Jack Johnson

Thanks to Flotrack.com for coming up to cover the Jack Johnson Classic. Here is a highlight video they put together. There are also interviews here:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

I'll get some clips from the meet up soon...

Harun continues to impress...

We had several bright spots in our second meet of the indoor season, the Minnesota Open. One of the brightest continues to be the young career of Harun Abda. Harun was the 2009 Minnesota Class AA State Champion in the 800m, and has found a nice distance for himself in the 600m race. Although red-shirting, Harun's time of 1:18.43 would be 5th on the all-time list. Video below:

NEXT UP: The team will compete at home again this weekend at the Jack Johnson. Other teams include NDSU, Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, South Florida and Manitoba.

The meet will include an alumni reunion put on by the "M-Club" and a live band during the competition. Should be a fun weekend, so be sure to come by and support the Gophers! If you are an alum, come by and enjoy some food and beverage with other former-tracksters!

In other alumni news: Antonio Vega is the US Half-Marathon Champion. More info and video interview on down-the-backstretch.

Northwest Open Highlights

First off, sorry for the delayed post... I normally try to get something up earlier in the week, but for whatever reason this week got away from me.

We opened up with a very limited group this past Saturday at home for the Northwest Open.

Here are some highlights:

-Harun Abda turning some heads in his first college race (UNAT) in a 1:19+ 600-meter.

-Some guys returning from injury for nice performances... Ben Peterson hitting a provo in pole vault (17') Matt Fisher in high jump (6'10+) and Joe Plencner in his first day vaulting in a long time (15'7).

-Weight guys looking good... Micah Hegerle just missing a provo in his first official meet as a Gopher (63'8) the mark was 9-centimeters short of provo, but good enough for a new freshman record. Aaron Studt with his best opener ever, hitting a provo (64'+). Transfer redshirt Andy Norman with a 2-foot PR in his opener (57').

-Stroman and Shelendich both opening up well in their 800-meter (1:52+).

-Joey Schweke hitting some nice PR's in the hurdles and high jump (6'8+).

-Addison Demer opening up with a 7.00m+ long jump.

600-Meter:

800-Meter:

Ben Peterson: 17'

NCAA Rankings

Minnesota will open up the 2010 season with a #10 ranking in the NCAA.

Harun Abda vs. Urkel from 'Family Matters'

You decide!

...ok... yea... its a little slower pace around here over Christmas break training.

Intersquad Highlights (and some video)

The team had its annual intersquad meet last Friday and had some really nice performances for this time of year. Here are a few highlights:

-Matt Fisher jumped 6'11 ... compared to his PR of 7'4 this isn't earth shattering, but very encouraging since Matt ruptured his achilles tendon in the NCAA Championship Meet just 6 months ago! The other jumpers are ahead of last year also with Clauer and Parent jumping 6'7.

-Ben Peterson also returning from injury last year to clear 17' in the pole vault. Red-shirt multi-eventer Jack Szmanda vaulting 16'. Brock also looking solid at 16'6.

-David Pachuta looking fit in his 1,000-meter win, running 2:26.80. Logan Stroman ahead of last year in his 600-meter running 1:19.24

-The horizontal jumps group looked good with Ray, Tommy and Dipo all well over 47' in the triple jump from a short approach.

-The throws group had a good showing with Micah Hegerle and Andy Norman providing the main highlights... Micah 66'6 and Norman 63'7 w/30lb weight.

-Cameron Boy debuted well with his win in the 150-meter... Kevin Bradley also looked good in his 300-meter.

-Sean Duling continued his excellent fall training with a near PR in the 60-meter hurdles... 8.16.

Now the boys are working hard on finals before enjoying the holiday break!

Big Ten Indoor Championship

FROM JO RIDER:

As you know, the University of Minnesota Athletic Department will be hosting the Men’s Indoor Track Big Ten Championships on February 27 & 28, 2010.

Just a friendly reminder that the special ticket “pre-sale” for participating teams ends Friday, December 11. The tickets will go on sale to the public on December 14, 2010 We would sure like to have you join us to cheer on the team as they compete to win another Big Ten Title.

Call 1-800-U-GOPHER or 612-624-8080.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, February 27th:

10:00 a.m. Heptathlon 60-meters

10:40 a.m. Heptathlon long jump

11:50 a.m. Heptathlon shot put

12:50 p.m. Heptathlon high jump

1:30 p.m. Long jump (trials & finals)

3000-meters – unseeded
section (finals)

1:40 p.m. Shot put (trials & finals)

1:45 p.m. Pole vault (trials & finals)

2:30 p.m. One-mile (trials)

3:00 p.m. 400-meters (trials)

3:20 p.m. 60-meters (trials)

3:30 p.m. 800-meters (semi-finals)

3:50 p.m. 60-meter Hurdles (trials)

4:00 p.m. 600-meters (trials)

4:15 p.m. 200-meters (trials)

4:40 p.m. 3000-meters – seeded section
(finals)

5:00 p.m. Distance medley relay (finals)

Sunday, February 28th:

9 a.m. Heptathlon 60-meter Hurdles

10:00 a.m. Heptathlon pole vault

11:00 a.m. High jump (trials & finals)

12:50 p.m. Weight throw (trials & finals)

1:00 p.m. 5000-meters – unseeded
section (finals)

1:30 p.m. Heptathlon 1000-meters to 3:30

1:50 p.m. One-Mile (finals)

2:00 p.m. 400-meters (finals)

2:10 p.m. 60-meters (finals)

2:20 p.m. 800-meters (finals)

2:30 p.m. 60-meter Hurdles (finals)

2:40 p.m. 600-meters (finals)

2:50 p.m. 200-meters (finals – 2 sections)

3:00 p.m. 5,000-meters – seeded section
(finals)

3:25 p.m. 4x400-meter relay (finals – 2
sections)

3:45 p.m. AWARDS PRESENTATION

Pentathlon Recap

As is the annual tradition - the track guys took part in the 'throwers pent' last week. This is a fun way to cap off a good fall of training and get the competitive juices flowing.

We test the overhead back throw with a 16lb shot, between the legs front throw (w/16), standing long jump, standing triple jump and 30-meter acceleration. These performances are then plugged into a scoring table. Typically, a 300 point total is a significant bench-mark.

We had a very nice showing all across the board, and quite possibly the deepest 300-point club ever. We had 11 guys score 300-points or more - this not including 3 guys who likely would have gone over 300 (Studt, McGinnis and Kleinhuizen).

Joey Schweke took the 2009 title with his 339 total score. Kenny Schofield, Clay Gosse, Cameron Boy and Dipo Fagbemi all had notable performances for freshman... all going well over the 300 point mark with 324, 323, 319 and 310 respectively.

Jack Szmanda had the honorable mention runner-up finish, and most improved score - improving his 2008 score by 70+ points to 333.

After some Mesa Pizza the guys wrapped up classes on Wednesday and enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend (so did the coaches).

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!

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.”

NCAA At-Large Bid

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

Big Ten XC Video

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

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.

Big Ten Cross Country Preview

Griak Video - 2009