University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Track & Field
Wilkinson, Basten and Strandemo All Make USATF Steeplechase Final
7/6/2023 9:16:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
The trio will attempt to make Team USA's World Championship roster on Saturday night.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota will be well represented in the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championship steeplechase final after Matt Wilkinson, Alec Basten and Madeline Strandemo all advanced out of the first round on Thursday night in Eugene, Ore., at Hayward Field.
Strandemo (2014-18) was the first to punch her ticket to the 3000m steeplechase final on Friday with a time of 9:53.99 out of the first heat. Strandemo finished sixth overall in the first of two first round heats, forcing the two-time Big Ten champion to wait until the conclusion of the second heat to see if her time was fast enough. For Strandemo the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships were a 'third times the charm' with the Fargo, N.D., native punching her first ticket to the final after narrowly missing out in 2018 and in 2021.
Just a short time later the Golden Gophers had a pair of competitors in the second heat of the men's steeplechase first round. Basten (2017-22) along with Wilkinson (2021-23) were locked in from the gun, both securing spots in Friday's final with Wilkinson earning an automatic qualifying spot in a time of 8:29.28 while Basten's time of 8:29.45 earned him a sixth-place finish in his heat and a time qualifying spot to the final. For Wilkinson, a Greenwood, Minn. native, the appearance in the USATF final is the first of his career and extends his time in the Maroon and Gold uniform to Saturday. Basten's finals appearance is his second, and his first since 2021 when he made the USA Olympic Trials final.
Minnesota's men have now had at least one finalist at the USATF Outdoor Championships in three of the last four contested events dating back to 2019. Wilkinson joins Basten along with NCAA Champion Obsa Ali in reaching the United States of America final.
The Maroon and Gold will see their steeplechase competitors compete on Saturday night with Strandemo competing at 9:25 p.m. CT with the men competing shortly after at 9:40 p.m. For more information on the Gophers around the world, continue to check back with GopherSports.com all month long. 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 summer.
Strandemo (2014-18) was the first to punch her ticket to the 3000m steeplechase final on Friday with a time of 9:53.99 out of the first heat. Strandemo finished sixth overall in the first of two first round heats, forcing the two-time Big Ten champion to wait until the conclusion of the second heat to see if her time was fast enough. For Strandemo the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships were a 'third times the charm' with the Fargo, N.D., native punching her first ticket to the final after narrowly missing out in 2018 and in 2021.
Just a short time later the Golden Gophers had a pair of competitors in the second heat of the men's steeplechase first round. Basten (2017-22) along with Wilkinson (2021-23) were locked in from the gun, both securing spots in Friday's final with Wilkinson earning an automatic qualifying spot in a time of 8:29.28 while Basten's time of 8:29.45 earned him a sixth-place finish in his heat and a time qualifying spot to the final. For Wilkinson, a Greenwood, Minn. native, the appearance in the USATF final is the first of his career and extends his time in the Maroon and Gold uniform to Saturday. Basten's finals appearance is his second, and his first since 2021 when he made the USA Olympic Trials final.
Minnesota's men have now had at least one finalist at the USATF Outdoor Championships in three of the last four contested events dating back to 2019. Wilkinson joins Basten along with NCAA Champion Obsa Ali in reaching the United States of America final.
The Maroon and Gold will see their steeplechase competitors compete on Saturday night with Strandemo competing at 9:25 p.m. CT with the men competing shortly after at 9:40 p.m. For more information on the Gophers around the world, continue to check back with GopherSports.com all month long. 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 summer.
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