Ben Peterson

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
PV
Hometown:
Cody Wyo
High School:
Cody HS

Career Highlights:
A three-time Big Ten pole vaulte champion (2008 indoor, 2010 indoor and outdoor) • ranks fourth in the pole vault on the Minnesota top-10 list outdoor (17-8 1/2) and tied for fifth indoor (17-6 1/2).

2010 Season
Indoor: Big Ten champion • cleared a career-best height of 17-6 1/2 to win the title • an NCAA provisional qualifier • vaulted in nine meets • captured five event titles. Outdoor: Captured his first Big Ten outdoor title • cleared a career-best of 17-8 1/2 to win the crown • attempted the bar at 18-feet for the first time • an NCAA Preliminary Meet competitor • placed 13th with a height of 17-2 3/4 • won four event titles • earned third varsity letter.

2009 Season:
Indoor: Eligible for a medical redshirt for both the indoor and outdoor seasons • competed in one meet, winning the Northwest Open with a indoor career-best of 17-4 1/2 • mark tied for sixth on Gophers[apos] top-10 list and was an NCAA provisional qualifier • named Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week for Jan. 12 • suffered leg injury and missed the remainder of the season. Outdoor: Redshirted.

2008 Season:
Indoor: Big Ten champion in the pole vault • won title with a career-best height of 17-1 3/4, the sixth-best vault in school history • NCAA Championships provisional qualifier • won four titles. Outdoor: NCAA Championships automatic qualifier in the pole vault • cleared career-best of 17-5 in jump-off for fifth-place and automatic bid at NCAA Midwest Region Championships • mark is the fourth-best in Gopher history • All-Big Ten Second Team • Conference runner-up with a leap of 17-2 3/4, the fifth-best height in school history • named the BIg Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week after winning title at the Minnesota Open • won three titles in outdoor season • earned second varsity letter.

2008 Season:
Indoor: Competed in five meets • placed seventh at the Big Ten Championships with a height f 16-2 3/4 • won the Snowshoe Open with a mark of 16-6, placing him ninth on Minnesota[apos]s top 10 list • also placed sixth at the Jack Johnson Classic. Outdoor: Competed in seven meets • cleared a height of 16-6 3/4 at the Big Ten Championships to earn fifth place, at the time sixth on Minnesota[apos]s top-10 list • finished second at the Drake Alternative • varsity letterwinner.

High School:
A 2006 graduate of Cody High School • high school coach was Scott Shaffer • state champion in the pole vault and the high jump as a senior • also placed second at state in the high jump in indoor track • won the pole vault his junior year • holds the school record in the pole vault with a mark of 16-9 • all-state for two seasons • earned four letters in track and field and two letters in indoor track • lettered three times in baseball and was named all-state.

Personal:
Born January 9, 1988 • kinesiology, exercise science major • parents are Russell and Mary Kay Peterson • sister Amanda competed in swimming at the University of South Dakota • brother Matt was a member of the golf team at Pacific University.