Gophers' Hegerle Earns Big Ten Award

University of Minnesota redshirt freshman Micah Hegerle was named the Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week yesterday after winning the hammer throw at the Iowa Musco Twilight last Saturday.

Hegerle, a native of Dodge Center, landed a mark of 211-5, a Gopher freshman record and the second-best performance in U of M history. Hegerle currently ranks #2 in the Big Ten #18 in the nation in the event.

Hegerle has broken the Gopher freshman hammer record three times this season. The only thrower ahead of him on the Gophers’ all-time list is his coach Lynden Reder, who owns the school record with a throw of 215-9 in 2004.

Hegerle joins R.J. McGinnis as the second Gopher recognized as a Big Ten Athlete of the Week during the 2010 outdoor season. He is the first Gopher freshman to earn the honor since thrower Aaron Studt won a weekly award during the 2007 outdoor season.