Minnesota fielded a team grade point average of 3.079 this season as one of eight Big Ten schools to earn All-Academic honors - only the Big East had more institutions honored this season with nine.
Senior Pieter Gagnon, junior Bob Nicolls, sophomore Blayne Dulian and redshirt freshman Adam Zutz represented the Gophers cross country tream on this year's academic honors list.
Michigan State will host this year's race with the men's 8,000-meter race set for 11:45 a.m. ET. on Sunday
Golden Gopher Career Notes: Competed in 2010 NCAA West Prelims in the 10,000 meters.
2011 • Junior Season: Competed in six meets this season • represented Minnesota at the NCAA Championships, finishing second for the Gophers and 60th overall (30:40) • raced the second-best time for the Gophers (31:37.79) at the Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships, good for 15th place overall • earned 16th place overall and second on the Minnesota squad at the Big Ten Championships, running his season-best 8K in 24:17 • ran the Wisconsin Adidas 8K in 24:32 as the Gophers' number-two runner • placed 19th overall and second on the team at the Roy Griak Invitational, racing 24:34.9 • won gold at the Hornet Jamboree 4-mile with, dashing a 19:28
2010 • Sophomore Season: Took sixth at the BYU Autumn race with a time of 20:37.8 • finished 15th overall , (24:42.9) at the Roy Griak Invite • placed 51st, at the Pre-NCAA race running a time of 24:35.3 • took 17th (24:09.6) at the Big Ten Championships • crossed the line in 18th place at the NCAA Midwest race with a time of 30:26.20 • finished the season at the NCAA championships in 168th overall and a time of 31:46.1 • Academic All-Big Ten Team • earned his first letter.
2009 • Redshirt Freshman Season: Competed on Gophers' 24th-place NCAA squad, finishing fourth on the team (31:15.1) and 135th overall • team's number-four runner at NCAA Midwest Region and Big Ten Championships • team's top runner (19:04.58) on Oz title team; finished second overall • an Academic All-Big Ten honoree • varsity letterwinner.
2008 • Freshman Season: Redshirted the season.
On the Track: Will be a sophomore in 2011 • advanced to NCAA West Prelim in 10,000 meters • varsity letterwinner.
High School: A 2008 graduate of Washburn High School • high school coaches were Noelle Palmer and Sarah Gusafson • placed third (15:44.5, 5K) at the 2007 Minnesota Class AA Cross Country Championships • 2007 sectional and Minneapolis City Conference medalist • clocked a personal best of 15:37, placing 19th at the 2007 Foot Locker Midwest Region Championship • placed 22nd in state meet as a junior, 90th as a sophomore • two-time all-state honoree his senior track season • placed third in the 3,200-meter run (9:21.81) and eighth in the 1,600 meters (4:24.15) • competed in both those events at state as a junior • graduated second in his class.
Personal: Born Oct. 13, 1989 • intends to major in mechanical engineering • son of James Gagnon and Rebecca Fillmore • has one brother, Charles • enjoys videography.
