Minnesota Women’s Track and Field Wins Big Ten Indoor Championships

The Minnesota Golden Gophers Women’s Track and Field Team won the Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend. The #10 ranked Gophers won their fourth title, and first since 2009. They will now advance to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas on March 9th and 10th.

Minnesota ended up with a team total of 91.5 points, 10.5 more than second place Purdue Boilermakers. While Minnesota only won one individual event, the Gophers got three second place finishes and two third place finishes to rack up the points.

Kaitlyn Long was the only event winner for the Gophers as she would win the weight throw with a career best distance of 24.37m. That throw reset her own Minnesota program record, and moved her into second place in the NCAA this season.

The Gophers would dominate the weight throw and rack up a ton of points. as Agnes Esser would throw 21.50m to place third, Nayoka Clunis would throw 21.48m to place fourth, and Temi Ogunrinde would throw 20.19m to finish in seventh.

The Gophers three second place finishes were all in varied events. Titania Markland ran a career-best time of 1:26.75 to place second in the 600m, Madeline Strandemo ran 4:46.77 as runner-up in the mile and Karlie Place finished second in pole vault with a vault of 4.18m.

The Gophers would also impress in the high jump. Minnesota athletes would finish in third and fourth as Taylor Wiebke jumped 1.78m, and Heta Tuuri tied for fourth at 1.75m.

At the NCAA meet, Long and Strandemo will be legitimate NCAA Champion candidates. Lets hope they impress and prove Minnesota proud.