Minnesota’s women’s track and field team kicked off its weekend in two races Thursday at day one of the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Gophers’ 4×1,600-meter relay took third in the 13-team event with a time of 19:41.28.

Senior Sarah Hesser, running the 10,000 for the second time all season, finished 14th in the event in a time of 37:49.01.

The Gophers compete in 10 of 11 events today.

Men win in St. Paul

Minnesota’s men’s track and field team took four individual titles at the Macalester Bolstorff Twilight meet Wednesday in St. Paul.

Freshmen Jason Erickson and Peter Miller won the 400 and shot put, respectively. Senior hurdler Joronne Williamson took the 110 hurdles championship, while classmate Vince Donahue won the 400 hurdles.

The rest of Minnesota’s squad competes at the Drake Relays today and Saturday. The Gophers are in eight of 16 events today.