at 16.87 meters (55-04.25 ft.).
Nayoka Clunis, Shot Put and Weight Throw
Clunis was set to make her second NCAA indoor championships appearance in weight throw and her first NCAA appearance in shot put. She finished 16th in weight throw at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships before going on to finish 15th in hammer throw at the NCAA outdoor meet. Clunis was seeded 10th in weight throw at 22.13 meters and 11th in shot put at 17.05 meters. Most recently, she finished as Big Ten runner-up in weight throw and took fifth in shot put at the B1G Championships. Clunis ranks second in Minnesota history in both indoor shot put (17.05 meters, 55-11.25 ft.) and weight throw (22.13 meters, 72-07.25 ft.).
Ayesha Champagnie, Pentathlon
Champagnie was set to return to the NCAA championships after competing in indoor long jump in 2018 and placing ninth in the heptathlon in 2018. She would have made her NCAA pentathlon debut, entering the competition with the eighth-best score in the field at 4,155 points, which was good for second in the Big ten Conference and ranks third in Minnesota history. On the way to her B1G runner-up showing, Champagnie clocked a PR of 8.39 seconds in the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles and won both pentathlon long jump (5.86 meters, 19-02.75 ft.) and shot put (14.26 meters, 46‑09.50 ft.).
Bethany Hasz, 5,000 Meters
Hasz was set to make her NCAA indoor championships debut this season. Last spring, she placed 10th in the 5,000m at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships and has made two NCAA Championships appearances in cross country as well. Hasz owned the third-fastest time among the athletes selected for the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships with her Minnesota program record time of 15:25.33 set earlier this season at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Most recently, she scored 16 points for the Maroon & Gold at the Big Ten Championship with a runner-up showing in the 3,000 meters, a third-place finish in the mile, and a seventh-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
Men's Qualifiers
Elliott Davis, Jackson Wellenstein, Jonathan Webb, Ben Psicihulis, 4x400 Meter Relay
The Maroon & Gold 4x400 meter relay was set to return to the NCAA indoor championships for the first time since 2018 after Elliott Davis, Jackson Wellenstein, Jonathan Webb and Ben Psicihulis clocked a 3:07.16 at the Big Ten indoor meet in late February. The Gophers qualified as the 11th-fastest 4x400 meter relay team in the field. Webb, Wellenstein and Psicihulis were all part of Minnesota's 2018 4x400 meter relay team that earned a 12th-place finish and Second Team All-America honors.
Shane Streich, Elliott Davis, Dawson LaRance, Owen Hoeft, Distance Medley Relay
Minnesota's distance medley relay would have returned to the NCAA indoor championships for the first time since 2017 after Shane Streich, Elliott Davis, Dawson LaRance and Owen Hoeft qualified with a time of 9:31.52 at the Alex Wilson Invite earlier this year. The mark ranked eighth among NCAA qualifiers and fourth all-time at the University of Minnesota. Streich was part of the 2017 distance medley relay squad, along with Wellenstein, that finished ninth to earn Second Team All-America accolades.
Michael Burke, High Jump
After earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors in February in his Big Ten conference meet debut with the Gophers, Burke would have made his first appearance at the NCAA indoor meet with the Maroon & Gold. A native of Lemoore, Calif., Burke previously finished 12th in the men's high jump in 2017 to earn Second Team All-America merits while at UCLA. He was the runner-up at the Big Ten meet in February, clearing 2.23 meters (7-03.75 ft.) -- a mark that ranks third all-time at the University of Minnesota and 12th among NCAA qualifiers this year.
Sammie Houston, Triple Jump
Houston closed out the month of February with a Big Ten title and a school record in the men's triple jump and was set to make his NCAA indoor meet debut for Minnesota. The redshirt senior ranked ninth among NCAA qualifiers this year after clearing 16.18 meters (53-01.00 ft.) to win the 2020 Big Ten men's indoor triple jump crown along with First Team All-Big Ten honors. The mark also broke Keita Cline's school record from 1995 while Houston is the first Gopher to win a Big Ten title in the men's triple jump since Adrian Ellis in 1996.
Kieran McKeag, Weight Throw
One of three Gophers throwers planning to compete in the men's weight throw this year, McKeag would have made his second appearance at the NCAA indoor championships after finishing 12th in 2019 to pick up Second Team All-America honors. A native of Lakeville, Minn., McKeag had the third-best qualifying mark at 22.93 meter (75-02.75 ft.) -- a mark recorded earlier this year in a win at the Minnesota Cold Classic. The redshirt junior, who also earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors this year, ranks second in Minnesota history in the weight throw.
Jon Nerdal, Weight Throw
A native of Bergen, Norway, Nerdal would have made his NCAA indoor championship debut in the men's weight throw. The redshirt junior ranked 15th among event qualifiers at 21.72 meters (71-03.25 ft.) -- recorded at the Meyo Invitational earlier this season. The performance also ranks Nerdal fifth in University of Minnesota history.
Kaleb Siekmeier, Weight Throw
Siekmeier would also have made his NCAA indoor championships debut for the Maroon & Gold, competing in the men's weight throw. A native of Mahtomedi, Minn., Siekmeier ranked 11th among NCAA qualifiers at 22.09 meters (72-05.75 ft.), set in a runner-up finish to McKeag earlier this year at the Minnesota Cold Classic. The redshirt sophomore ranks third all-time at the University of Minnesota in the men's weight throw.
Jonathan Tharaldsen, Shot Put
Tharaldsen was going to return to the NCAA indoor meet for the second time in his career after finishing 14th in 2019 to pick up Second Team All-America accolades. A native of Bismarck, N.D., Tharaldsen ranked fourth among NCAA qualifiers this year after clearing 20.50 meters (67-03.25 ft.) to win the Rod McCravy Memorial earlier this year -- one of three wins in the shot put this season for the redshirt senior and team captain. The performance by Tharaldsen also ranks second all-time at the University of Minnesota.
Nayoka Clunis (shot put and weight throw) and Elliott Davis (distance medley relay and 4x400 meter relay) led the way with a pair of All-America honors each while Devia Brown (shot put), Ayesha Champagnie (pentathlon), Bethany Hasz (5,000 meters), Jackson Wellenstein (4x400 meter relay), Jonathan Webb (4x400 meter relay), Ben Psicihulis (4x400 meter relay), Shane Streich (distance medley relay), Dawson LaRance (distance medley relay), Owen Hoeft (distance medley relay), Michael Burke (high jump), Sammie Houston (triple jump), Kieran McKeag (weight throw), Jon Nerdal (weight throw), Kaleb Siekmeier (weight throw) and Jonathan Tharaldsen (shot put) also earned All-America honor for the Maroon & Gold.
On the men's side, the Gophers were one of three programs to earn an NCAA-best 14 All-America merits for the 2020 indoor season.
Normal policies dictate that All-America honors are awarded based on classifications of performance at the NCAA Championships. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, the NCAA Division I Track & Field Executive Committee adopted the following criteria:
*Individual events: All student-athletes listed on the startlist for the anticipated event.
*Relay events: The four student-athletes per anticipated relay who produced the performance that was declared and accepted into their event. Those listed as alternates will not be recognized.
*There will not be a distinction of "first-team", "second-team", or "honorable mention" to these recognitions.
Women's All-Americans
Devia Brown, Shot Put
Brown was set to make her NCAA Indoor Championships debut, entering the national meet ranked 13th in shot put at 16.87 meters (55-04.25 ft). She was a five-time NJCAA national champion during her two seasons competing for Central Arizona College prior to joining the Gophers this season. Most recently, Brown placed 10th in shot put (15.48 meters) and 11th in weight throw (18.89 meters) at the Big Ten Championships. She ranks third in Minnesota history in indoor shot put at 16.87 meters (55-04.25 ft.).
Nayoka Clunis, Shot Put and Weight Throw
Clunis was set to make her second NCAA indoor championships appearance in weight throw and her first NCAA appearance in shot put. She finished 16th in weight throw at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships before going on to finish 15th in hammer throw at the NCAA outdoor meet. Clunis was seeded 10th in weight throw at 22.13 meters and 11th in shot put at 17.05 meters. Most recently, she finished as Big Ten runner-up in weight throw and took fifth in shot put at the B1G Championships. Clunis ranks second in Minnesota history in both indoor shot put (17.05 meters, 55-11.25 ft.) and weight throw (22.13 meters, 72-07.25 ft.).
Ayesha Champagnie, Pentathlon
Champagnie was set to return to the NCAA championships after competing in indoor long jump in 2018 and placing ninth in the heptathlon in 2018. She would have made her NCAA pentathlon debut, entering the competition with the eighth-best score in the field at 4,155 points, which was good for second in the Big ten Conference and ranks third in Minnesota history. On the way to her B1G runner-up showing, Champagnie clocked a PR of 8.39 seconds in the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles and won both pentathlon long jump (5.86 meters, 19-02.75 ft.) and shot put (14.26 meters, 46‑09.50 ft.).
Bethany Hasz, 5,000 Meters
Hasz was set to make her NCAA indoor championships debut this season. Last spring, she placed 10th in the 5,000m at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships and has made two NCAA Championships appearances in cross country as well. Hasz owned the third-fastest time among the athletes selected for the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships with her Minnesota program record time of 15:25.33 set earlier this season at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Most recently, she scored 16 points for the Maroon & Gold at the Big Ten Championship with a runner-up showing in the 3,000 meters, a third-place finish in the mile, and a seventh-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
Men's Qualifiers
Elliott Davis, Jackson Wellenstein, Jonathan Webb, Ben Psicihulis, 4x400 Meter Relay
The Maroon & Gold 4x400 meter relay was set to return to the NCAA indoor championships for the first time since 2018 after Elliott Davis, Jackson Wellenstein, Jonathan Webb and Ben Psicihulis clocked a 3:07.16 at the Big Ten indoor meet in late February. The Gophers qualified as the 11th-fastest 4x400 meter relay team in the field. Webb, Wellenstein and Psicihulis were all part of Minnesota's 2018 4x400 meter relay team that earned a 12th-place finish and Second Team All-America honors.
Shane Streich, Elliott Davis, Dawson LaRance, Owen Hoeft, Distance Medley Relay
Minnesota's distance medley relay would have returned to the NCAA indoor championships for the first time since 2017 after Shane Streich, Elliott Davis, Dawson LaRance and Owen Hoeft qualified with a time of 9:31.52 at the Alex Wilson Invite earlier this year. The mark ranked eighth among NCAA qualifiers and fourth all-time at the University of Minnesota. Streich was part of the 2017 distance medley relay squad, along with Wellenstein, that finished ninth to earn Second Team All-America accolades.
Michael Burke, High Jump
After earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors in February in his Big Ten conference meet debut with the Gophers, Burke would have made his first appearance at the NCAA indoor meet with the Maroon & Gold. A native of Lemoore, Calif., Burke previously finished 12th in the men's high jump in 2017 to earn Second Team All-America merits while at UCLA. He was the runner-up at the Big Ten meet in February, clearing 2.23 meters (7-03.75 ft.) -- a mark that ranks third all-time at the University of Minnesota and 12th among NCAA qualifiers this year.
Sammie Houston, Triple Jump
Houston closed out the month of February with a Big Ten title and a school record in the men's triple jump and was set to make his NCAA indoor meet debut for Minnesota. The redshirt senior ranked ninth among NCAA qualifiers this year after clearing 16.18 meters (53-01.00 ft.) to win the 2020 Big Ten men's indoor triple jump crown along with First Team All-Big Ten honors. The mark also broke Keita Cline's school record from 1995 while Houston is the first Gopher to win a Big Ten title in the men's triple jump since Adrian Ellis in 1996.
Kieran McKeag, Weight Throw
One of three Gophers throwers planning to compete in the men's weight throw this year, McKeag would have made his second appearance at the NCAA indoor championships after finishing 12th in 2019 to pick up Second Team All-America honors. A native of Lakeville, Minn., McKeag had the third-best qualifying mark at 22.93 meter (75-02.75 ft.) -- a mark recorded earlier this year in a win at the Minnesota Cold Classic. The redshirt junior, who also earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors this year, ranks second in Minnesota history in the weight throw.
Jon Nerdal, Weight Throw
A native of Bergen, Norway, Nerdal would have made his NCAA indoor championship debut in the men's weight throw. The redshirt junior ranked 15th among event qualifiers at 21.72 meters (71-03.25 ft.) -- recorded at the Meyo Invitational earlier this season. The performance also ranks Nerdal fifth in University of Minnesota history.
Kaleb Siekmeier, Weight Throw
Siekmeier would also have made his NCAA indoor championships debut for the Maroon & Gold, competing in the men's weight throw. A native of Mahtomedi, Minn., Siekmeier ranked 11th among NCAA qualifiers at 22.09 meters (72-05.75 ft.), set in a runner-up finish to McKeag earlier this year at the Minnesota Cold Classic. The redshirt sophomore ranks third all-time at the University of Minnesota in the men's weight throw.
Jonathan Tharaldsen, Shot Put
Tharaldsen was going to return to the NCAA indoor meet for the second time in his career after finishing 14th in 2019 to pick up Second Team All-America accolades. A native of Bismarck, N.D., Tharaldsen ranked fourth among NCAA qualifiers this year after clearing 20.50 meters (67-03.25 ft.) to win the Rod McCravy Memorial earlier this year -- one of three wins in the shot put this season for the redshirt senior and team captain. The performance by Tharaldsen also ranks second all-time at the University of Minnesota.
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