Iowa Stops Gopher Track Streak at Five Titles

The University of Minnesota's string of men's Big Ten track and field titles ended at five this weekend after host Iowa edged the Gophers 125.5 to 123 at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Iowa City over the weekend.

Entering the final event, the Gophers led the Hawkeyes by half a point -- 118 to 117.5 -- but the Iowa 4 x 400-meter relay team finished second, while the Gophers could only muster 4th-place, earnig Iowa its first Big Ten outdoor track title since 1967.

The Gophers had won the last three Big Ten indoor titles and were seeking a third-straight Big Ten outdoor championship at the meet.

“Iowa is a team that has been building and pointing to having the Big Ten meet at home for some time,” Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia said. “They put together a great final day. Our team competed to the end and we are very proud of them. It was a close, very close finish.”

The Gophers left Iowa with a pair of individual Big Ten titlists: Hassan Mead won the conference crown in the 10,000-meters and Quentin Mege won the hammer throw.

Iowa had coach Larry Wieczorek, a member of Iowa's last Big Ten champion squad, was moved by his team winning the title at home.

"It's almost impossible to put into words this feeling,"Iowa coach Larry Wieczorek said "We are so grateful and blessed to have these championships in Iowa City. I couldn't ask for anything better. The team effort - through the wind and rain. I was praying during that final 4x400. I made up my mind I wouldn't ask the Good Lord for another thing in my life."

Find day-by-recaps of the Gophers' action, HERE, on GopherSports.com.

The Gopher women finished seventh as a team at the Big Ten Championships, scoring 63.5 points in the three-day meet. Ohio State won its first Big Ten women's track title with 135 points.

“I’m very disappointed by our team finish overall; it’s just not what this team is all about,” Gopher head coach Matt Bingle said. “With that said, though, we did have some excellent individual performances, like Nikki Swenson, Chimerem Okoroji, Sharyn Dahl and the 4x400 relay that should be applauded. We’ll get back to work and make our team better.”

Find recaps of the team's efforts HERE.

Complete Big Ten results can be found HERE.