Burkstrand and Abda Go One, Two in Drake 800

A day after helping the Gophers to the squad’s third 4x800 meter relay title in as many years, Travis Burkstrand and Harun Abda put together a one-two finish in the 800 meters on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 14,504 at the Drake Relays to give the Minnesota men their second title of the weekend.  The pair of All-Americans battled each other from the gun.  Burkstrand took the lead for good midway through the second lap  and finished in 1:49.32 for his first 800 meter win of the outdoor season.  Abda was second at 1:49.67. Burkstrand’s 800 title marks the first time Minnesota has won the event at Drake.

Oladipo Fagbemi finished third in the triple jump(15:59 meters /51'1.75"). Wally Ellenson finished fifth in the high jump(2.12 meters /6'11.5".). Danny Schiller tied for 13th(2.03 meters /6'8") in the high jump.  Minnesota’s 1,600 meter sprint medley relay team--Cameron Boy, Jacob Capek, John Holton, and Michael Bolland--finished first in its heat and sixth overall(3:23.35).

After finishing first in their preliminary heat on Friday, the 4x400 relay team of Abda, Kevin Bradley, Jacob Capek and Boy finished seventh in Saturday’s final( 3:08.25). Blayne Dulian (3:49.74) and Marcus Paulson (3:50.58) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 1,500 meters. Full day-by-day Drake results are HERE. Drake Gopher photo gallery is HERE.

Gophers Pick Up Two Titles in San Diego

Minnesota’s throwers were in competition on Saturday at the UCSD Triton Invitational in San Diego with the Gophers picking up titles in the hammer throw and the shot put. Logan Hussung set a new personal record in the shot (17.49 meters/57'4.75") to edge teammate and runner up Mark Jennings’(17.45 meters/ 57'3"). The duo’s marks are the top two for the Gophers in the shot put this season. The U of M men also captured three of the top four places in the hammer throw.  Micah Hegerle’s won (64.67 meters/212'2"). Jon Lehman finished third(59.76 meters/196'1"), and Justin Barber was fourth at (58.49 meters/191'11")

Barber(55.91 meters/183'5") set a new PR and finshed third in the discus. Dominique Howard was fifth(55.33 meters /181'6"), Hegerle seventh(54.83 meters/179'11").  Meet results are HERE

Gustavus Drake Alternative

Minnesota freshman Rashawn Fountain set a new meet record in the 400 meter hurdles on Saturday at the Gustavus  Drake Alternative meet in Northfield. Running unattached, Fountain clocked 53.57. Full meet results are HERE

Minnesota Daily story on Drake is HERE.