Gophers Maintain Hold on Big Ten Honors

For the third straight week, University of Minnesota men and women have been named Athletes of the Week by the Big Ten. Earning the distinction this week for their exploits at the Jack Johnson Classic on Saturday: Heptathlete R.J. McGinnis, distance runner Chris Rombough, and half-miler Heather Dorniden.

McGinnis scored 5511 points in the heptathlon at the meet, a mark that currently tops the nation. The score is the fifth-best in Gopher history and an NCAA provisional qualifier. McGinnis won four of the seven heptathlon events in his effort.

Rombough won the meet's 3000 meter event in 8:00.66 seconds, an NCAA provisional qualifier and the top time in the country this season. The mark is also a school record, bettering Will McComb's 8:00.46 which was run on an over-sized track. Rombough is the defending Big Ten champion in the 10,000 meters.

Dorniden, a six-time All-American in the 800-meter run, won the event with a time of 2:05.51 seconds. Her mark, too, is currently the top time in the nation in the event. Dorniden also anchored the Gophers’ champion 4 x 400m squad that clocked 3:49.96.

Gopher Men's Track Blog ... If you haven't found the U of M's men's track blog yet, it's HERE. Find photos, video, and updates on the exploits of the Gopher men.