It was a busy weekend for Gophers track & field. 

The men’s team competed in the Iowa State Classic and captured three titles. 

The women’s team split into three groups and competed in three different states. Minnesota won one title at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gophers captured five titles at the UST showcase in St. Paul.

Men’s team shines in jump events

The Gophers won titles in both the triple jump and the high jump. Sammie Houston won the triple jump with a mark of 14 feet, eight inches and Ryan Lockard won the high jump with a jump of seven feet, three inches. Minnesota also had success in the long jump, where Mason Roomes took second with a jump of 23 feet, three inches.

Head coach Steve Plasencia was happy with Lockard’s performance.

“I think our best performance was Lockard in the high jump,” Plasencia said. “He’s jumping well right now, so that was probably one of the most impressive things that we had.” 

Markland wins in the Music City

Minnesota had five top-five finishers in Nashville.

Titania Markland won the 800-meter with a time of 2:07.12. In the 60-meter hurdles, Emma Spagnola and Rachel Schow place third and fifth, respectively. 

Spagnola had a time of 8.36 and Schow had a time of 8.41. Ayesha Champagnie came in fifth in the long jump, with a jump of 19 feet, 3.5 inches. 

Head coach Matt Bingle liked his team’s showing in the hurdles. 

“It was good to see Rachel Schow have a lifetime best,” Bingle said. “She keeps inching her way forward and progressing. Emma Spagnola is being super consistent. I feel good about that group.”

Tuuri and Wiebke tie for first at Iowa State Classic

In the high jump at the Iowa State Classic, teammates Heta Tuuri and Taylor Wiebke tied for first with jumps of five feet, 10.5 inches. 

Minnesota also had a strong showing in the pole vault. They had two top-three finishers. Karlie Place took second and Lexie Kiefer took third. They both made jumps of 12 feet, 11.5 inches, however, Place made it on her first attempt and Kiefer needed two attempts. 

Gophers Win at UST

Kelli Schmidt won the 600-meter hurdles with a time of 1:34.69. In the 800-meter run, Paige Peschel took first with a time of 2:16.13. The Gophers got a title in the pole vault as well. 

Both the men and women are back in action at the Parents Day invite, which will take place at the University of Minnesota Field House on Saturday.