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Four Gophers Claim International Championships
7/1/2024 11:20:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota track and field program celebrated a great month of international competition around the world with four different Gophers winning international national championships. Charles Godfred (Nigeria), Heta Tuuri (Finland), Agnes Esser (Canada) and Devin Augustine (Trinidad & Tobago) all claimed titles in their home countries.
The 'U' had competitors scattered across the world in nine different countries, highlighted by the quartet of champions. Though international championships are impressive accomplishments, they do not guarantee Olympic or World Championship qualification. For more information on Olympic qualification, please click here.
Godfred was the first to claim the long jump crown in his home country of Nigeria. Godfred, who just completed his true freshman season at Minnesota, claimed the title with a wind-legal mark of 8.16m (26-9 1/4) for his first national championship. Godfred finished his first collegiate season as an NCAA First Team All-American, a Big Ten champion and Minnesota's school record holder in the long jump.
Esser, a 2018 graduate of Minnesota, claimed yet another Canadian national championship in the women's discus. The four-time Big Ten medalist won her fourth discus Canadian title with a toss of 57.73m (189-5). Esser has now won titles in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2024.
In his home of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Augustine was once again crowned the fastest man on the track in the 100m. After winning the 2023 crown, Augustine returned to claim the top spot once again in a time of 10.21 (+0.7 m/s), edging fellow Gopher Kion Benjamin, who was third in a time of 10.38. Augustine ends his 2024 season as the Big Ten 100m champion, an honorable mention All-American in the 200m and Minnesota's school record holder in the 100m and 200m.
On the final day of the Olympic qualifying window (June 30) it was Heta Tuuri that was the best in the women's high jump in Finland. Tuuri, who never cleared six feet while in college, won her third Finland high jump championship with a leap of 1.86m (6-1 1/4). Since college Tuuri has cleared a lifetime best of 1.91m (6-3 1/4) and competed in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Additionally the Maroon and Gold had a number of international competitors see success on the track and in the field around the world. Below is a list of notable Minnesota finishes around the world:
Notable Non-Champion International Championship Results:
Nayoka Clunis - Jamaica Hammer Throw, Silver Medalist (66.63m | 218-7)
Matt Wilkinson - USA 3000m Steeplechase, Silver Medalist (8:23.00)
Kostas Zaltos - Greece Hammer Throw, Bronze Medalist (74.06m | 243-0)
Kion Benjamin - Trinidad & Tobago 100m, Bronze Medalist (10.38)
Anthonett Nabwe - Liberia Shot Put Finalist (4th), Hammer Throw Finalist (8th)*
Victory Godah - Nigeria 100m Finalist (4th)
Angelos Mantzouranis - Greece Hammer Throw Finalist (6th)
Shelby Frank - USA Hammer Throw Finalist (7th), Discus Finalist (5th)
Ana Couto - Brazil Heptathlon Finalist (7th)**
Alec Basten - USA 3000m Steeplechase Finalist (14th)
*at African Championships
**Couto is a Minnesota signee for the 2024-25 season
The 'U' had competitors scattered across the world in nine different countries, highlighted by the quartet of champions. Though international championships are impressive accomplishments, they do not guarantee Olympic or World Championship qualification. For more information on Olympic qualification, please click here.
Godfred was the first to claim the long jump crown in his home country of Nigeria. Godfred, who just completed his true freshman season at Minnesota, claimed the title with a wind-legal mark of 8.16m (26-9 1/4) for his first national championship. Godfred finished his first collegiate season as an NCAA First Team All-American, a Big Ten champion and Minnesota's school record holder in the long jump.
Esser, a 2018 graduate of Minnesota, claimed yet another Canadian national championship in the women's discus. The four-time Big Ten medalist won her fourth discus Canadian title with a toss of 57.73m (189-5). Esser has now won titles in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2024.
In his home of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Augustine was once again crowned the fastest man on the track in the 100m. After winning the 2023 crown, Augustine returned to claim the top spot once again in a time of 10.21 (+0.7 m/s), edging fellow Gopher Kion Benjamin, who was third in a time of 10.38. Augustine ends his 2024 season as the Big Ten 100m champion, an honorable mention All-American in the 200m and Minnesota's school record holder in the 100m and 200m.
On the final day of the Olympic qualifying window (June 30) it was Heta Tuuri that was the best in the women's high jump in Finland. Tuuri, who never cleared six feet while in college, won her third Finland high jump championship with a leap of 1.86m (6-1 1/4). Since college Tuuri has cleared a lifetime best of 1.91m (6-3 1/4) and competed in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Additionally the Maroon and Gold had a number of international competitors see success on the track and in the field around the world. Below is a list of notable Minnesota finishes around the world:
Notable Non-Champion International Championship Results:
Nayoka Clunis - Jamaica Hammer Throw, Silver Medalist (66.63m | 218-7)
Matt Wilkinson - USA 3000m Steeplechase, Silver Medalist (8:23.00)
Kostas Zaltos - Greece Hammer Throw, Bronze Medalist (74.06m | 243-0)
Kion Benjamin - Trinidad & Tobago 100m, Bronze Medalist (10.38)
Anthonett Nabwe - Liberia Shot Put Finalist (4th), Hammer Throw Finalist (8th)*
Victory Godah - Nigeria 100m Finalist (4th)
Angelos Mantzouranis - Greece Hammer Throw Finalist (6th)
Shelby Frank - USA Hammer Throw Finalist (7th), Discus Finalist (5th)
Ana Couto - Brazil Heptathlon Finalist (7th)**
Alec Basten - USA 3000m Steeplechase Finalist (14th)
*at African Championships
**Couto is a Minnesota signee for the 2024-25 season
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