Former Minnesota Gopher Hassan Mead Headed To Rio Olympics

HATS OFF TO HASSAN!

Yesterday former Minnesota Track and Field standout Hassan Mead made his Olympic dreams come true:

University of Minnesota track & field and cross country alum Hassan Mead punched his ticket to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters on Saturday at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

“I can’t put any words on it. As a kid I used to watch people become an Olympian and how they reacted when they made it," Mead said. "I was trying to picture what my reaction would’ve been when I made it, and to be able to go through the line knowing I’m going to the next Olympics hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure when it does, it’s going to be a great feeling.”

The Minneapolis, Minn., native ran a 13:35.70 at Hayward Field to finish one spot behind Bernard Lagat and earn his first bid to the Olympics.

Mead had tried and failed to make the Olympic team in both 2008 and 2012, so this moment had to be extra special for him. While at Minnesota from 2008-2012, he was an eight time All-American and won nine Big Ten titles. Hassan still holds Minnesota’s record in the outdoor 10,000 meters (28:12.74), the outdoor 5,000 meters (13:28.45), the indoor 5,000 meters (13:33.42) and the 8,000 meters in cross country (23:29).

I can’t wait to watching Hassan compete in Rio later this summer!

SKI-U-MAH!