Track & Field | 6/25/2022 6:51:00 PM
MINNEAPOLIS — University of Minnesota freshman Floyd Whitaker II and Devin Augustine qualified for the U20 World Championships on Saturday afternoon in the triple jump and the 100m. Whitaker qualified for a spot on Team USA at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., while Augustine qualified for the Trinidad & Tobago team.
Whitaker extended his season with a leap of 15.35m (50-4 1/2) on his first attempt down the runway, good enough for a second-place finish. Whitaker sat in first throughout most of the competition before Solomon Thomas of the University of Texas passed Whitaker on his fifth attempt. Whitaker’s leap will send him to Cali, Colombia, for the U20 World Championships that will take place from August 1-6.
Floyd Whitaker is an absolute SAVAGE! 😏
Qualifies for the U20 World Championships with Team USA on his first triple jump attempt in Eugene! #JourneyToGold pic.twitter.com/UAYHoFj4yQ
— Minnesota Cross Country, Track & Field (@GopherCCTF) June 26, 2022
Additionally Sean Donnelly, a Gopher alum, competed in the men’s hammer final on Saturday. The 2016 Gopher, who still owns the school record at Minnesota, finished sixth overall in the event with a throw of 74.24m (243-7).
In Trinidad & Tobago, Augustine posted a personal best time of 10.32 in the semis of the 100m before finishing with a 10.38 in the final to qualify himself for the U20 World Championships later this summer. Augustine, who was limited during the outdoor season in the 100m, impressively dropped his time from his debut back in mid-May at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships where he finished 24th.
Other competitors on Saturday included Kion Benjamin and Akilah Lewis in Trinidad & Tobago. Benjamin finished his individual season in the 100m with a personal best time of 10.07 in the semis and followed it up with a runner-up finish in the final in a time of 10.18. Although Benjmain finished high enough to make the Trinidad & Tobago national team, his 10.07 season-best time is just short of the world standard time of 10.07. Lewis, who most recently broke Minnesota’s 100m school record, finished fourth overall in her 100m final in a time of 10.46.
In Greece, two-time Big Ten champion Kostas Zaltos finished 4th overall at his nation’s championships, tossing the hammer 70.35m. His mark was good enough for the second-best mark amongst U23 competitors.
Minnesota has one final competitor in Eugene with Abby Kohut-Jackson competing in the 3000m steeplechase final on Sunday afternoon. That race can be seen contested at 4:23 p.m. CT live on the USA TV Network. For more information on the Gophers around the globe, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the summer.
USATF Outdoor Championships Results by Individual
Abby Kohut-Jackson, women’s 3000m steeplechase, FINALIST
Floyd Whitaker, men’s triple jump, 2nd Place (15.35m | 50-4 1/2)
Shelby Frank, women’s discus, 5th Place (57.20m | 187-8)
Nyalaam Jok, women’s high jump, T5th Place (1.82m | 5-11 1/2)
Sean Donnelly, men’s hammer throw, 6th Place (74.24m | 243-7)
Alec Basten, men’s 3000m steeplechase, 15th Place (8:29.90)
Matt Wilkinson, men’s 3000m steeplechase, 19th Place (8:36.96)
Shane Streich, men’s 800m, 22nd Place (1:49.23)
Benjamin Blankenship, 23rd Place (3:42.59)
Other Outdoor Championships Results by Individual
Barbora Špotáková (Czech Republic), women’s javelin, 1st Place (60.90m)
Kion Benjamin (Trinidad & Tobago), men’s 100m, 2nd Place (10.18)
Akilah Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago), women’s 100m, 4th Place (11.46)
Devin Augustine (Trinidad & Tobago), men’s 100m, 5th Place (10.38)
Kostas Zaltos (Greece), men’s hammer, 4th Place (70.35m)
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