Redshirt sophomore Kostas Zaltos of the Gophers won the hammer throw for the second year in a row on Friday on the first day of the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Minnesota's track.
The native of Kilkis, Greece, threw the hammer 234 feet, 3 inches — more than 4 feet farther than runner-up Tyler Merkley of Penn State (229-11). Junior Jake Kubiatowicz of the Gophers was fifth (216-5).
On the women's side, Alexys Berger of the Gophers placed second in the pole vault. She and Chloe Timberg of Rutgers both cleared 14 feet, 1⁄2 inch, but Timberg won the event on one fewer miss.
Tess Keyzers of Minnesota was third in hammer throw (205-11).
Running Aces track to open Sunday
Running Aces harness track in Columbus will begin its 15th season of racing Sunday, starting a 56-day summer meet with an eight-race card.
The track will race Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with first post at 7 p.m. Track officials said purses this year will top $6 million, an increase of about $2 million over last year and the highest ever paid at Running Aces.
Horses will be coming from Florida, New York, New Jersey, California and western Canada, as well as Minnesota and other Midwestern states.
Season highlights include the $35,000 Steve Wiseman Memorial FFA Trot (June 26), the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA Pace (July 24) and the $35,000 Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace (Aug. 14). The season will end with the annual championship weekend on Sept. 17 and 18.
