Q&A: Gophers track star Owen Hoeft reviews mile win at Big Ten Championships

Hopkins HS alum and Gophers track star Owen Hoeft talks with KSTP Sports about his Big Ten title in the mile, the indoor program at the ‘U’ being eliminated, and more.

***Click the video box above to watch our full chat with Hoeft, and to see video of his win***

Even with a Big Ten title, Hoeft didn’t qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships this week. Just shows how deep the class is that runs the mile.

After running a career-best time of 4:01.90 in the preliminary heats to rank fifth in program history, Hoeft followed up with a 4:05.45 to win the Gopher men’s seventh B1G mile title in program history for the Gopher men. It was a photo finish.

He joins Derek Wiebke (2017), John Simons (2014), Ben Blankenship (2010 and 2011), Andrew McKessock (2000), and Merle Sweitzer (1921) to make up Minnesota’s all-time B1G men’s mile champions.

Hoeft tells KSTP that with the free year of eligibility, he plans on competing for the Gophers outdoor track team next year, a program that was saved by the Board of Regents.