Friday, December 14, 2007

At Loose Ends: A Friday Wrap-Up

Here, at the end of the week, are all the sundry items still piled up on the DtB news desk ...

Marks Earns Grant ... USA triple jump champion Shani Marks was awarded an Elite Athlete Development Grant by the USA Track & Field Foundation. The Elite Athlete Grant Program contributes to the pursuit of world-class performances by American post-collegiate track and field athletes.

Marks, a University of Minnesota alum, is the two-time defending USA Outdoor champion in the triple jump. She also won USA Indoor titles in 2005 and 2007.

Gophers Honor Their Stars ... The Gopher men's and women's cross country teams each named co-MVPs to honor their teams' top runners. Hassan Mead and Chris Rombough shared men's MVP honors in winning the Fred Watson Award. Jamie Cheever and Ladia Albertson-Junkans shared the MVP award for the Gopher women.

USATF-Minnesota Names Athletes of the Month ... USA Track and Field Minnesota named the Wayzata Boys Cross Country Team and the University of Wisconsin's Hanna Grinaker its Atheltes of the Month for December.

Wayzata was recognized for winning the MSHSL Class AA State title, the Nike Team Nationals Heartland Regional crown, and for finishing 20th at the Nike Team National meet. Grinaker, a Detroit Lakes native, was honored for being the top-finishing Minnesotan at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships where she finished 25th.

Des Moines to Host 2010 USAs ... There's yet another track and field reason to make a road-trip to Iowa. Drake University, annually the home of the Drake Relays and the host of the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, was awarded the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships.

It was a consolation prize of sorts as the University of Oregon won the rights to the 2009 and 2011 USAs (World Championships qualifying years) as well as the 2012 Olympic Track and Field Trials. Eugene, of course, will also host the 2008 Trials.

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