Gopher Women Eye Big Ten Three-Peat

The University of Minnesota women's track and field team will aim for an historic third straight Big Ten Indoor Championship title when it opens competition tomorrow in Bloomington, Indiana. Only one other program -- Wisconsin, which won four crowns in succession between 1984-1987 -- has won three straight Big Ten indoor titles.

The Gophers expect to be powered by the middle distance crew that has fueled the Gophers recent run of Big Ten success, which includes an outdoor title in 2006 and the last two cross country titles. Heather Dorniden, the national champion, seven-time all-American, and two-time Big Ten titlist will compete in the 600m and mile as well as run a vital leg on the Gopher's DMR. The Rosemount alum is seeded #1 in both individual events; the Gophers are the #2-ranked DMR in the meet.

Other middle distance runners who will form the heart of the Gopher batting order include: Jamie Cheever and Nikki Swenson, seeded #3 and #4 in the 800m and Elizabeth Yetzer, Elizabeth and Gabriele Anderson seeded #5 and #6 in the mile.

The Gopher women also look to score important points in the pole vault, where Alicia Rue is the #1 seed and Samantha Sonnenberg ranks #4. Elsewhere, Kari Schmidt is ranked #3 in the shot put, Caitlin Roemhildt and Natalie Devine are seeded #4 and #5 in the high jump, and Amy Laskowske is seeded #3 in the 5000 meters.

A Gopher women's preview is HERE.

Full heet sheets can be found HERE.

A history of the Big Ten Indoor Championships can be found HERE.

Men Look Strong Despite Loss of Peterson ... Entering the Big Ten men's meet at Penn State with three #1 seeds and five #2 seeds, the Gopher men, fifth last year, enter the championship with high hopes, despite the loss of 2008 Big Ten indoor pole vault champ Ben Peterson.

A leg injury has kept Peterson from competing in all but the opening meet of the season this year. Last year, as a freshman, Peterson won a surprise pole vault title for the Gophers.

Seeded #1 for Minnesota are Hassan Mead at 3000m, Matt Fischer in the high jump, and R.J. McGinnis in the heptathlon. Gopher #2 seeds include Ibrahim Kabia in the 60m, Chris Rombough at 3000m, Brock Spandl in the heptathlon, and Aaron Studt in the shot put and weight throw.

The Gopher men's preview is HERE.

Full heet sheets can be found HERE.

A history of the Big Ten Indoor Championships can be found HERE.

Competition in both championships begins Saturday morning and concludes on Sunday afternoon.