Miller and Juell finish 11th in NCAA DII Multis

UMD's Chanel Miller finished 11th in the heptathlon at the NCAA DII Championships in Pueblo, CO on Friday with 4882 points.  MSU Mankato's Tandy Juell was also 11th in the decathlon with 6662 points.  Full multi-event results are HERE.

Two More Gopher Men Advance to NCAA Champs In Eugene; Two Gopher Women Will Try on Saturday

Harun Abda and Travis Burkstrand advanced to the NCAA Championships next month after earning automatic qualifying bids in the 800 meters on Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, TX.

Following a roughly three-hour delay due to heavy rains and inclement weather  the Gophers duo finished first and second in the same quarterfinal heat to advance to the 800 meter semifinals next month in Eugene, OR. Abda, who finished with a season-best time of 1:48.18, led the pack for the final 400 meters of Friday’s race and posted the third best overall time in the quarterfinals while Burkstrand was right behind at 1:48.46 for the sixth best overall time.

Cameron Boy advanced out of the 200 meters prelims and will compete in the semifinals on Saturday night. Boy clocked 21.47 to finish second in his heat and 12^th overall. Mark Jennings and Logan Hussung were unable to advance in Friday’s shot put competition.  Jennings narrowly missed the cut with a toss of 57'.25" ft. (17.38 meters), while Hussung threw 51'7.25" (15.73 meters).  

Due to the weather delay, Friday’s men's hammer throw competition was rescheduled for Saturday morning.

For the women, Megan Geyen came within nine-hundredths of a second of her personal best  with a time of 53.81, which was a half second from qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Alena Brooks and Te’Shon Adderley finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the final heat of the 800-meter run as Adderley posted a personal best time of 2:06.38, which is now third all-time in Minnesota history. Brooks edged out her fellow teammate with a time of 2:06.25, but it was still four tenths from qualifying for a trip to Eugene. Katie Loberg cleared 5'5" (1.65m) in the high jump, but also failed to qualify.

Katie Moraczewski(10:14.87) was five seconds from a qualifying spot in the steeple and tenths of a second from her PR.  Kelli Budd finished in 10:34.67, which topped her previous-best time and keeps her seventh all-time.

Two Gopher  women will compete on Saturday,  Emily Betz in the javelin and Laura Docherty in the 5K.  Weather permitting, Betz throws at 5 p.m., while Docherty runs at  8:05 p.m.

Jennifer Agnew Third in Steeple, Alissa Rauch Fourth in Women's Discus, Grant Luer Fourth in Men's Discus at NCAA DII Champs

Minnesota State Mankato's Grant Luer and Chris Reed each scored points in the discus.  Luer was fourth(181'1"/55.19m), Reed(175'5"/53.47m) seventh.  Their teammate Keyvan Rudd(6'8.75"/2.05m) finished tenth in the high jump. MSU Mankato is tied for 14th with 9 points, and MSU Moorhead is tied for 16th with 8 points.

U-Mary's Jennifer Agnew finished third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 10:38.53.  Winona State's Alissa Rauch(166'9"/50.84m) was fourth in the discus.  Her teammates Shanai Guider(144'1"/43.92m) was 13th and Elisa Moenkedick(133'6"/40.69m) was 18th.  U-Mary is tied for 17th in the team scoring with 6 points, Winona State is tied for 19th with 5.

Jensen Fifth in Heptathlon, a Tie in the Decathlonat NCAA DIII Champs

Concordia-Moorhead's Kaari Jensen finished fifth in the heptathlon scoring 4749 points.  Dani Larson of St. Olaf finished seventh in the women's high jump, clearing 5'7"(1.70m). St. Scholastica's Kevin Wagner and St. Thomas' Maxwell Dunne tied for ninth in the decathlon with 6454 points. St. Thomas' Gavin Yseth was 11th with 6308 points.  Wagner would have been awarded ninth place if the competition were under IAAF rules as ties there are broken by the athlete who has scored the most points in the most events, which Wagner did in six of the ten events, but the NCAA does not break ties.

St. Thomas' Eyo Ekpo was sixth in the high jump clearing 6'9"(2.06m).  Macalester's Logan Hovie(6'6.75"/2m) was 17th.  In the men's team scores Gustavus is 15th with 6 points, and St. Thomas is 24th with 3 points. In the women's team race Hamline is ninth with 10 points, St. Olaf 20th with five points, and Concordia-Moorhead 23rd with four points. Full Thursday/Friday results are HERE.

Weather Delay--Thunderstroms--at NCAA DI Nationals in Austin

Weather interrupted the NCAA Division I second day at Austin, TX.  From info listed the events are being pushed back to the evening. A video of one of the downpours is HERE.

Josh Owens Third in Pole Vault, Emma Lee Sixth in 10K at NCAA DIII Champs

Missed this yesterday:  Gustavus' Josh Owens was third in the men's pole vault clearing 16'2.75"(4.95m). A correction on the 10K listing as St. Olaf's Emma Lee finished sixth in 35:57.12.  Michael Ellenberger's info, published earlier, was also wrong as he DNFed in the 10K..  Full results of the 10K with splits are HERE.  Full results from Thursday and Friday are HERE.

Wally Ellenson Qualifies for NCAA Championships on First Day of West Region Meet in Austin, TX

Minnesota men's high jumper Wally Ellenson qualified for the NCAA Championships on the first day of competition at the 2013 NCAA DI Men's Outdoor Track and Field West  Region Championships in Austin, TX.  Ellenson cleared 7'1"(2.16 meters) to tie for seventh in the high jump, just short of his personal best of 2.17 meters set earlier this year at the Hamline Invitational.  The top eight jumpers all cleared the same height with the order of finish decided by fewer misses.

Teammate Danny Schiller cleared 6'9.5"(2.07 meters) to tie for 33rd. Minnesota’s 800 meters duo of Harun Abda and Travis Burkstrand both advanced in Thursday’s preliminary races. Abda finished first in his heat and third overall with a time of 1:49.47 while Burkstrand finished second in his heat and ninth overall with a time of 1:49.64. 

John Simons also advanced in the 1,500 meter run preliminaries with a season-best time of 3:45.31. The Hartland, WI, native finished fourth in his heat and 13th overall to move on to Saturday’s semifinals. Alex Brend and Nick Hutton failed to advance in Friday’s 1,500 meter run preliminaries with times of 3:49.66 and 3:54.99, respectively. Jacob Capek also was unable to advance after posting a time of 47.47 in the 400  prelims.

Minnesota’s trio of discus throwers was unable to advance in the meet’s first event on Friday. Dominique Howard paced the Gophers  with a top throw of 171'8"(52.33 meters), followed by  Luke Johnson(163'5/49.80 meters) and Justin Barber (162'11"/49.80 meters).  

For the women, Megan Geyen qualified for the semifinals of the 400 finishing third in her heat in 54.02.  In the 800 Alena Brooks(2:07.59) and Te' Shon Adderly(2:07.73) qualified for the semis by finishing second and third, respectively, in their heat.  Todea-Kay Willis tied for 20th in the long jump with a leap of 20'.25"(6.10m). Jeri Johnson-Chambers tied for 20th in the hammer throw(190'2"/57.96m), and Dvin Stanford was 24th(189'1"/57.63m). Liz Berkholtz finished 30th in the 10K in 35:11.12. Full results by event are HERE.

Minnesota State Moorhead's Derek Brady Second in Long Jump at Opening Day of NCAA DII Championships

MSU Moorhead's Derek Bredy finished second in the long jump with a leap of 24'11" at the opening day of the NCAA DII Championships in Pueblo, CO.  MSU Mankato's Chris Reed finished seventh in the hammer throw (194'8"/59.33m).  MSU Moorhead was tied for fifth, MSU Mankato tied for 17th in the men's team competition after the first day of competition.

In the women's hammer throw Winona State's Megan Elliott finished 13th(71'5"/52.24m).

Hamline's Becky Culp Wins Discus as NCAA DIII Champs Underway in LaCrosse

In the NCAA DIII finals in LaCrosse Hamline's Becky Culp won the discus with a throw of  154'7"(47.11m). Teammate Shawny Kramer finished tenth in the discus with a throw of 140'5". Culps' win put Hamline in fourth place in the women's team race after the first day of competition.

St. Olaf's Emma Lee finished sixth in the women's 10K in 35:57.12.  Hillary Birchem of Concordia-Moorhead was 19th in the discus with a throw of 130'1".

Concordia-Moorhead's Kaari Jensen is in eighth after the first day of competition in the heptathlon with 2840 points. In the decathlon, St. Thomas' Maxwell Dunne is in 11th with 3408 points.  Full results by event are HERE.

Gophers Compete in NCAA DI Regionals

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.

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.

Wilson, LaMois to be Inducted into M Club Hall of Fame

Two tracksters are members of the 2013 class that will be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame.  Retiring women's coach Gary Wilson and Lloyd LaMois, the 1948 NCAA triple jump champion, are among the ten to be inducted on October 24.

The official induction of the 2013 class will take place during a ceremony to be held in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium. Social hour begins at 6 PM  with the main program starting at 7. Tickets are available  through the Gopher Athletics Ticket Office online at mygophersports.com or by calling 1-800-U-Gopher beginning August 15.  A brief listing of some of the accomplishments of both men is belwo: 

Gary Wilson (Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Track & Field 1985-2013)Gary Wilson is retiring this spring following 28 years as head women’s cross country coach. The 2007 and 2008 Midwest Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year led Minnesota cross country to its first two conference titles (2007 and 2008) and three consecutive Midwest Region crowns (2007-09).

Wilson guided the Gophers to 15 consecutive NCAA Championships appearances. Minnesota is one of only five schools to earn NCAA berths in all of the past eight seasons. Wilson coached six different runners to nine All-America certificates.

He also served as head track and field coach for 21 seasons before taking on an assistant role starting in 2007. Wilson has been part of four Big Ten titles on the track (2006-09). He was named Coach of the Year for the Big Ten, Midwest Region and Midwest District in 2006 when Minnesota won the outdoor conference title and Heather (Dorniden) Kampf became the Gophers’ first-ever national champion.

Wilson is an inductee of the Drake Relays and UW-La Crosse Halls of Fame, as well as a recipient of the U of M President’s Award for Service. In retirement, he will remain involved in the Roy Griak Invitational, a meet he helped establish.

Lloyd LaMois (Men's Track & Field)
Lloyd LaMois was a member of Minnesota’s 1948 national championship outdoor track & field team, which is the only one in school history. It was also Minnesota’s first national championship outside of football or men’s basketball.  LaMois was the 1948 NCAA Triple Jump champion (outdoor) with a jump of 45 feet, 10 inches and to this day, he remains Minnesota's only outdoor All-American in the triple jump.LaMois is being inducted into the Pioneer Division of the Hall of Fame, a special designation for athletes from the era prior to 1950.

The University of Minnesota "M" Club is a nonprofit organization representing all letterwinners from University of Minnesota athletics teams. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor achievements and to preserve the tradition of those athletes, coaches and athletic staff members who have contributed in an outstanding and positive way to the University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Department.

The criteria for induction to the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame include four different categories: significant accomplishments by a former student-athlete; significant achievements by a former coach or administrator; significant contributions of time, talent or resources to the athletics department by someone other than an athlete, coach or administrator, and significant professional achievement by a former Minnesota student-athlete.

Former student-athletes inducted for significant accomplishments become eligible for selection five years after the expiration of their eligibility, while former coaches and staff members must have served the department for five years to be eligible.

Kara Goucher Talks About Boston, Track, World Champs, Plans for Spring and Fall racing

Kara Goucher "5 Questions" interview with Competitor's Brian Metzler is HERE.

Pick Ten: NCAA Outdoor Championships

This is a big week in the world of collegiate track and field.  Division II and Division III schools will hold their NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, starting on Thursday.  On the Division I side, this week is the NCAA prelims—one meet for the "West" and one for the "East"—that will decide who is to compete at the NCAA Finals on June 5th through June 8th in Eugene, Oregon.

As always, there are many Minnesota athletes competing at these events.  We picked ten of them, and now you can predict their finish.

Pick Ten has a simple concept: predict the finish place for each of ten Minnesota athletes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. You will score points for each athlete who scores at or above the finish place you predict for them, following the 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 scoring system.

For example: If you pick Christopher Reed to place first in the shot put, and he places first, you get 10 points. If you pick Reed to place first and he finishes second, you get zero points. If you pick Reed to finish third in the event and he places first, second or third, you get 6 points by the scoring system above, since he placed at least as high as you predicted.

To play Pick Ten, cut and paste the list of names/events below into an e-mail and add your place predictions -- 1st or 2nd or 3rd...8th. Send your predictions by 2:00 P.M. CST on Friday, May 24th to DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com. Make sure your full name is in the e-mail. As with our Yes/No contests, we don't offer any prizes, so no one needs to fear running afoul of NCAA or other anti-gambling regulations.

We'll announce the winner of this week's contest and compile results of all of the year's Pick Ten contests to name a grand champion for 2013.

Pick 10 ... NCAA Outdoor Championships:

Quentin Mege - University of Minnesota - Hammer Throw  (DI):
Micah Hegerle, University of Minnesota - Hammer Throw (DI):
Keyvan Rudd, Minnesota State, Mankato - High Jump (DII):
Christopher Reed, Minnesota State, Mankato - Shot Put (DII):
Grant Luer, Minnesota State, Mankato - Discus Throw (DII):
Jerrell Hancock, Minnesota State, Mankato -200 Meters (DII):
Shanai Guider, Winona State - Discus Throw (DII):
Alissa Rausch, Winona State - Discus Throw (DII):
Eyo Ekpo, St. Thomas - Triple Jump (DIII):
Taylor Berg, St. Thomas - 5000 Meters (DIII):

Here is some information to help you with your picks:

Your one-stop shop for all the National Meet information is at the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Championships Central.  Here you will find entries, start lists, schedules, live results, history and more.

Straight from the heat sheets, here are your rankings for the athletes in the Pick Ten:

Quentin Mege is ranked fifth and Micah Hegerle is seventh in the Hammer Throw in the Division I - West Preliminary Meet.

In Division II, Jerrell Hancock is the top-seeded 200 meter entrant.  His teammates are all ranked in the top five as well.  Kevyan Rudd is fifth in the High Jump, Christopher Reed is number two in the Shot Put and Grant Luer is ranked fifth in the Discus.  For the Winona State women, Shanai Guider is fourth and Alissa Rausch is seventh in the Discus.

St Thomas senior Eyo Ekpo is ranked 7th in the Triple Jump for Division III athletes.  Taylor Berg is first among 5000 meter athletes.  Berg will be busy -- she will run the 1500 meters prior to her 5000 race.

Good luck!

Last week's Yes/No question was: Will two or more team champions from 2012 win again in 2013? The answer was yes — three teams were repeat champions including Lakeville South girls, Esko girls and Totino-Grace boys.  Fourteen contestants answered correctly and Lori Anne Schwiesow leads with eleven points.  Tied for second place are Dimtri Drekonja, Dylan Dragswiek, Mike Henderson and Mary Varney with ten points each.

After three Pick Ten contests, the overall leaders is Mike Henderson (103 points) followed by Jake Marotz (100).  Bryan Tolcser and Patrick Eastman are next at 95 points.

For full standings of both contests, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner.

Podominick Gets A Standard Qualifier

Former Gopher thrower Liz Podominick threw an IAAF World Championships A standard qualifier last weekend at the Tucson Elite Classic.  Podominick, who is currently part of Olympic champion Mac Wilkins' group in Oregon,  finished second in the discus with a throw of 62.32m/ 204'5". Full results are HERE.

Medtronic TC Mile Podium Finisher Macklin Chaffee Talks About His Future

Macklin Chaffee finished third in the Metronic TC Mile on May 10 in  field full of familiar names--Nick Willis, Garrett Heath, Will Leer--but who is Macklin Chaffee?  A graduate of Williams College.  Founder of Golden Orb, a web design and development company, and, lately, a tall middle distance runner attempting to make a breakthrough in the mile/1500 meters.  He finished as high as second in the NCAA DIII nationals while running for Williams College, but wanted more.  A six month stay in New Zealand rekindled his desire to make his mark in US middle distance running, but a serious groin injury in 2011 derailed that progress.  Coming back from a long injury layoff, Chaffee has a new coach, Jay Johnson, and desire to make his way in a crowded field of US male middle distance runners who have begun to make their mark on the international scene with World Championship and Olympic medals from Matt Centrowitz, Jr. and Leo Manzano in the past two years.  

The Twin Cities has played a role in his development as he ran the 2011 TC Mile and placed fourth, then stayed on in the cities thanks to "hosts" Heather and Ben Kampf, who let him stay at their place after the race. Below Chaffee talks with DtB about his goals and how he's attempting to achieve those goals.


Down the Backstretch:  In the UK they’d probably classify you as a “nearly man,”  somebody who is on the cusp of a breakthrough, but for whom it hasn’t happened yet.  In your BLOG you answer the question of why you run by noting that you are very competitive and running is an outlet for that side of your personality. 

This can either make the nearly man status very frustrating or fuel for answering the challenge of discovering how good you can be at this running thing.  What do you hope to achieve as a runner?  Is there a timeline for you to either break through or pack it in, or is running something you’re in for the long haul?

Macklin Chaffee: It's a thrill to be back at "nearly man" status. Every year I've been healthy, I've dropped over four seconds from my time. I don't see any limitations as to what I can achieve. And THAT is an exciting prospect! So I would have to say, ultimately, running ends when I feel I have found my limit. And when I'm done, I'm done.

The fact that I can make enough with my web development business to live comfortably allows me to maintain a relatively trouble-free, low-pressure, flexible approach to running; a luxury most "nearly men" don't have. I'm going to run as long as I have a hope of being the best. World number one.

There are other reasons to run: I want to make and represent a USA team. How sweet would that be!

I'd be thrilled to start getting solicited to international meets, using that as a springboard for more world travels/adventures, making international connections among this amazing, global community.

And finally, I'd like to win Rio 2016. Cliche? Sure. But think about the moment. Gold medal. Star-spangled banner. Red, white, and blue fireworks. Knowing your parents are tearing up somewhere. That's a thrill you can't buy. An athletic accomplishment that represents the pinnacle of victory!  

DtB:  Like many runners, injuries have been a major roadblock for you.  Some serious, requiring a long period of time off and rehab, others the usual setbacks one gets when trying to push the envelope of one’s potential.  Your current coach, Jay Johnson, has noted that he’s having you work on strength/flexibility/efficiency work.  Has this approach contributed to your early season successes this year, if so how?

MC: I have consistently improved my mile time every year for seven years until 2012, when I had the first serious injury of my career. As a 26 year-old, time is still plentiful, but not so seemingly limitless. My training philosophy is now built around being bio-mechanically sound with the idea that it would allow me to be injury free. I cannot be set back like that again. This entire year was meant to be groundwork for the future. 

However! It's an eye-opening, side-effect that suddenly I'm also racing better than I ever have before, simply because of this bio-mechanical strength and flexibility work. I can't wait to actually get in the weight room and run 2011 mileage next year! 

DtB:  Jay also says he’s impressed at your confidence that you can run with the best and the fact that you have “long levers,” which seems to be in vogue right now—i.e. Usain Bolt, Kiprop, both big guys who can turn those long levers over pretty quick.  Where does the confidence come from and do you think much about your size, either as an advantage or disadvantage?

MC: (Olympic 800 meter champion and world recordholder David) Rudisha is the man I truly physically idolize. Kiprop's a freak, I don't feel like can learn anything from him.

My size is a disadvantage in a race. Leo and Centro have a much easier time of finding holes, tucking into packs, and riding rails without constantly being clipped. However, when it comes to raw potential, I think taller guys with long, proportionally strong levers, that are able to stay healthy, will ultimately be able to out-run the smaller guys. "It's science!"

I suspect short, lithe bodies have dominated the sport in the past because the philosophy was generally mileage, mileage, mileage. Big guys just got hurt. Now, there is more literature, knowledge, and research into injury-prevention techniques. I was beginning to develop my own paradigms about strength training when I met Jay and all of a sudden it was, "That's it! ... He's discovered what I'm looking for!"

I'd rather have my genetic gift/talent than any other because I'd rather be working on strengthening muscles and improving turnover than growing longer legs...

DtB:  What did you learn about yourself, what you need to do to improve, from the TC Mile experience?  It was probably one of the stronger fields you’ve run in and you were in it down the stretch. 

MC: I ran that race as well as I could with the lead-up I had. I've reaffirmed that I'm training correctly. Reaffirmed that I need more raw speed.  I could barely have stayed with Willis even if I was fresh on the last 200. Reaffirmed that my race/pace tactics are sound. What I learned was that I can improve psychologically when approaching a race. Going into that race there were a ton of reasons to run poorly, and that allowed me to take a shoulder-shrug mentality. It helped more than the lead-up hurt. And that's something to remember. 

DtB:  Your blog is an informative glimpse of the journey you’re taking through the elite running world.  What made you decide to chronicle your running life?  Is it just a communication tool, an outlet for your thoughts?

MC: Yes, "the blog". The blog started because I found it cathartic and educational to analytically scrutinize my thoughts and experiences while training and racing. It also kept me accountable while I was training myself, and (selfishly) saved me from writing a dozen different emails to the people that care about how I'm doing. 

But now, there are a few other reasons to keep it up. First, it's become a neat little way to remember key moments in my running career (since its inception in 2011). I'm a sucker for a complements and I love the occasional "nice blog post!". Finally, despite growing up a vocal skeptic as to the necessity for writing assignments, I've discovered I quite enjoy it when not forced to write.

DtB:  You said in an interview that your college coach got you into a couple of races after you graduated in 2009 as your second place finish at DIII nationals that year sort of left unfinished business.  You qualified for the USATF champs, then went on a trip to New Zealand where the running community there generated a desire to keep going with the running career and see where it took you.  How did the NZ trip come about?  How long were you there?  Were there any particular experiences down under that pushed you toward continuing with the sport after college?

MC: I always had an itch to get out and explore the world that I wasn't able to scratch in college. When, like many new graduates, I had a rough initial launch into the real world, going abroad to live a little became a summer goal. New Zealand fell into place as the perfect candidate, and there was much rejoicing when I saved enough money to buy the ticket. 

Once down there (for six months), I had such a good time, found such good friends, and made so many personal and external discoveries, that all I started to think about was, "I gotta go everywhere!"

It's been a while (my summer plans in 2011 having been dashed by injury), but I think I'm finally going to get the chance to go to run in Europe this summer. And I couldn't be more excited! 

DtB:  What are your goals for the USATF Championships?  It’s a bit different being trials and finals, instead of a one-off race. 

MC: Yeah, that is a great question. I have not put that much of an emphasis on USAs this year, as I've been there twice before and twice been in stacked heats that went slow. I mean in 2011, the guy with the best time going into the meet, Russell Brown, didn't even make it out of my heat. 

This whole year was supposed to be rebuilding, focusing on improving my bio-mechanics. But now I'm beginning to re-evaluate my expectations in light of my recent improvements. Bottom line is, if I can make the finals, I expect a strong, competitive finish. But certainly come 2014, I'll be looking to medal.

The nice thing is, it doesn't change anything about my training, which has been completely focused on strength and speed. My personal expectations will take form when I see some heat sheets!

DtB:  Last question, a bit of a silly one, but all the races I’ve seen you run recently are in a “uniform” of white top and black “cycle shorts.”  Is that a superstition or conscious choice?  Do you have a closet full of white shirts and black spandex shorts that you draw from or a laundry service for after each race?

MC: Well Jim, on the inside of that jersey I have written the lyrics to MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This". And the long black half-tights are in memory of my only pet, Mocha, who is now happily hunting on a farm upstate in New Hampshire...

Just kidding. I just don't own a jersey.

USTFCCCA Rankings and Awards

From left to right: MSU Mankato's Jerrell Hancock, Mark Shuck, Chris Reed,
and Kevin Sanger

MSU Mankato's Jerrell Hancock, a junior from Anoka, was named the Central Region male Athlete of the Year by USTFCCCA.  Hancock  won the NSIC titles in the 100 and 200 meters in conference-record times of 10.32 and 20.49, respectively. He ranks as first among DII athletes this season in the 200 and seventh in the 100. He is only the third athlete in DII since the turn of the century to go under 20.50. He also is a member of the squad’s NCAA-qualifying 4×100 relay team.

Minnesota State Mankato's Mark Shuck was named USTFCCCA Central Region men's Coach of the Year. Schuck’s athletes won the NSIC title with 166 points, and enters the NCAA meet as the sixth ranked team in the nation with ten event entries. His team notched three conference records and seven school records this season. Schuck is in his 37th year at the school.

MSU Mankato's Chris Reed was selected USTFCCCA Central Region men's Field Athlete of the Year. The junior from Omaha, NB enters the NCAA Championships as the second seed in the shot put and was the winner of the NSIC title in the event with a season’s best toss of 62'3.25"(18.98m). He is entered in three events for the NCAA DII Championships: the shot, discus, and hammer throw. 

MSU Mankato's Kevin Sanger was designated as USTFCCCA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Sanger coached throwers Chris Reed (shot) and Grant Luer (discus) to the NCAA Championships. Reed broke the NSIC record in the shot with a season’s best of 62'3.25"(18.98m). Sanger is in his second year at the school.

U-Mary coach Mike Thorson is the USTFCCCA Central Region women's Coach of the Year. In his 20th season at U-Mary, Thorson led the team to its second straight NSIC outdoor title and fifth in seven years. Trailing by 35 points after day one, the Marauders scored 165 points on day two. In a conference meet featuring four ranked teams, U-Mary won eight titles and captured the league title by 42 points. Nine Marauders have posted NCAA qualifying marks this season.

U-Mary's Melissa Agnew,  a senior from Onamia, MN,  was awarded the USTFCCCA Central Region women's Athlete of the Year.  Agnew is the division’s lone automatic qualifier in the 1500 meters. Her time of 4:22.59 is first among DII women by 2.29 seconds. Agnew won at 1500 and 800 meters at the Northern Sun Championships to lead her team to a second straight conference crown. She was named the NSIC Outdoor Athlete of the Year for a second straight season.

In the final USTFCCCA NCAA DI rankings, the Gopher men held their spot at 39th.  DI rankings are HERE.

MSU Mankato remained ranked sixth in the DII men's rankings, and U-Mary dropped three spots to 18th in the women's list.  DII rankings are HERE

St. Thomas' women's team rose three spots to 13th in the DIII rankings, which are HERE.. 

Medtronic 10-Mile Champ Named to Marathon Squad for IAAF World Championships; Sifuentes Profiled

Mohamed Trafeh, who won the 2012 Medtronic 10-Mile, became the second winner from the 2012 TCM weekend races to be selected for the US marathon squad for the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in August in Moscow. Trafeh's USATF bio notes: The seven-time USA road champion from Duarte, CA will lead the squad at his first world championships after his seventh place finish at the 2012 Fukuoka Marathon in 2:11:41. Trafeh most recently set the 25K American record in 1:14:18.

In other news, Medtronic TC Mile runner-up Nicole Sifuentes was profiled in Athletics Illustrated HERE. 

Erichsen, Porath Win Fargo Marathon

Chris Erichsen. Photo by
 Dave Wallis / The Forum

Minnesotans took top honors at the Fargo Marathon on Saturday.  Twin Cities Track Club's Chris Erichsen won the men's race in 2:20:42, and Nicole Porath of Northfield won the women's in 2:50:55.  Erichsen set a the Fargo course record in 2010, running 2:19:55.  Fargo Forum race story is HERE.

HS Boys All Time List: 4 by 400 Relay

2012 BESTS
3:18.36 Wayzata
3:21.08 Woodbury
3:21.88 Hopkins
3:21.90 Minnetonka
3:22.94 Eden Prairie
3:23.40 Prior Lake
3:23.58 Apple Valley
3:23.60 Rochester Mayo
3:23.82 Roseville Area
3:24.03 White Bear Lake
[10]
3:24.57 Mankato East
3:24.64 Buffalo
3:24.85 Glencoe-Silver Lake
3:25.03 St. Michael-Albertville
3:25.04 Maple Grove
3:25.17 Mounds View
3:25.66 Rochester Lourdes
3:25.80 Centennial
3:25.82 Rosemount
3:26.07 Fairmont
[20]
3:26.15 Forest Lake
3:26.63 Stillwater Area
3:26.76 Madelia / Truman
3:26.86 Farmington
3:26.92 Fergus Falls
3:27.05 Cambridge-Isanti
3:27.05 Moose Lake / Willow River
3:27.07 Marshall
3:27.13 Elk River
3:27.17 Waseca
[30]
3:27.33 Owatonna
3:27.41 Tartan
3:27.70 Minnehaha Academy
3:27.73 Sartell-St. Stephen
3:27.82 Chanhassen
3:27.95 Bloomington Jefferson
3:27.96 Park
3:27.99 North St. Paul
3:28.21 Pillager
3:28.71 Champlin Park
[40]
3:28.87 Chaska
3:28.92 Spring Lake Park / St. Anthony
3:28.93 Bemidji
3:28.99 Blaine
3:29.02 Byron
3:28.9 Big Lake
3:29.33 Robbinsdale Armstrong
3:29.40 Mayer Lutheran
3:29.80 Eden Valley-Watkins / Kimball
3:29.81 Totino-Grace
[50]
3:30.28 Rocori
3:30.39 Roseau
3:30.44 Moorhead
3:30.56 St. Paul Central
3:31.10 St. Louis Park
3:31.20 Mahtomedi
3:31.24 Andover
3:31.26 Park Center
3:31.29 Ottertail Central
3:31.57 Pine City
[60]
3:31.59 Blake
3:31.69 Chisago Lakes
3:31.71 Plainview-Elgin-Millville
3:31.80 Northfield
3:31.6 Henry Sibley
3:31.85 Mankato West
3:31.85 Mora
3:31.93 Proctor
3:31.99 Medford / El Shaddai
3:32.08 Shakopee
[70]
3:32.10 Willmar
3:32.14 Burnsville
3:32.17 Cloquet
3:32.21 Osseo
3:32.23 Detroit Lakes
3:32.23 Little Falls
3:32.47 Blooming Prairie
3:32.56 Holy Family Catholic
3:32.77 Winona
3:32.92 Rogers
[80]
3:32.92 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton

2012 STATE MEET CLASS AA
1 Wayzata (James Smith, Brian Jarvey, Michael Smith,  
   Jarod Jackson)                                   3:18.36
2 Woodbury                           3:21.08
3 Minnetonka                                       3:21.90
4 Hopkins                                         3:22.62
5 Eden Prairie                                     3:23.14
6 Apple Valley                                     3:24.97
7 StMichael-Albertville                           3:27.24
8 Prior Lake                                       3:28.45
9 Rochester Mayo                                   3:29.67

2012 STATE MEET CLASS A
1 Glencoe-Silver Lake (Dylan Jenkins, Mitch Thompson,  
   Mitchel Sanchez, Greg Ober)     3:24.85
2 Rochester Lourdes                               3:25.66
3 Fairmont                                         3:26.07
4 Madelia / Truman                                 3:26.76
5 Moose Lk/Willow River                       3:27.05
6 Minnehaha Academy                         3:27.70
7 Pillager                                       3:28.50
8 Waseca                                           3:28.98
9 Byron                                           3:32.45

1600 METER RELAY ALL TIME BESTS
3:14.47 Mounds View  2007
(Quinn Evans, Mike Schelendich,
Kevin Bradley, Andrew Balzar)
3:16.69 Stillwater Area  2011
3:16.89 Stillwater  1997
3:17.98 Wayzata  2011
3:18.36 Wayzata  2012
3:18.67 Woodbury  2004
3:18.5 Edina  1968 (3:19.8y)
3:18.77 Woodbury  2008
3:18.81 Mounds View  2005
3:18.88 Hopkins  2001
[10]
3:18.9 Edina  1969 (3:20.2y)
3:19.22 Buffalo  2008
3:19.44 Apple Valley 1999
3:19.2 Moorhead  1971 (3:20.5y)
3:19.45 Coon Rapids  2001
3:19.47 Rosemount  2008
3:19.4 Alex. Ramsey  1968 (3:20.7y)
3:19.5 Bloom Kennedy  1971 (3:20.8y)
3:19.75 Buffalo  2012
3:19.79 Mounds View 1999
[20]
3:19.84 Apple Valley  2001
3:20.00 Buffalo  2006
3:20.07 Stillwater Area  2010
3:20.08 Fairmont  1984
3:19.9 White Bear Lake  1971 (3:21.2y)
3:20.17 Austin  2010
3:20.19 Stillwater Area 1998
3:20.24 Apple Valley  1992
3:20.30 Eden Prairie  2010
3:20.49 Stillwater Area  2000
[30]
3:20.51 Rosemount  2011
3:20.55 White Bear Lake  2010
3:20.60 Wayzata  2002
3:20.62 Robbinsdale Armstrong  2002
3:20.4 Armstrong  1978 (3:21.7y)
3:20.64 St Michael-Albertville 1999
3:20.67 Robbinsdale Cooper  2006
3:20.71 Moorhead  1993
3:20.72 Rosemount  2010
3:20.75 Robbinsdale Armstrong  2010
[40]
3:20.77 Minnetonka  1996
3:20.6 Rochester JM  1974 (3:21.9y)
3:20.6 Wayzata  1978 (3:21.9y)
3:20.6 Wayzata  1981
3:20.87 Park  1985
3:20.96 Mounds View  2000
3:20.96 Maple Grove  2010
3:21.01 Stillwater Area 1999
3:20.8 Edina  1966 (3:22.1y)
3:20.8 Moorhead  1973 (3:22.1y)
[50]
3:21.05 Mankato West  2008
3:21.08 Woodbury  2012
3:21.11 Burnsville  2008
3:20.9 White Bear Lake  1970 (3:22.2y)
3:20.9 Albert Lea  1976 (3:22.2y)
3:21.1 Edina  1965 (3:22.4y)
3:21.38 Bloom Jefferson 1999
3:21.40 Mounds View  2001
3:21.2 White Bear Lake  1966 (3:22.5y)
3:21.2 Rochester JM  1969 (3:22.5y)
[60]
3:21.2 Owatonna  1974 (3:22.5y)
3:21.2 Mounds View  1987
3:21.3 White Bear Mariner 1974 (3:22.6y)
3:21.54 Hopkins  2007
3:21.55 Apple Valley  1989
3:21.65 Stillwater  1996
3:21.5 Mounds View  1977 (3:22.8y)
3:21.76 Minnetonka  1985
3:21.76   Buffalo  2009
3:21.81 Hopkins  2011
[70]
3:21.82 Owatonna  1981
3:21.6 Armstrong 1979 (3:22.9y)
3:21.84 Tartan  2007
3:21.88 Eagan  2006
3:21.88 Hopkins  2012
3:21.90 Minnetonka  2012
3:21.91 Irondale  1992
3:21.92 Rosemount  2009
3:21.93 Burnsville  2000
3:21.7 White Bear Lake  1967 (3:23.0y)
[80]
3:21.7 Mankato  1968 (3:23.0y)
3:21.7 Edina East  1974 (3:23.0y)
3:21.97 Minnetonka  1989
3:21.97 Alexandria  2005
3:21.8 St Louis Park  1971 (3:23.1y)
3:21.8 Moorhead  1972 (3:23.1y)
3:22.08 Albert Lea  1988
3:22.20 White Bear Lake  1985
3:22.20 Rochester Mayo  2002
3:22.0 Red Wing  1976 (3:23.3y)
[90]
3:22.0 Eden Prairie  1978 (3:23.3y)
3:22.0 Wayzata  1979 (3:23.3y)
3:22.0 Moorhead  1980
3:22.27 Irondale  1989
3:22.27 Fridley  2008
3:22.29 Eastview  2005
3:22.31 Burnsville  2001
3:22.33 Mounds View  2006
3:22.1 Rochester JM  1971 (3:23.4y)
3:22.2 Stillwater  1977 (3:23.5y)
[100]
3:22.2 Albert Lea  1977 (3:23.5y)
3:22.2 Wayzata  1980

HS Girls All Time List: 4 by 400 Relay

3:51.26	Hopkins	2011
3:51.28	Hopkins	2010
3:51.48	Prior Lake	2010
3:52.13	Apple Valley	1997
3:52.34	Rosemount	2011
3:52.78	Mounds View	2007
3:52.82	Prior Lake	2011
3:53.37	Burnsville	2004
3:53.76	Eden Prairie	2001
3:53.88	Eastview	2001
3:54.33	Anoka	2001
3:54.34	Little Falls	1989
3:54.37	Mankato East	2005
3:54.51	Farmington	2011
3:54.52	Hopkins	2007
3:54.59	Mounds View	2010
3:54.80	Anoka	1981
3:54.81	Hopkins	2008
3:54.90	Lakeville North	2007
3:54.91	Prior Lake	2012
3:54.92	Stillwater Area	2012
3:55.00	Anoka	1980
3:55.05	Mounds View	2011
3:55.14	Mankato East	2004
3:55.16	Mounds View	2008
3:55.17	Anoka	2002
3:55.20	Anoka	2004
3:55.29	Minnetonka	1986
3:55.40	Mounds View	2009
3:55.55	Woodbury	2011
3:55.60	Anoka	1986
3:55.64	Eden Prairie	2000
3:55.73	Stillwater Area	2010
3:55.88	Grand Rapids	2002
3:55.90	Rocori	2003
3:55.95	Stillwater	1980
3:56.04	Anoka	2000
3:56.09	Hopkins	2009
3:56.13	Anoka	2003
3:56.13	Lakeville South	2012
3:56.23	Red Wing	1989
3:56.40	Anoka	1982
3:56.41	Minnetonka	2008
3:56.49	Park Cottage Grove	1988
3:56.49	Minnetonka	2011
3:56.60	Rochester Mayo	1977
3:56.70	Roseville Area	2010
3:56.73	Woodbury	2005
3:56.80	Stillwater	1981
3:56.87	Anoka	2005
3:56.88	Rosemount	2010
3:56.93	Eastview	2002
3:57.02	Anoka	1999
3:57.02	Benilde St. Margarets	2000
3:57.07	Apple Valley	1998
3:57.20	Anoka	1977
3:57.24	Wayzata	2008
3:57.30	Rochester John Marshall	1977
3:57.35	Eden Prairie	2005
3:57.40	Minnetonka	2012
3:57.44	Rosemount	2008
3:57.45	Moorhead	2002
3:57.62	Mounds View	1982
3:57.62	Minnetonka	1984
3:57.64	Stillwater	1986
3:57.65	St. Cloud Tech	2007
3:57.70	Breck	2011
3:57.70	Osakis	2012
3:57.80	Alexander Ramsey	1976
3:57.85	Apple Valley	1996
3:57.91	East Ridge	2012
3:57.95	Worthington	1999
3:58.13	Mounds View	2012
3:58.16	St. Paul Academy	2004
3:58.18	Simley	2012
3:58.19	Crookston	1985
3:58.34	Lakeville	2002
3:58.37	Rocori	1987
3:58.37	Farmington	2012
3:58.40	Anoka	1978
3:58.40	Hill Murray	1979
3:58.42	Minnetonka	2010
3:58.45	Monticello	2010
3:58.47	New Prague	2007
3:58.47	Eden Prairie	2009
3:58.51	Moorhead	1991
3:58.53	Fergus Falls	2011
3:58.54	Wayzata	2007
3:58.60	Rochester John Marshall	1986
3:58.60	Wayzata	2004
3:58.73	Cedar Mountain	2005
3:58.78	Eagan	2007
3:58.78	Osakis	2011
3:58.82	St. Cloud Apollo	1980
3:58.86	Prior Lake	2009
3:58.87	St. Cloud Tech	2005
3:58.90	Buffalo Lake	1977
3:58.90	Alexander Ramsey	1977
3:58.90	Mounds View	1983
3:58.92	St. Louis Park	2004