Three More All American Awards Won by Gopher Men at NCAA DI Championships

The Minnesota men’s outdoor track and field team added three more All-America honors on Friday at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as Harun Abda, Travis Burkstrand, and Wally Ellenson all claimed First Team selection for the Gophers. The Gopher men’s program has now earned a total of nine All-America honors for the outdoor season with more possible on Saturday.

In his final collegiate event, Abda picked up his 13th overall All-America designation – adding a First Team selection on Friday after garnering Second Team hselection on Thursday as part of Minnesota’s 4x400 meter relay team along with Goaner Deng, Cameron Boy, and Jacob Capek. The senior clocked a 1:47.60 in the 800 finals on Friday in Eugene to finish fourth, just over a second behind national champion Elijah Greer of Oregon (1:46.58).

Burkstrand also wrapped up his collegiate career with his first individual All-America honor, earning First Team status with an eighth-place finish in the 800. The senior ran a 1:48.24 as the Gophers’ 800 duo earned Minnesota a total six team points that has the Gophers in  22nd place in the team standings with 9.5 points. Burkstrand now has a total of three All-America distinctions after picking up a pair of them in the indoor distance medley relay in 2011 and 2013.

While Abda and Burkstrand closed out their collegiate careers, Ellenson is just begining his.The freshman finished tied for eighth in the high jump to earn First Team All-America designation with a height of 7'2.5"(2.20 meters). Ellenson is the first Gopher to earn All-America status in the outdoor high jump since Kevin Netzer, who also finished eighth at 7'2.5" in 2004.

Minnesota wraps up the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday with John Simons running in the 1500 finals and Oladipo Fagbemi competes in the triple jump.