Nick Rink

Photo by: Christopher Mitchell

Class:
Redshirt Junior
Position:
Distance
Hometown:
Appleton, Wis.
High School:
Kimberly HS

PRONUNCIATION

2019 Cross Country • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned second letter in cross country • ran four races • finished sixth overall at the season-opening Oz Memorial, running 21:07.2 for four miles • finished sixth on the team and 53rd overall at the Griak Invitational • finished 42nd overall in the open race at Pre-Nationals (26:08.8) • ran an 8K season-best 25:35.1 to win the Fall Finale.

2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned third letter in track & field • ran six races • finished 14th in the mile at the Big Ten Indoor Championships • clocked a season-best time of 4:06.37 in the mile at the Meyo Invitational • won the mile at the Minnesota Cold Classic and the Larry Wieczorek Invitational • ran a season-best 8:31.51 in the 3,000 meters at the Minnesota Open • indoor season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2020 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: The 2020 outdoor track & field season was canceled on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2018 Cross Country • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • competed in four races for the Maroon & Gold while scoring in two meets • finished 11th overall at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite (25:32.2) to help Minnesota capture the team title • clocked a time of 25:48.2 at the Griak Invitational, finishing 50th overall • placed 151st at Pre-Nationals with a time of 25:35.9 • closed out the season with a 64th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, running an 8K season-best 25:08.5.

2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Competed in the mile run and the 3,000 meters during the indoor season • won the 3,000 meters at the Snowshoe Open behind a personal record of 8:37.29 • ran a season-best 4:14.85 in the mile at the Wieczorek Invitational • finished seventh in the mile at the Jack Johnson Classic.

2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named USTFCCCA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned second letter in track & field • competed in the 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor season • recorded three wins and a pair of personal records • won the 1,500 meters at the Tomcat Twilight behind a personal record of 3:53.44 • won the steeplechase at the Minnesota Men's Twilight behind a personal record of 8:55.69 • won the steeplechase at the Jim Click Shootout • made his NCAA West Preliminary debut with a 36th-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

2017 Cross Country • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned first letter in cross country • competed in four meets • opened the season with a 17th-place finish at the IU Open, running then a career-best 25:46.2 for 8K • finished 113th at the Griak Invitational (28:18.8) • improved his career-best with an 8K time of 25:07.2 in the open race at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational where he finished 18th overall • closed out his season by making his Big Ten Championships debut with a 55th-place finish in 25:17.8.

2018 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Ran five races • made Big Ten Indoor Championships debut with a 23rd-place finish in the mile • ran a season-best 1:57.00 in the 800 meters at the Minnesota Open • ran a season-best 4:09.28 in the mile at the Iowa State Classic • won the mile at the Emmerich Invite.

2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned first letter in track & field • ran five races • finished 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships • won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a season-best 8:59.82 at the UCLA Events • finished third in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (5:52.31) at the Baldy Castillo Invitational • ran a season-best 3:58.87 in the 1,500 meters at the Tom Cat Twilight.

2016 Cross Country • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2016 cross country season • represented Minnesota on the U.S. Under-20 Men's Team and won a gold medal with the team at the 2017 NACAC Cross Country Championships, finishing eighth at the 6,500-meter course (19:30.09) • competed at the 2017 USATF Cross Country Championships, finishing ninth in the men's junior 8K race (27:00.0) • ran in three college meets as an unattached competitor • opened the year by placing 24th at the four-mile Oz Memorial (20:59.5) • came in 106th at the Roy Griak Invitational, running 26:39.2 for 8K • closed out the college season with a fourth-place showing at the Fall Finale where he ran a season-best 26:05 for 8K.

2017 Indoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Redshirted the indoor season and ran two races while competing unattached • placed seventh in the 3,000 meters in a season-best 8:37.31 at the Snowshoe Open.

2017 Outdoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Redshirted the outdoor season and ran five races while competing unattached • finished as runner-up in the 1,500 meters at the Holst Invitational in a season-best 3:52.91 • won the 1,500 meters at the Hamline Invite • placed third in the 5,000 meters in a season-best 15:00.32 at the Bear Cat Twilight • ran a season-best 9:09.05 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the UW-La Crosse Qualifier • finished as 3,000-meter steeplechase runner-up at the Tomcat Twilight.

High School: A 2016 graduate of Kimberly High School • led Kimberly to the school’s first WIAA state cross country championship as a senior in 2015 behind a third-place individual finish • helped Kimberly capture the 2014 WIAA state track & field title as a sophomore • closed out his prep career with a state title in the 3,200 meter relay • a six-time all-state honoree (three in cross country, three in track) • a seven-time Fox Valley Association champion (three in cross country, two in the 1,600 meters, two in the 3,200 meters) • ran cross country for coach Mike Meling and competed in track for coach Steve Paske • an eight-time athletic letter winner (four in cross country, four in track) • four-time academic all-state award honoree in cross country • four-year honor roll student • the 2014 and 2015 Post-Crescent Media Boys Runner of the Year • competed as a prep alongside his twin brother, Derek • also participated in the cross country ski club, the downhill ski club and was a four-year letter winner with the band • holds high school records in the 1,600 meters (4:12.74), the 3,200 meters (9:28.91), the 3,200 meter relay, and is the school’s all-time top finisher at the state cross country meet (third).

Personal: Son of Edward and Sharon Rink • has one sister, Stephanie, and two brothers, Alexander and Derek • lists leading Kimberly to its first-ever cross country state title during his senior year as his most memorable sports thrill • enjoys hanging out with friends • Nursing major.