Alex Brend

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
Mid-Distance
Hometown:
Lake Zurich, Ill.
High School:
Lake Zurich

GOPHERS CAREER
Two-time Academic All-Big Ten (2013, 2014) • two-year letter winner (2013, 2014) • 13 career races • three top-10 finishes.

2014 | REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEASON
Competed in four meets for the Gophers • opened the season with a fourth-place finish at the Oz Memorial and a time of 19:07.1 • his time marked a new personal six-kilometer record for Brend while his fourth-place finish tied his career best (2012 Fall Finale) • finished 34th at the Griak Invitational with a time of 25:42.0 • finished 217th overall (217 among attached runners) at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational with a time of 25:57 • finished 82nd at the Big Ten Championship with a time of 25:34.6 • Academic All-Big Ten • earned second letter.

2013 | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
Ran in five races for the Gophers and factored into the team's scoring in three meets • best finish of the season came at the Big Ten meet, finishing 35th with a time of 25:17.0 • opened the season with a 71st-place finish at the Griak Invitational, crossing the finish line in 25:31.1 • followed up the performance with a time of 25:23.7 at the Notre Dame Invitational to finish 58th • clocked a 24:49 at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational for a new 8K personal record, finishing 172nd • ran a 32:19.6 at the NCAA Regionals to finish 89th • Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned first letter.

2012 | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Competed in four races for the Gophers as a redshirt freshman • best finish was at the Oz Memorial, finishing first on the team and sixth overall with a time of 19:23.40 in his Gophers debut • clocked a 26:20.2 at the Griak Invitational, finishing 68th overall • also posted a 29th-place finish at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational open Race, finishing in 25:24 • Fall Finale time was 25:18.00, placing second on the team and fourth overall.

2011 | FRESHMAN SEASON
Redshirted the 2011 cross country season.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Lake Zurich High School in 2011 • high school coaches were J.B. Hanson and Chad Beaver • all-conference and all-state as a senior • finished 18th overall in the state championships as a senior • also participated in track, football and wrestling in high school • Honor Roll all four years • won the Illinois Class 3A State Championship in the 800m as a senior.

PERSONAL
Born on July 23, 1993 • son of Mary Beth and Kenneth Brend • majoring in biology • has three brothers including one twin brother • enjoys swimming, video games and ultimate Frisbee.

Brend's Career Bests
10K	32:19.6	NCAA Midwest Regional (Nov. 15, 2013)
8K	24:49	Wisconsin adidas Invitational (Oct. 19, 2013)
6K	19:07.1	Oz Memorial (Sept. 5, 2014)
Finish	4th	Fall Finale (Nov. 2, 2012)/Oz Memorial (Sept. 5, 2014)