The Gophers have already qualified five student-athletes for the NCAA Championships as Mege and Hegerle join Wally Ellenson (high jump), Harun Abda (800 meters) and Travis Burkstrand (800 meters).
The Gophers contingency will head to the West region preliminary meet in Austin, Texas (University of Texas) with competition set for May 23-25. Qualifiers from the west regional will compete at the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore.
The Gophers contingency will head to the West region preliminary meet in Austin, Texas (University of Texas) with competition set for May 23-25.
Career Highlihgts 2011 All-American • a 2010, 2011, and 2012 NCAA Preliminary meet qualifier in the 800 meters • ranks third in Gopher history in the 800 indoor (1:48.16) and seventh outdoor (1:48.65).
2012 Season - Indoor: Ran a time of 1:49.73 in the 800 meters at the Big Ten Championships • also ran the fourth leg of the Gophers' distance medley relay • finished first with the third-fastest time in school history in the 800 meters at the Alex Wilson Invitational (1:48.16) • finished sixth and set the sixth-fastest time in school history in the 800m at the Husky Classic (1:49.15) • won the 600m at the Snowshoe Open with a time of 1:20.18 • won the mile run at the Bill Bergan Invite (4:06.68) • placed second in the mile at the Holiday Inn Invitational (4:12.58). Outdoor: NCAA West Preliminary competitor in the 800 meters • ran a time of 1:48.65 in the 800m at the Big Ten Championships • ran the fourth leg of the distance medley relay team that won at the Drake Relays with a new school record (9:36.21) • ran the second leg of the 4x800m relay that won at Drake with a time of 7:19.02 • finished fourth in the 1,500m at the Stanford Relays with a time of 3:50.83.
2011 Season - Indoor:ran the 600 meters (1:20.45) at the Snowshoe Open and finished second • took third in the 800 meters (1:50.56) at the Big Ten championships• finished third overall in the 5,000 meters at the Northwest Open with a time of 9:03.17 • ran the third leg of the Gophers distance medley relay team that broke a school record (9:29.70) at the NCAA championships • relay team also won the Big Ten championships (9:50.58) and the Alex Wilson Invite (9:31.78).Outdoor:member of first place (9:38.09) distance medley relay team at the Drake Relays • won the 1,500 meters at the Musco Twilight with a time of 3:49.77 • won the 800 meters (1:49.70) at the Mt. SAC Relays Open • letterwinner.
2010 Season Indoor: An NCAA provisional qualifier in the 800 meters • placed third in the 800m (1:51.56) at the Big Ten Championships • ran a career-best and third-fastest time in school history of 1:49.48 at Alex Wilson Invitational • ran top mile time of 4:17.04 at Iowa State Classic. Outdoor: NCAA Preliminary Meet competitor in the 800 meters, clocking a time of 1:49.60 in the first round • finished third at the Big Ten meet with a career-best time of 1:49.30, seventh best in Gopher history • placed third in the 1,500 meters (3:50.00) at the Jim Click Shootout • anchored the Drake Relays runner-up 4x800-meter relay that set the Minnesota record of 7:18.18 • varsity letterwinner.
2009 Season - Redshirted the indoor and outdoor seasons. Cross Country - A two-year member of the cross country team • uses season to train for track • ran in one meet in 2010.
High School: A 2008 graduate of Eastview High School • high school coach was Tom Sharp • a four-time all-state performer in cross country and track • placed 19th overall in the 2007 Minnesota Class AA Cross Country Championships leading Eastview to a fifth-place finish • finished 25th as a junior • earned all-state honors in the 800 meters in 2008 with a seventh-place finish (1:53.15) • also a member of the seventh-place 4x800-meter relay as a senior • earned four letters in cross country and track, one in hockey • graduated with high honors.
Personal: Born July 22, 1989 •art major• son of Dave Burkstrand and Anne Flahavan • has siblings Andrew and Kenzie • enjoys art and snowboarding.
