Gopher Pole Vaulters Earn Big Ten Awards

University of Minnesota pole vaulters Samantha Sonnenberg and Ben Peterson earned Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week honors thanks to their high-flying exploits over the weekend.

Sonnenberg, a Waukesha, Wisconsin native, won the pole vault event Iowa State Classic on Friday, clearing a season-best 13-9 1/4. The mark is currently the top clearance in the Big Ten this season and ranks Sonnenberg #13 in NCAA Division I.

Sonnenberg shared the award with Michigan State thrower Beth Rohl.

Peterson, a Cody, Wyoming native and the defending Big Ten champion, cleared a career-best 17-9 to win at Iowa State. Peterson’s vault, the fifth-best in Gopher history, currently ranks him first in the Big Ten and #4 in the nation this season.

Rising in the Rankings ... The Gopher men rose six spots to #25 in the latest NCAA Division rankings released yesterday. The Gopher women, ascended twelve places to #39.

Complete rankings can be found HERE.