Tahesia Harrigan was awarded her first outdoor season track and field Conference Athlete of the Week honor on April 23. The sophomore from the British Virgin Islands earned the honor for her performances in southern California at the Mt. SAC Relays and Pomona-Pitzer Invitational last weekend.
Harrigan placed first the 100-meter dash heat at the Mt. SAC Relays with a time of 11.48 seconds, claiming the Minnesota record in the event, a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships and the seventh-best time in the nation this year.
She also anchored the 4×100-meter relay squad that set a school record with a time of 45.84 seconds. Harrigan ran a personal-best time of 23.79 seconds, the second-fastest time in school history, in the 200- meter dash at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.
Marten honored
Minnesota’s Piper Marten has been named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after recording a perfect game against Drake last Wednesday. Her seven-inning shutout over the Bulldogs included 15 strikeouts, tying her own school record. She struck out 10 of the first 12 batters she faced in that game.
Marten was 3-1 overall on the week, including a five-inning complete- game shutout of Indiana. For the week, Marten struck out 31 batters in 19.1 innings and gave up just three walks. She was also 7-for-15 at the plate (.467), with a double and two runs batted in. Marten has now posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns as a Gopher after winning 23 last season.
At 20-10 this year, Marten now has a Big Ten leading 248 strikeouts, just one behind her own school record set in 2000. The sophomore from Farmington, N.M., has been part of three no-hitters this season, including a 15-strikeout performance against Boston.
The Gophers return to action Wednesday, when they host Concordia University at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
Kelley a finalist
Senior gymnast MaryAnne Kelley is one of four finalists for the prestigious Honda Sports Award in gymnastics. This award determines the top woman collegiate athlete in that sport.
The winner becomes a nominee for the Honda-Broderick Cup which is awarded annually to the nation’s outstanding collegiate woman athlete of the year at the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Banquet to be held on June 17 in Dallas during the NACDA convention.
Kelley is one of the strongest competitors in Minnesota gymnastics history. She is a three time All-America honoree, a Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and an All-Big Ten honoree. She holds three Minnesota records.
In addition to the honor of this selection, the Honda Awards Program will donate $1,000 to the University of Minnesota women’s athletics fund. The winner’s program will receive $5,000.
