The University of Minnesota might just be a running school.
On Saturday, Bethany Hasz and Alec Basten both notched 3,000 meter titles at the Hawkeye Big Ten Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa. Hasz has been on a tear as of late, coming off an individual title in the Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Championships with a time of 20 minutes and 13.2 seconds. She became the second Gopher to ever win a Big Ten individual title.
And on Saturday, Hasz crushed her own program record for the 3,000 meter by 12 seconds, finishing with a time of eight minutes and 59.37 seconds. That’s the fastest mark in the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the nation to this point in the season.
Meanwhile, Basten’s time of seven minutes and 56.61 seconds ranks sixth all-time in Minnesota program history. Two other Gophers men – Owen Hoeft and Jordan MacIntosh – also finished with personal bests with times of eight minutes and 0.83 seconds and eight minutes and 2.6 seconds respectively.
The Gophers also earned titles in four other events; Ben Psicihulis won the men’s 600 meter, Jayla Campbell, Janielle Joesephs, Val Larson and Abigail Schaaffe won the women’s four by 400 meter relay, Amira Young won the women’s 60 meter and Erin Reidy won the women’s 800 meter.
The Gophers will look to continue raking in titles when they return to action Feb. 25 for the Big Ten Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
