Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Congrats to XC and pentathlon predictions...

Congrats to Hassan Mead who earned All-American honors with his 16th place finish at Monday's NCAA Cross Country Championships. Also, congrats to the entire team for a great season!

Today the track guys will compete in the annual 'throwers pentathlon' ... we test standing long jump, standing triple jump, overhead back throw, between the legs front throw, and 30-meter acceleration. The competition is wide open with perenial favorite Aaron Studt out of the line-up. Some guys that should be in the mix for this years title... Joey Schweke, Jack Szmanzda, Ben Peterson.

Primary goals: Have fun. Stay healthy. Compete hard. Eat Pizza after.

Results tomorrow!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

They Keep Rolling In...


Courtesy: University of Minnesota - Becky Bohm

Minnesota junior Hassan Mead earned his second consecutive U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Athlete of the Year award, the USTFCCCA announced today. Mead captured back-to-back NCAA Midwest Region titles, winning the 2009 crown by 28 seconds. The Minneapolis (South HS) native also defended his Big Ten Conference title earlier this month as well.

Two-time All-American Mead and his Golden Gopher teammates compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Ind. The national meet will be televised live by the Versus Network.

“Hassan is a special athlete,” said Minnesota head coach Steve Plasencia. “He continues to work hard to improve his running. He is deserving of the awards that are coming his way. I look forward to Hassan running a great race next week at the NCAAs.”

Monday, November 16, 2009

NCAA At-Large Bid

The XC team learned of their NCAA At-Large bid Sunday evening... way to go guys!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Big Ten XC Video



Congrats also to Hassan Mead... 2009 'Big Ten Runner of the Year'!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Mead does it again... XC third.

STORY FROM GOPHERSPORTS.COM - BECKY BOHM


Minnesota junior Hassan Mead captured the individual title at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships leading the Golden Gophers to a third-place finish in the team standings.

Mead covered the 5.2-mile course at the Penn State Cross Country Course in a time of 25 minutes, 0.2 seconds. He is the third Gopher to win two or more Big Ten cross country crowns, joining Fred Watson (1913-15) and Garry Bjorklund (1969-71). Mead is the 19th Big Ten multiple champion and first since Wisconsin’s Simon Bairu won back-to-back crowns in 2004-04. Mead, who crossed the finish line 5.7 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, also collected his third All-Big Ten First Team honor of his career.

Senior Matt Barrett contributed a ninth-place finish to earn All-Big Ten Second Team accord. Barrett was timed in 25:35.2.

The Gophers compiled 97 team points to finish third behind Wisconsin (26) and Ohio State (91). The Badgers won their 11th straight Big Ten title.

Completing the scoring for the Gophers was Ben Blankenship, who finished 18th (25:53.4); Pieter Gagnon, who placed 27th in 26:09.4; and Derek Storkel, who finished 42nd in 26:41.9.

Other Gophers running were Paul Hilsen, who finished 55th in 27:06.2; and Mike McFarland, who placed 66th in 27:42.9.

Minnesota’s next competition is the NCAA Midwest Region Championships on Nov. 14 in Springfield, Mo.