The men's Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Iowa City came down to the final event, which helped Iowa edge the Gophers for the Hawkeyes' first conference title since 1967.
Iowa finished with 125.5 points to the Gophers' 123 and ended Minnesota's string of five consecutive Big Ten outdoor/indoor team titles.
The Gophers needed to finish ahead of Iowa in the last event, the 4x400 relay, but the Hawkeyes placed second in 3 minutes, 6.7 seconds and the Gophers were fourth in 3:08.12.
"Iowa is a team that has been building and pointing to having the Big Ten meet at home for some time," Gophers coach Steve Plasencia said. "They put together a great final day. Our team competed to the end, and we are very proud of them. It was a close, very close finish."
Etc. • Nikki Swenson finished second in the 1,500 meters and fourth in the 800 meters, helping the Gophers women record a seventh-place finish in the Big Ten Championships. The Gophers' 4x400 relay team of Sharyn Dahl, Nyoka Giles, Kelly Staples and Alena Brooks placed third in a school-record time of 3:38.03.
• The Gophers rowing team finished fifth in the Big Ten Championships in Indianapolis with 68 points, behind league champion Ohio State with 142. The Gophers' Cassie Drozynski was selected to the all-Big Ten first team, while Tracy Merth was chosen to the second team.
• Mario Eramo hit two home runs to lead Penn State over the Gophers 4-2 in State College, Pa. The Gophers (20-20, 12-9 Big Ten) were led by Andy Henkemeyer, who went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
