Hunter Staack

Photo by: Christopher Mitchell

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Position:
Distance
Hometown:
Hopkins, Minn.
High School:
Hopkins HS

PRONUNCIATION

2019 Cross Country • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • competed in four races for the Gophers during the 2019 campaign • opened the season with a 13th-place finish at the Oz Memorial, running the four-mile course in 21:38.5 • finished 100th at the Griak Invitational with a time of 27:23.8 • ran 26:29.4 at the Jim Drews Invitational, finishing sixth.

2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • ran one race, placing third in the mile at the Jack Johnson Classic • 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 • competed in three meets for the Gophers • closed out the season with a new personal eight-kilometer record (25:44) and a new career finish (sixth) at the Fall Finale to help Minnesota claim the race's team title • opened the season with a 54th-place finish at the Greeno/Dirksen Invite, running 26:39.2 • finished 102nd at the Griak Invitational with a time of 26:46.7.

2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Competed in the mile run with a pair of top-10 finishes • finished fourth at the Jack Johnson Classic with a season-best time of 4:16.52 • placed sixth at the Snowshoe Open.

2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • competed in the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters • posted four top-10 finishes • finished second in the 800 meters at the Tomcat Twilight behind a time of 1:56.34 and added a fourth-place finish at the Bolstorff Twilight with a time of 1:57.79 • ran 3:58.13 to finish seventh in the 1,500 meters at the Minnesota Men's Twilight and also finished eighth at the Jim Click Shootout with a time of 4:02.67.

2017 Cross Country • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • did not see action during the 2017 cross country season.

2018 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Competed in the mile run with a pair of top-10 finishes • ran 4:11.82 at the Iowa State Classic for his best time of the season • finished third at the Snowshoe Open and came in ninth at the Jack Johnson Classic.

2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar • competed in the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters with four top-10 finishes • finished fourth in the 1,500 meters at the UWL Final Qualifier and was the runner-up at UCLA • added top-10 finishes in the 800 meters at the Dakota Relays (ninth) and the Tomcat Twilight (seventh).

2016 Cross Country • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2016 cross country season • ran in three college meets as an unattached competitor, placing 31st at the four-mile Oz Memorial (21:18.3), finishing 223rd at the eight-kilometer Roy Griak Invitational (28:04.7) and closing out the college season by placing ninth at the eight-kilometer Fall Finale (26:37) • finished seventh at the 2016 Twin Cities 5K (15:50).

2017 Indoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2017 indoor track & field season while competing in the 800 meters, mile, and 3,000 meters as an unattached runner • posted four top-10 finishes, including a win in the mile run at the Snowshoe Open (4:14.06).

2017 Outdoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2017 outdoor track & field season while competing in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, and 1,500 meters • posted four top-10 finishes.

High School: A 2016 graduate of Hopkins High School • closed out his prep career with a state championship in the 4x800 meter relay • helped Hopkins capture the 2015 state cross country title and the 2014 state track & field title • a two-time all-state and all-conference selection as a senior (cross country and track) • also earned all-section honors in cross country as a senior • the 2015 Lake Conference cross country champion and a member of the 2016 Lake Conference champion 4x800 meter relay team • three-time all-conference honorable mention (2013, 2014 in cross country, 2015-16 in hockey) • earned a total of 10 letters (four in cross country, three in track, three in hockey) • holds the Hopkins High School record in the 4x800 meter relay (7:44) • high school teammate of fellow Gopher Owen Hoeft • competed for coaches Mike Harris, Corey Petterson and Nick Lovas • graduated with academic distinction from Hopkins • also played AAA hockey with the Minnesota Blades and the Minnesota Icemen.

Personal: Native of Golden Valley, Minn. • son of Steve and Kelly Staack • has one brother, Conner • plans to study engineering • lists competing in Nike Cross Nationals as his most memorable sports experience • also enjoys hiking, fishing and spending time at the cabin.