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Peterson keeps strong season going

The pole vaulter won his event at the Sun Angel Classic in Arizona.

The Gophers menâÄôs track and field had members competing at a number of different venues this weekend, with athletes making appearances at the Sun Angel Classic, the Mesa Classic and the Hamline Invitational. Junior Ben Peterson led the team into Tempe, Ariz. and continued his dominance this outdoor season. Peterson won the open pole vault title at the Sun Angel Classic by clearing a height of 17-3. The victory is his third straight and helped him remain undefeated in the event on the season. âÄúHeâÄôs a great performer, and heâÄôll continue to get better,âÄù head coach Steve Plasencia said. âÄúMy hopes are that he can continue to get over some higher bars; heâÄôs jumping at a lifetime best.âÄù Peterson appears to be adapting well to the transition between indoor and outdoor competition, Plasencia said. âÄúIf he can keep his undefeated string going [at next weekâÄôs Drake relays], then weâÄôll really have something to talk about,âÄù Plasencia said. Senior Chris Rombough placed 4th in the 1,500-meter run in Tempe with a time of 3 minutes, 44.49 seconds, edging teammate Andy Richardson (3:46.21) who finished in 7th place. Plasencia said that RomboughâÄôs mark was a lifetime-best. Minnesota throwers competed at the Mesa Classic in Mesa, Ariz. on Friday. Freshman Micah Hegerle won the hammer throw with a throw of 60.11 meters . Teammates Tyler Kleinhuizen and Trey Davis placed 6th and 8th, respectively. The throwers then joined the rest of the team in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday to compete in the Sun Angel Classic. Davis finished 2nd in the shot put and Hegerle took 5th in the hammer throw at the Sun Angel. âÄúI thought Hegerle had a couple of good days with the hammer,âÄù Plasencia said. âÄúThe level at which he has gotten to, as a freshman, is very good. HeâÄôs put together a very nice spring so far.âÄù While the GophersâÄô primary lineup was in Arizona, Minnesota sent several younger competitors to the Hamline Invitational. Highlighting the action was freshman Oladipo Fagbem i who won the triple jump and placed 2nd in the 200-meter dash. Minnesota won six events overall. Duwell breaks record While competing in the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz., senior Megan Duwell broke MinnesotaâÄôs school record in the 5,000-meter run. The mark of 16:4.55 bests the old mark, also held by Duwell. The time was good for 1st place among college runners and second place overall. Sixth-year senior Gabriele Anderson was the top-finisher for the Gophers in one of the premier races. Anderson finished 7th in the 1,500 (4:20.56, career best), just after the one-year anniversary of being diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma . Last year, Anderson was diagnosed with the rare condition affecting the secretory glands. She is competing in her final season of eligibility for the Gophers. Other notable finishes from the meet included Samantha Sonnenberg winning the pole vault competition by clearing a height of 4.12 meters. Elizabeth Yetzer placed 3rd in a 1,500 section different from AndersonâÄôs with a time of 4:23.14. Teammate Nikki Swenson was close behind, finishing 4th in 4:24.34. Minnesota also had members competing in St. Paul, Minn. this past weekend at the Hamline Invitational. DeAnne Hahn won the hammer throw, recording the third-best toss in Gophers history , 192 feet. Caty Dongoske won the shot put, throwing for a distance of 42 1/4. Emily Betz won the javelin title by throwing 134-7.

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