University of Minnesota Athletics
2020-21 Women's Track & Field Roster
Val Larson
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Position:
- Sprints/Hurdles
- High School:
- DeForest Area HS
- Hometown:
- DeForest, Wis.
| PRONUNCIATION |
2021 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Senior Season: Named Second Team All-American in 4x400m relay • named All-Big Ten First Team honoree as Big Ten champion in 4x400m relay and distance medley relay • named team co-captain • competed at seven meets • made NCAA indoor debut, finishing 11th in the 4x400m relay in 3:35.70 at the NCAA Indoor Championships • won the B1G 4x400m relay in a season-best 3:35.51, the second fastest 4x400m relay in Minnesota history; won the B1G distance medley relay, running the 400m leg, in a season-best 11:10.05, the fourth-fastest DMR in Minnesota history; and finished second in the B1G 600m in a career-best 1:28.67 to rank fifth in Minnesota history at the Big Ten Indoor Championships • ran a career-best 54.31 to rank fourth in Minnesota history and finish as 400m runner-up at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational • won the 400m at the Hawkeye Border Battle • won the 600m at the Husker Triangular • finished as 600m runner-up at the Nebraska Quadrangular and Larry Wieczorek Invitational • won the 4x400m relay at four meets • ended the season ranked second in the 4x400m relay (3:35.51), fourth in the distance medley relay (11:10.05), fourth in the 400m (54.31), and fifth in the 600m (1:28.67) among all-time Gophers.
2021 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Senior Season: Named Second Team All-America selection in the 4x400m relay • named All-Big Ten First Team honoree as Big Ten champion in the 4x400m relay • named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • competed at eight meets • finished 12th in the 4x400m relay in 3:36.20 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships • won the 4x400m relay in a season-best 3:33.44, the fourth fastest relay in Minnesota history, and ran a career-best 53.51, third in Minnesota history, to place fifth in the 400m at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships • placed 12th in the 4x400m relay (3:34.36) and placed 28th in the 400m hurdles (59.75) at the NCAA West Prelim • ran a career-best 59.16 in the 400m hurdles to rank ninth in Minnesota history and place third at the M City Classic.
2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named All-Big Ten Second Team honoree • named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • letterwinner • team co-captain • ran 17 races with appearances in the 400m, 600m, and 4x400m relay • ran a career-best 55.27 in the 400m at the Tyson Invitational • finished second in the 600m (career-best 1:28.93) and sixth in the 4x400m relay (3:39.98) at the Big Ten Championships • won the 400m at the Minnesota Open • won the 600m at the Larry Wieczorek Invite and the SDSU Holiday Invite • won the 4x400m relay at the Minnesota Open and SDSU Holiday Invite • ran third on the 10th-fastest 4x400m relay team in program history (3:39.98) • ended the season ranked fourth in the 600m (1:28.93) among all-time Gophers • 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.
2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Second Team All-Big Ten • ran nine races with appearances in the 400m, 600m, 800m, and 4x400m relay • finished as Big Ten runner-up in the 600m in 1:30.12 and finished eighth in the 4x400m relay at the Big Ten Championship • ran a season-best 55.90 to place third in the 400m at the ISU Classic.
2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • letterwinner • ran 15 races • placed sixth in the 400m (55.28) and seventh in the 4x400m relay (3:41.09) at the Big Ten Championship after running a season-best 54.65 in the B1G 400m prelims • ran a season-best 2:10.75 in the 800m and anchored Minnesota's runner-up 4x100m relay team at the Stanford Invitational • led off Minnesota's third-place 4x800m relay team at the Drake Relays, which ran 8:37.04 to rank fourth in Minnesota history.
2018 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Ran 13 races • ran career bests in the 400m (55.47) and the 600m (1:29.87), winning the 600m, at the Power Five Invite • ran a career-best 2:10.60 in the 800m at the Music City Challenge • made Big Ten debut, placing 10th in the 600m (1:31.15) and running the 800m leg of the sixth-place distance medley relay (11:25.67) • won the 800m at The Dual • led off the first-place 4x400m relay team at the Power Five Invite, clocking a time of 3:36.36 to rank second in Minnesota history • ended the season ranked fourth in the 600m (1:29.87) among all-time Gophers.
2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Second Team All-American in the 4x400m relay • named USTFCCCA All-Academic, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • letterwinner • ran 14 races with two appearances in the 400m, five in the 800m, and seven in the 4x400m relay • NCAA Championship qualifier in the 4x400m relay, placing 14th in 3:35.10 • advanced to the NCAA Championship after placing sixth in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA West Prelim, clocking a time of 3:32.25 to set a new Minnesota program record • ran a career-best 2:09.20 in the 800m to place 11th and led off the 10th-place 4x400m relay (3:42.24) at the Big Ten Championship • ran a career-best 54.61 in the 400m at the Bryan Clay Invite to move into ninth among all-time Gophers • ended the season ranked first in the 4x400m relay (3:32.25) and ninth in the 400m (54.61) among all-time Gophers.
2017 Indoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Competed unattached at six meets.
2017 Outdoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Competed unattached at five meets, including winning the 800m in a career-best 2:10.21 at the Janis Rider Invite.
High School: A 2016 graduate of DeForest Area High School where she competed for coach Chris Smith • four-time letterwinner in both cross country and track & field who also played basketball as a freshman • four-time All-Badger North Conference cross country honoree • two-time all-area (second team honoree for 400m, honorable mention for triple jump, long jump, and 4x400m relay) and 2016 all-state honoree on the track • five-time Badger North Conference champion in the 400m (2015, 2016), 4x400m relay (2015, 2016), and triple jump (2016) • seven-time WIAA Division 1 State Track & Field Championship qualifier • finished fourth in the 400m (56.38), sixth in triple jump (37-09), and seventh in long jump (17-06.75) at the 2016 WIAA Division 1 State Championship as a senior • four-time state qualifier in the 400m, placing 12th as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore, sixth as a junior, and fourth as a senior • holds DeForest school records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, and triple jump • nominated for Senior All-Star meet in Iowa • named four-time MVP in track & field, two-time MVP in cross country, and cross country captain • competed in summer USATF and AAU track & field meets from 2010-2015 • owns high school personal bests of 56.38 in the 400m (2016), 37-09 in triple jump (2016), 18-02 in long jump (2016), 25.84 in the 200m (2016), and 12.44 in the 100m (2015).
Personal: Daughter of Steve and Stephanie Larson • has one sibling, Jared • Kinesiology major pursuing a Sport/Exercise Science M.Ed. • enjoys the outdoors • named high honor roll member, Badger Conference Top Scholar Award recipient, and National Honor Society member.
| Larson's Indoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark (All-Time Rank) | Meet (Date) |
| 200m | 25.51 (UA) | Iowa State Classic (2/10/17) |
| 400m | 54.31 (AT-4th) | Hawkeye B1G Invitational (2/12/21) |
| 600m | 1:28.67 (AT-5th) | Big Ten Championships (2/27/21) |
| 800m | 2:10.60 | Music City Challenge (2/10/18) |
| 60m Hurdles | 9.90 (UA) | Parents Day Invite (2/18/17) |
| Larson's Outdoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark (All-Time Rank) | Meet (Date) |
| 400m | 53.51 (AT-3rd) | Big Ten Championship (5/16/21) |
| 800m | 2:09.20 | Big Ten Championship (5/12/18) |
| 400m Hurdles | 59.16 (AT-9th) | M City Classic (4/30/21) |
