University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned

Val Larson to Exercise Extra Year of Eligibility, Will Rejoin Gophers in 2021-22.
7/16/2021 11:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota track & field will see another senior return to the program for the 2021-22 season as senior Val Larson becomes the latest Gopher to announce that she will use her extra season of competition.
NCAA guidelines permitted the extra year of eligibility due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, as Larson joined fellow teammates Bethany Hasz and Abby Kohut-Jackson in exercising her option to return.Â
"I decided to return for my sixth year because I felt like I wasn't ready to be done with my running career yet," Larson said. "I know I have more room to grow and improve, and I really wanted to spend one more year with my incredibly talented team and amazing coaches."
This past season, the DeForest, Wis., native earned three All-Big First Team honors, winning conference titles in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays, as well as the distance medley, where Larson ran the 400 meter leg.Â
Larson was also twice named an NCAA Second-Team All-American in the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays as she placed 11th and 12th in those events, respectively
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