University of Minnesota Athletics

Friday, April 2
Jacksonville, FL
All Day

University of Minnesota

at

Big Ten Florida Invitational

Players Mentioned

Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Multi/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Allison Gerads

Gophers Open Weekend Slate in Florida

4/2/2021 6:57:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field

Allison Gerads set a Minnesota program record in women's long jump to lead the Gophers on Friday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Allison Gerads set a new program record in women's long jump and Kostas Zaltos and Tess Keyzers both moved up the Gophers' all-time ranks to lead the Minnesota track & field program on day one of the Big Ten Florida Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday. The Maroon & Gold claimed four event titles in the Sunshine State. 

Gerads recorded a career-best mark of 6.45m (21-02.00 ft.) to top all women's long jump competition at the meet and improve on the previous Minnesota program record of 6.44m (21-01.50) set by Todea-Kay Willis in 2011. Gerads won the open section at the B1G Florida Invite but also bested the winner of the women's long jump invite section, Indiana's Leah Moran (6.39m, 20-11.75). The 2021 B1G pentathlon champion, Gerads improved on her previous outdoor long jump PR of 5.55m (18-02.50) by nearly an entire meter.

Keyzers also made Gopher history, finishing third in the invite section of women's hammer throw with a career-best mark of 60.87m (199-08) to PR by over 3.5 meters (57.20m, 187-08) and move into seventh in Minnesota history. In addition, Erin Dunning won the open section of women's hammer throw and McKenzie Duwenhoegger took sixth.

Along with Gerads' long jump title and Dunning's hammer crown, Kostas Zaltos won his second consecutive men's hammer throw title with a career-best throw of 66.49m (218-01 ft.) to top the men's invite section and climb to sixth in Minnesota history while Phillipe Barnett was fourth and Kaleb Siekmeier was fifth. Carter Hughes placed third in the open section of men's hammer throw as well. 

Other action in the field events saw Devia Brown finish second in the open section of women's shot put with a mark of 16.02m (52-06.75 ft.) while Keyzers came in seventh in the invite section with a season-opening mark of 15.58m (51-01.50 ft.). Eric Rousemiller led the Gopher men in shot put with a fifth-place finish in the open section, and Jaydon Antoine finished 10th in long jump.

On the track, Abigail Schaaffe led the Gopher women with a win in the 400-meter hurdles. She posted a winning time of 59.59 seconds to debut at 10th in Minnesota history and led three Gophers among the top eight as Val Larson was seventh and Kayla Vogt was eighth. In addition, Jayla Campbell was the top 400-meter finisher for the women, clocking a time of 56.34 for seventh place in the invite section.

Collin Sieffert and Ben Psicihulis led the Gopher men on the track as they each finished as runner-up in their respective events. Sieffert clocked a second-place time of 52.77 as 400-meter hurdles runner-up. Grant Fuller also earned a top-eight showing in eighth in a season-best 54.96, and Luke Pingel was 10th. Psicihulis led the Gophers in the men's 400-meter invite with a runner-up time of 47.55.

Day one action on the track also saw Amira Young punch her ticket to Saturday's women's 100-meter final with the second-fastest preliminary time at 11.52 seconds. On the men's side, Kion Benjamin was the top 100-meter finisher for the Gophers, placing 10th in 10.65 seconds.

Action continues at the B1G Florida Invitational on Saturday.

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