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/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Zaltos Advances to European Championship Final on Sunday
6/8/2024 10:52:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Zaltos, competing for his home country of Greece, will throw at 2:10 p.m. CT.
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time Kostas Zaltos, a three-time Big Ten champion with the Gophers, is headed to the European Championships hammer throw final. In his first appearance in the competition Zaltos advanced out of the qualification group and will compete for a European Championship on Sunday starting at 2:10 p.m. CT.
Zaltos, who still has college eligibility remaining, tossed his mark of 74.49m (244-4 1/2) on his first attempt of the competition. The mark proved to be just enough for Zaltos to earn a spot inside the top 12 between the first and second flight. Zaltos' throw was just below his season-best throw of 75.81m that he threw in Greece back in May. The Greek national currently sits 28th in the world rankings in the men's hammer throw, with the top 32 in the world set to make their push for the Paris Olympic Games later this year.
At Minnesota Zaltos is one of the most accomplished Gopher throwers in history. He owns three Big Ten championships in the men's hammer throw, and also has three podium finishes at the NCAA level. His best NCAA finish was second in 2023 and also has a pair of bronze medal NCAA finishes in his career. At Minnesota Zaltos' career-best mark of 76.33m is the program record while teammate, and fellow Greek, Angelos Mantzouranis is second with his career best mark of 75.55m that he set in 2024.
The Maroon and Gold wrap up the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, June 8. Minnesota has produced three podium finishes in the first three days of competition with the women capping off the event starting at 4:05 p.m. CT with the women's discus.
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 X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
Zaltos, who still has college eligibility remaining, tossed his mark of 74.49m (244-4 1/2) on his first attempt of the competition. The mark proved to be just enough for Zaltos to earn a spot inside the top 12 between the first and second flight. Zaltos' throw was just below his season-best throw of 75.81m that he threw in Greece back in May. The Greek national currently sits 28th in the world rankings in the men's hammer throw, with the top 32 in the world set to make their push for the Paris Olympic Games later this year.
Kostas Zaltos 🇬🇷 was the final qualifier at the European Championships in the hammer throw.
— Minnesota Cross Country, Track & Field (@GopherCCTF) June 8, 2024
His 74.49m (244-4 1/2) toss was only 7 centimeters below what it took to advance at WORLDS 🤯 #Roma2024 pic.twitter.com/QR9hFescWV
At Minnesota Zaltos is one of the most accomplished Gopher throwers in history. He owns three Big Ten championships in the men's hammer throw, and also has three podium finishes at the NCAA level. His best NCAA finish was second in 2023 and also has a pair of bronze medal NCAA finishes in his career. At Minnesota Zaltos' career-best mark of 76.33m is the program record while teammate, and fellow Greek, Angelos Mantzouranis is second with his career best mark of 75.55m that he set in 2024.
The Maroon and Gold wrap up the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, June 8. Minnesota has produced three podium finishes in the first three days of competition with the women capping off the event starting at 4:05 p.m. CT with the women's discus.
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 X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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