University of Minnesota Athletics
Trio of Gopher Signees Named Gatorade Athletes of the Year
1/31/2022 4:42:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota track and field signees Shane Griepentrog (Valders, Wis.), Alie Weimer (Saint Michael, Minn.) and Tanner Klumph (Missoula, Mont.) were named Gatorade State Cross Country winners, the organization announced. The award recognizes not only athletic accomplishment but also academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the course.
As a senior Weimer won the Class AAA state meet this past season with a time of 17:42.81, breaking the tape 14.29 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor and leading the Knights to a fourth-place finish as a team. Weimer won the in-season Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota, as well as the postseason NIke Cross Country National Heartland Regional Championships. She took second at the Eastbay Midwest Regional Championships and capped her year with an 11th-place finish at the national Eastbay Cross Country Championships, to earn All-American honors. In the classroom Weimer has maintained a 3.89 GPA and has also volunteered locally as the student manager of the STMA girls hockey team as well as donating her time as a youth hockey coach.
"Continuing the theme of top Minnesota runners committing to the Gophers, Ali has been one of the best runners in Minnesota her whole high school career," head cross country coach Sarah Hopkins said. "But in the last 12 months she has taken her running to a whole new level. Ali is one of the best recruits in the country, we could not be more excited that she is staying home to rep the maroon and gold!"
As a senior Griepentrog won the Division 3 state meet this past season with a meet-record time of 15:38.6, clocking in 35.5 seconds ahead of his next-closest competition and leading his squad to their third team title in his four years in high school. He has won eight of nine races in which he competed this past season and all of his eight victories came by at least 28 seconds. Griepentrog has also maintained a GPA of 3.91 while also being a contributing member at his school's chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. He also has volunteered locally at a nursing home and as a peer mentor.
"Shane knows how to win and how to push himself every time he competes," assistant coach Brad Wick said. "His athleticism and work ethic will make him a standout at this next level."
Lastly, as a senior in Missoula, Mont., Klumph won the Class AA state meet last season by over 10 seconds, finishing in a time of 15:56.21 and helping his team to a second-place finish. Klumph clocked the state's best 5000m time of 2021 with a 15:40.66 to win the Coaches Invite in the season's opening race and won the Runner's Edge Missoula CIty Meet and crossed the line 128th at the Eastbay West Regional Championships. Klumph is also outstanding in the classroom with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. He's also the president of the Sentinel High National Honor Society and volunteers as a youth tutor and track coach while also donating his time toward community service initiatives through his church youth group.
"Tanner is a big-time recruit from outside the Midwest," Wick said on signing day. "He has great leadership qualities and will be a big part of the program during his career at Minnesota."
Griepentrog, Weimer and Klumph are all a part of a great 2022-23 signing class that is set to join the program next season. This trio is joined by six additional men and 10 women with the talented class coming from all over the country. For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
As a senior Weimer won the Class AAA state meet this past season with a time of 17:42.81, breaking the tape 14.29 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor and leading the Knights to a fourth-place finish as a team. Weimer won the in-season Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota, as well as the postseason NIke Cross Country National Heartland Regional Championships. She took second at the Eastbay Midwest Regional Championships and capped her year with an 11th-place finish at the national Eastbay Cross Country Championships, to earn All-American honors. In the classroom Weimer has maintained a 3.89 GPA and has also volunteered locally as the student manager of the STMA girls hockey team as well as donating her time as a youth hockey coach.
"Continuing the theme of top Minnesota runners committing to the Gophers, Ali has been one of the best runners in Minnesota her whole high school career," head cross country coach Sarah Hopkins said. "But in the last 12 months she has taken her running to a whole new level. Ali is one of the best recruits in the country, we could not be more excited that she is staying home to rep the maroon and gold!"
As a senior Griepentrog won the Division 3 state meet this past season with a meet-record time of 15:38.6, clocking in 35.5 seconds ahead of his next-closest competition and leading his squad to their third team title in his four years in high school. He has won eight of nine races in which he competed this past season and all of his eight victories came by at least 28 seconds. Griepentrog has also maintained a GPA of 3.91 while also being a contributing member at his school's chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. He also has volunteered locally at a nursing home and as a peer mentor.
"Shane knows how to win and how to push himself every time he competes," assistant coach Brad Wick said. "His athleticism and work ethic will make him a standout at this next level."
Lastly, as a senior in Missoula, Mont., Klumph won the Class AA state meet last season by over 10 seconds, finishing in a time of 15:56.21 and helping his team to a second-place finish. Klumph clocked the state's best 5000m time of 2021 with a 15:40.66 to win the Coaches Invite in the season's opening race and won the Runner's Edge Missoula CIty Meet and crossed the line 128th at the Eastbay West Regional Championships. Klumph is also outstanding in the classroom with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. He's also the president of the Sentinel High National Honor Society and volunteers as a youth tutor and track coach while also donating his time toward community service initiatives through his church youth group.
"Tanner is a big-time recruit from outside the Midwest," Wick said on signing day. "He has great leadership qualities and will be a big part of the program during his career at Minnesota."
Griepentrog, Weimer and Klumph are all a part of a great 2022-23 signing class that is set to join the program next season. This trio is joined by six additional men and 10 women with the talented class coming from all over the country. For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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