May 16, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Kostas Zaltos of Minnesota wins the hammer throw in a meet record 254-10 (77.67m) during the Big Ten Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Gophers leading after Day 1 of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship

Originally posted on Minnesota Golden Gophers on SI
By Tony Liebert | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 10:17 AM ET

Kostas Zaltos became the first Gophers outdoor NCAA track & field national champion since 2018 on Wednesday, when he defeated teammate Angelos Mantzouranis for the hammer throw title. It was the start of a huge day for Minnesota at Day 1 of the outdoor track & field championships, as they currently hold the team lead.

The celebration is ON!

Kostas Zaltos is the first #Gophers NCAA Outdoor Champion since 2018 and just the third outdoor champ since 1971! #ncaaTF | #SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/00mlQ6N94m
— Minnesota Cross Country, Track & Field (@GopherCCTF) June 11, 2025

For the first time in school history, the Gophers will run in the 4x100m championship relay on Friday, an event they qualified for on Wednesday. Zion Campbell, Kion Benjamin, Aaron Charles and Devin Augustine recorded a 38.16-second time, which is the seventh fastest mark ever at the NCAA outdoor championships.

PUT 〽️ CITY ON THE MAP

The #Gophers 4x100m relay team of Campbell, Benjamin, Charles & Augustine just clocked a 38.16 in the #ncaaTF semis

That's the No. 7 4x100m relay time ALL-TIME at the NCAA Outdoor Championships meet pic.twitter.com/znIAsYTtDM
— Minnesota Cross Country, Track & Field (@GopherCCTF) June 11, 2025

Other notable finishes from Wednesday:

— Jak Urlacher finished his Gophers career with a 12th-place finish and second-team All-American honor in the pole vault. Urlacher is the son of former Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.

— Sophomore Charles Godfred finished fourth in the long jump, which is the highest finish in the event in Gophers program history.

FOURTH FOR THE GOPHER! The highest-placing #Gophers long jump in program history! 〽️

Sophomore Charles Godfred earns his second career First Team All-America honor at Hayward Field! #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/eSm3YgICI9
— Minnesota Cross Country, Track & Field (@GopherCCTF) June 12, 2025

The Gophers have 23 points as a team after one day of competition, which puts them all alone in first place. New Mexico and Florida are tied for second with 18 points.

The women's competition will begin on Thursday and conclude Saturday, while the men's meet will wrap up with Day 2 on Friday. Minnesota is looking to win its first outdoor track & field national championship since 1948.