University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Blankenship and Mead Advance in Olympic Trials
6/24/2021 11:15:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
Blankenship advances to the 1500m semis, while Mead advances to the 5000m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Minnesota had two alumni advance on Thursday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Ben Blankenship advances to the 1500m semifinal on Friday, while Hassan Mead advances as an automatic qualifier to the 5000m final on Sunday.
Blankenship finished ninth in his heat, but registered the 18th best time to qualify for Friday's semifinal. The Gopher alum will need to finish in the top half of the 24 man field to qualify for the 1500m final on Sunday.
Hassan Mead finished third in his heat and third overall to cruise to the 5000m final on Sunday. Mead posted a 13:36.80 to secure one of 16 qualifying spots. Mead will look to make his second straight Olympic team as he finished second place in the 5000m final in 2016 after posting a 13:35.70.
Action continues for the Gopher representatives at the U.S. Olympic Trials with alumni Ben Blankenship (1,500 meters semifinals) and Obsa Ali and Gopher redshirt senior Alec Basten (3,000 meters steeplechase final) competing in their respective events on Friday evening.
Upcoming Schedule of Events
Friday, June 25
6:05 p.m. CT - Men's 1,500 meters (Semifinals): Ben Blankenship
6:42 p.m. CT - Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (Final): Alec Basten, Obsa Ali
Sunday, June 27
6:30 p.m. CT - Men's 5,000 meters (Final): Hassan Mead
7:10 p.m. CT - Men's 1,500 meters (Final): TBD
U.S. Olympic Trials - Gopher Finishes
8th: Shane Streich, men's 800 meters
19th: Abby Kohut-Jackson, women's 3,000-meter steeplechase
23rd: Heather Kampf, women's 1,500 meters
27th: Madeline Strandemo, women's 3,000-meter steeplechase
No Mark: Sean Donnelly, men's hammer throw