EUGENE, ORE. – Former Gophers All-America distance runner Hassan Mead punched his ticket to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters Saturday at the U.S. Olympic trials.
"We're absolutely thrilled for Hassan," said Minnesota track coach Steve Plasencia, a two-time Olympian in the 10,000 meters. "He's simply a tremendous person … he's poured his heart and soul into running, and we couldn't be more proud of him right now."
Mead, a 26-year-old graduate of Minneapolis South, was timed in 13 minute, 35.70 seconds, well off his personal best of 13:02.8 but a close second to 41-year-old Bernard Lagat, who rallied down the stretch and qualified for his fifth Olympics in 13:35.5.
"I train with young guys, and I don't believe I'm old," Lagat said. "If you believe you're old, you'll run like an old man."
Paul Chelimo nudged out a sprawling Eric Jenkins by .06 for the last spot.
Mead, who trains with Oregon Track Club Elite, had the top qualifying mark in the men's 5,000 (13:04.17) going into the trials.
An eight-time All-America and a nine-time Big Ten champion for the Gophers, Mead still owns school records in the outdoor 10,000 meters (28:12.74), the outdoor 5,000 meters (13:28.45), the indoor 5,000 meters (13:33.42) and the 8K in cross-country (23:29).
Another former Gophers men's All-America, Ben Blankenship, will try to make the team Sunday in the 1,500 meters.
In other men's running finals:
• Justin Gatlin completed the 100-200 double when he won the latter in 19.75 seconds. Runner-up Lashawn Merritt and Ameer Webb will join him in Rio.
• Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen scored an upset in the 110 hurdles in 13.03 and will be joined in Rio by Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter. London Games medalist Aries Merritt, the world-record holder, and Jason Richardson did not qualify.
• London silver medalist Will Claye won the triple jump. Christian Taylor and Chris Bernard also will head to Brazil.
Miller-Koch in third
Heather Miller-Koch of St. Cloud State was in third place after four events of the heptathlon. Her score of 3,822 points trailed leader Barbara Nwaba by 81 points. Kendell Wiliams (3,892) was second.
Women's javelin
Maggie Malone won the women's javelin with a throw of 199 feet, 7 inches. U.S. record-holder Kara Winger and Brittany Bowman also advanced to Rio.
