Monday, July 14, 2008

Potter Wins, Gabrielson 3rd in Belgium

Former Golden Gopher star Mitch Potter won the 400 meters at Sunday's Gent Feesten Meeting in Belgium in 46.66. Potter edged Irish quarter-miler Gordon Kennedy and Jamaica's DeWayne Barrett who were both clocked in 46.76.

Results of the meet can be found HERE.

The welcome win follows Potter's disappointment of not qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials by one place. Twenty-eight athletes were accepted into the Trials 400m field; Potter was athlete #29.

Kicking off a three-meet European tour, Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson finished 3rd in the Gent 3000m in 7:55.34. Fellow-Americans Stephen Pifer (7:53.21) and Ryan Bak (7:54.48) finished ahead of Gabrielson.

Gabrielson's Gent mark is just shy of his 7:54.22 PR for 3000m. Team USA Minnesota coach Dennis Barker was pleased with Gabrielson's run.

"It was a good tune up for the KBC-Nacht 5000 next Sunday in Heusden, [Belgium] which is usually a fast race," he said. "He's in PR shape so hopefully the weather is okay and the race sets up for him to do it."

Gabrielson also plans to compete in the ACBR Internationale Meeting in Brasschaat, Belgium on July 23, before returning to Minnesota to focus on training for October's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, the 2008 USA Marathon Championships for men.

No comments: