Six Minnesota athletes went to Eugene, Oregon to compete in the NCAA Track and Field Championships on June 8 and all left with All-American honors.
Madeline Strandemo, Taylor Wiebke, Emma Spagnola, Emerald Egwim, Angie Guenther and Temi Ogunrinde earned All-American accolades in the NCAA Track & Field Championships.
“Anytime you can put yourself in that atmosphere and compete at that level, it’s just going to help you grow for the next year,” said head coach Matt Bingle.
To earn All-American honors, an athlete must finish in the top 24 in their event. A first team honoree finishes in the top eight, second team finishes ninth through 16th and third team finishes 17th through 24th.
Strandemo earned second team All-American honors as she placed ninth in her NCAA Championship debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Wiebke, making her national championship debut, tied for 21st in the high jump event, recording a score of 5 feet, 8 inches.
“I was unhappy because I know I can jump higher,” Wiebke said. “But overall, I’m very happy, because the goal was to make it [to the NCAA Championships] this year.”
Spagnola also earned second team All-American honors as she placed 16th in the 100 meter with a score of 13.31 seconds. Spagnola picked up another second team All-American honor earlier in the year with a score of 7.69 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles.
Egwim ran the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.95 seconds, placing 20th overall. Egwim also earned second team All-American honors during the indoor season, after she finished 16th in the 400 meter, with a time of 53.80 seconds at the NCAA Championships.
The junior received All-American honors despite an illness.
“She had an upset stomach,” Bingle said. “She didn’t eat for a couple days afterwards, so something was bothering her.”
Angie Guenther made her NCAA Championship debut as she placed 21st in the hammer throw, recording a score of 60.06 meters. Guenther, a redshirt senior, finished fifth among all-time Gophers.
Guenther is the only athlete among the six All-Americans this year the team will lose to graduation.
“I think a lot of those girls, if they can reach the next step, then we’re going in there with a purpose and can make a difference,” Bingle said.
