University of Minnesota Athletics
2016-17 Women's Track & Field Roster
Shay Nielsen
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- High School:
- Detroit Lakes HS
- Hometown:
- Detroit Lakes, Minn.
| PRONUNCIATION |
2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Senior Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • competed in shot put at six meets • recorded a season-best mark of 15.07m (49-05.50) in shot put 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 Senior 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 • Redshirt Junior Season: Competed in shot put at six meets • recorded a season-best mark of 15.37m (50-05.25) to place ninth in shot put at the Big Ten Championship.
2019 Outdoor • Redshirt Junior Season: Named USTFCCCA All-Academic, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten • letterwinner • competed in shot put at eight meets • recorded a season-best throw of 14.85m (48-08.75) to place fourth in shot put at the Jim Click Shootout • tied for 16th in shot put at the Big Ten Championship.
2018 Indoor • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Competed in shot put at six meets • threw a career-best 15.91m (52-02.50) to place ninth in shot put at the Big Ten Championship • ended the season ranked eighth among all-time Gophers in the shot put (15.91m, 52-02.50).
2018 Outdoor • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named USTFCCCA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • letterwinner • competed in shot put at eight meets • placed ninth in shot put at the Big Ten Championship with a season-best mark of 15.69m (51-05.75) • NCAA West Prelim qualifier in shot put, placing 39th with a mark of 14.79m (48-06.25).
2017 Indoor • Redshirt Freshman Season: Competed in the shot put at six meets • placed fourth in shot put at the Big Ten Championship with a career-best throw of 15.85m (52-00.00) to move into seventh among all-time Gophers.
2017 Outdoor • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • letterwinner • competed in the shot put at seven meets • NCAA West Prelim qualifier in shot put, placing 22nd with her second-best mark of the season at 15.34m (50-04.00) • placed 18th at the Big Ten Championship (13.75m, 45-01.50) • recorded a career-best mark of 15.81m (51-10.25) at the Sun Angel Classic to move into a tie for sixth among all-time Gophers.
2016 Indoor • Freshman Season: Competed unattached at five meets.
2016 Outdoor • Freshman Season: Competed unattached at five meets.
High School: A 2015 graduate of Detroit Lakes High School where she competed for coach Mike Labine in track & field • six-year track & field letterwinner • a standout three-sport athlete for the Lakers who was a two-time All-Midstate Conference honoree and a four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and basketball • five-time Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championship participant, competing in the shot put as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior and the discus as a junior • state runner-up in the shot put as a senior (44-00.5) and third-place finisher as a junior (41-11.25) • placed 10th in the discus (120-11) as a junior • three-time all-state honoree • four-time academic all-state honoree • five-time All-Midstate Conference honoree and a five-time conference champion in the shot put and a three-time conference champion in the discus • owns Detroit Lakes High School records in the indoor shot put (45-05) and the outdoor shot put (44-11.75) • high school personal best in the discus is 129-08.
Personal: Daughter of Mindy and Rob Nielsen • has three siblings, Jay, Ally and Kensie • Special Education major pursuing a Leadership in Education M.Ed. • mother (volleyball, softball) and father (football) were both college athletes at the University of North Dakota • enjoys spending time on the lake and hanging out with friends • 1,000-point scorer, Midstate Conference MVP and Miss Basketball nominee for the Lakers who is an all-time top-10 career scorer at Detroit Lakes High School and holds school records for career rebounds, single-season rebounds and single-season points • National Honor Society member • A honor roll student.
| Nielsen's Indoor Career Bests (2020 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark (All-Time Rank) | Meet (Date) |
| Shot Put | 15.91m, 52-02.50 (AT-10th) | Big Ten Championship (2/23/18) |
| Weight Throw | 13.18m, 43-03.00 (UA) | Minnesota Open (1/16/16) |
| Nielsen's Outdoor Career Bests (2020 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark (All-Time Rank) | Meet (Date) |
| Shot Put | 15.81m, 51-10.25 (AT-T8th) | Sun Angel Classic (4/8/17) |
| Javelin | 35.76m, 117-04 (UA) | Janis Rider Invitational (4/30/16) |
| Hammer Throw | 40.33m, 132-04 (UA) | Meet of the Un-Saintly (5/7/16) |
