The Minnesota men's outdoor track and field program will compete in the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Championships in Austin, Texas this weekend. The University of Texas's Mike A. Myers Stadium will host the three-day event, which runs May 23-25.
Coach's Comments - Steve Plasencia
"Anytime you have half the country together at the same meet, it's going to be tough competition. I think we have a group of guys that have the want-to and the ability to be successful at this meet and hopefully move on to Eugene for the finals."
Last Time Out - Big Tens
The Gophers finished second at the 2013 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Columbus, Ohio two weeks ago behind only Nebraska. Minnesota picked up three individual titles at the meet from Harun Abda (800 meters), Micah Hegerle (hammer throw) and Zach Siegmeier (pole vault) -- all three earned All-Big Ten First Team distinction while Quentin Mege and Oladipo Fagbemi also added All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Hegerle's title gave Minnesota its fourth-straight Big Ten hammer throw title.
Moving on to Eugene
The top 12 qualifiers (individual events and relays) from both regional preliminary championships will advance to compete at the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore.
Minnesota NCAA Prelims Roster
Harun Abda - 800 meters, 4x400 meter relay
Justin Barber - Discus
Cameron Boy - 200 meters, 4x400 meter relay
Kevin Bradley - 4x400 meter relay
Alex Brend - 1,500 meter run
Travis Burkstrand - 800 meters
Jacob Capek - 400 meters, 4x400 meter relay
Logan Connors - Javelin
Goaner Deng - 4x400 meter relay
Wally Ellenson - High jump
Oladipo Fagbemi - Triple jump
Micah Hegerle - Hammer
John Holton - 4x400 Meter Relay
Dominique Howard - Discus
Logan Hussung - Shot put
Nick Hutton - 1,500 meter run
Mark Jennings - Shot put
Luke Johnson - Discus
Jon Lehman - Hammer
Quentin Mege - Hammer
Bob Nicolls - 3,000 meter steeplechase
Danny Schiller - High jump
Zach Siegmeier - Pole vault
John Simons - 1,500 meter run
Jack Szmanda - Pole vault
A total of 12 Gopher women’s track and field athletes have earned spots in the NCAA West Region. The Golden Gophers will have competitors in ten different events with Devin Stanford the lone Gopher qualifying in two events. The top 12 individuals in each event will advance to the NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships June 5-8 in Eugene, OR.
Gophers Competing
- Te'Shon Adderley (800m): Ranks seventh in school history in the 800m (2:07.55) • ran that time in the Big Ten prelims • finished sixth at Big Tens • won the 800m at the Arkansas Invite • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay and Drake Relays-winning DMR.
- Liz Berkholtz (10,000m): Ranks 10th in school history in the 10,000m (35:11.12) • finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships with that time • also ran the 3,000m and 5,000m during the season.
- Emily Betz (Javelin): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks ninth in school history in the javelin with a throw of 151-2 (46.08m) • finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships with that throw • won javelin titles at the Meet of the Unsaintly and the Hamline Twilight this season.
- Alena Brooks (800m): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks second in school history, behind only Heather Dorniden, in the 800m (2:05.82) • finished second at the Alabama Invite with that time • placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay and Drake Relays-winning DMR • holds the school 400m record.
- Kelli Budd (3,000m Steeplechase): Ranks seventh all-time in the steeplechase (10:34.94) • posted that time in finishing 13th at the Big Ten Championships also competed in the 5,000m during the season.
- Laura Docherty (5,000m): Making her second NCAA West Prelims appearanace • ranks third in Minnesota history in the 5,000m (16:16.10) • finished fourth with that time at the Big Ten Championships • also runner-up in the 10,000m, an event for which she broke the school record this year (33:24.93) • anchored the Gophers' winning DMR at the Drake Relays.
- Megan Geyen (400m): Making her second NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks second in school history in the 400m (53.72) • ran that time in the Big Ten Championships prelims, going on to finish second in the finals (53.91) • won the 400m at the Viking Classic • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay.
- Jeri Johnson-Chambers (Hammer): Ranks eighth in school history with a hammer throw of 185'4" (56.51m) • finished eighth at the Big Ten Championships with that throw • won at the UNLV Invite.
- Katie Loberg (High Jump): Ranks sixth in school history in high jump after clearing 5'8.5" (1.74m) • recorded that jump to tie for third at the Big Ten Championships • joined the track and field team after four years playing basketball for the Gophers • won event titles at the Hamline Twilight and Tom Cat Open.
- Katie Moraczewski (3,000m Steeplechase): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks third in school history in the steeplechase (10:14.07) • finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships with that time • Drake Relays runner-up.
- Devin Stanford (Discus, Hammer): Ranks seventh in school history in both discus (170'4" / 51.93m) and hammer (185'9" / 56.63m) • finished third at the Big Ten Championships with her discus PR • finished 11th in hammer • set her hammer PR at the Musco Twilight • won two discus titles and a hammer title during the season.
- Todea-Kay Willis (Long Jump): School record holder in long jump, setting a mark of 21'1.5"(6.44m) in 2011 • jumped a season-best 20'3" (6.17m) at the Arkansas Invite • finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships • also finished eighth in the 100m, an event in which she ranks sixth all-time at Minnesota • won three long jump titles during the season • also part of the Gophers' 4x100m relay.
- Te'Shon Adderley (800m): Ranks seventh in school history in the 800m (2:07.55) • ran that time in the Big Ten prelims • finished sixth at Big Tens • won the 800m at the Arkansas Invite • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay and Drake Relays-winning DMR.
- Liz Berkholtz (10,000m): Ranks 10th in school history in the 10,000m (35:11.12) • finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships with that time • also ran the 3,000m and 5,000m during the season.
- Emily Betz (Javelin): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks ninth in school history in the javelin with a throw of 151-2 (46.08m) • finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships with that throw • won javelin titles at the Meet of the Unsaintly and the Hamline Twilight this season.
- Alena Brooks (800m): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks second in school history, behind only Heather Dorniden, in the 800m (2:05.82) • finished second at the Alabama Invite with that time • placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay and Drake Relays-winning DMR • holds the school 400m record.
- Kelli Budd (3,000m Steeplechase): Ranks seventh all-time in the steeplechase (10:34.94) • posted that time in finishing 13th at the Big Ten Championships also competed in the 5,000m during the season.
- Laura Docherty (5,000m): Making her second NCAA West Prelims appearanace • ranks third in Minnesota history in the 5,000m (16:16.10) • finished fourth with that time at the Big Ten Championships • also runner-up in the 10,000m, an event for which she broke the school record this year (33:24.93) • anchored the Gophers' winning DMR at the Drake Relays.
- Megan Geyen (400m): Making her second NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks second in school history in the 400m (53.72) • ran that time in the Big Ten Championships prelims, going on to finish second in the finals (53.91) • won the 400m at the Viking Classic • also a member of the Gophers' 4x400m relay.
- Jeri Johnson-Chambers (Hammer): Ranks eighth in school history with a hammer throw of 185'4" (56.51m) • finished eighth at the Big Ten Championships with that throw • won at the UNLV Invite.
- Katie Loberg (High Jump): Ranks sixth in school history in high jump after clearing 5'8.5" (1.74m) • recorded that jump to tie for third at the Big Ten Championships • joined the track and field team after four years playing basketball for the Gophers • won event titles at the Hamline Twilight and Tom Cat Open.
- Katie Moraczewski (3,000m Steeplechase): Making her third NCAA West Prelims appearance • ranks third in school history in the steeplechase (10:14.07) • finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships with that time • Drake Relays runner-up.
- Devin Stanford (Discus, Hammer): Ranks seventh in school history in both discus (170'4" / 51.93m) and hammer (185'9" / 56.63m) • finished third at the Big Ten Championships with her discus PR • finished 11th in hammer • set her hammer PR at the Musco Twilight • won two discus titles and a hammer title during the season.
- Todea-Kay Willis (Long Jump): School record holder in long jump, setting a mark of 21'1.5"(6.44m) in 2011 • jumped a season-best 20'3" (6.17m) at the Arkansas Invite • finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships • also finished eighth in the 100m, an event in which she ranks sixth all-time at Minnesota • won three long jump titles during the season • also part of the Gophers' 4x100m relay.
Last YearSixteen Gophers qualified for the 2012 West Preliminary. The 4x100m relay team of Todea-Kay Willis, Nyoka Giles,Chimerem Okoroji and Kylie Peterson went on to finish 13th at the NCAA Championships.
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