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Zaltos Wins NCAA Title, Mantzouranis Collects Silver
6/11/2025 9:14:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time since 2018, the University of Minnesota men have an NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Champion. Kostas Zaltos, a graduate student, captured his first NCAA title in the men's hammer throw on Wednesday afternoon while teammate and fellow Greek national Angelos Mantzouranis grabbed silver for the No. 10 Golden Gophers at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
The historic performance from the Maroon and Gold hammer throw duo makes them the first teammates to go 1-2 in the NCAA Championships hammer throw final since 2011 (Virginia Tech). Zaltos' title-winning throw came on his fourth attempt of the competition where he sent a lifetime best 78.08m (256-2) out to become the first Gopher since Obsa Ali (2018, 3000m Steeplechase) to win an individual NCAA title. Zaltos' lifetime best throw puts him No. 6 all-time in NCAA hammer throw history as he departs collegiate competition after four First Team All-America finishes.
"Today I had the best series of my career," Zaltos said. "I'll take that. I am excited for the future. [Angelos and I] are the best duo of all-time in NCAA history. We are very excited about that."
Mantzouranis' best throw of 77.96m (252-6) came in the fourth round as well. The sophomore improved from his third-place finish in 2024 to NCAA runner-up in 2025. The two First-Team All-American finishes for the Gophers in the hammer throw is the second time in three years the group has done so and also extends Minnesota's hammer throw All-America streak to six-straight NCAA Championships.
After 18 team points in the men's hammer throw the Maroon and Gold added five team points in the form of Charles Godfred in the men's long jump. The sophomore claimed the No. 4 spot with his third-attempt 7.91m (25-11 1/2), moving him from No. 12 at the time to No. 4 in the competition to earn three more attempts in the final. Godfred's performance makes him the only Gopher in school history to earn All-American honors in the long jump twice and his fourth-place is also the best finish in school history, improving the Nigerian's sixth-place in 2024.
The 'U' will see one final on the track on Friday when the men's competition wraps up in Eugene. The quartet of Zion Campbell, Kion Benjamin, Aaron Charles and Devin Augustine made history as the first 4x100m relay team from Minnesota to qualify for the NCAA final. The team posted a new school record time of 38.16 to finish second in their heat and earn an automatic qualifying spot to Friday's final. The NCAA semifinal time of 38.16 for Minnesota also sets a new Big Ten Conference all-time record that was previously held by Southern Cal (38.41 in 2025).
Jak Urlacher earned his first career All-America finish in the men's pole vault on Wednesday with a clearance of 5.43m (17-9 3/4). The North Dakota native finished 12th with his clearance to become a Second Team All-American and the first to earn the honor in the pole vault at Minnesota since 2014.
Christian Martin's Gopher career came to an end in the 110m hurdles on Wednesday. Minnesota's school-record holder clocked a 13.61 to end his season in 17th and snagged Honorable Mention All-America honors in the process.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
The historic performance from the Maroon and Gold hammer throw duo makes them the first teammates to go 1-2 in the NCAA Championships hammer throw final since 2011 (Virginia Tech). Zaltos' title-winning throw came on his fourth attempt of the competition where he sent a lifetime best 78.08m (256-2) out to become the first Gopher since Obsa Ali (2018, 3000m Steeplechase) to win an individual NCAA title. Zaltos' lifetime best throw puts him No. 6 all-time in NCAA hammer throw history as he departs collegiate competition after four First Team All-America finishes.
"Today I had the best series of my career," Zaltos said. "I'll take that. I am excited for the future. [Angelos and I] are the best duo of all-time in NCAA history. We are very excited about that."
Mantzouranis' best throw of 77.96m (252-6) came in the fourth round as well. The sophomore improved from his third-place finish in 2024 to NCAA runner-up in 2025. The two First-Team All-American finishes for the Gophers in the hammer throw is the second time in three years the group has done so and also extends Minnesota's hammer throw All-America streak to six-straight NCAA Championships.
After 18 team points in the men's hammer throw the Maroon and Gold added five team points in the form of Charles Godfred in the men's long jump. The sophomore claimed the No. 4 spot with his third-attempt 7.91m (25-11 1/2), moving him from No. 12 at the time to No. 4 in the competition to earn three more attempts in the final. Godfred's performance makes him the only Gopher in school history to earn All-American honors in the long jump twice and his fourth-place is also the best finish in school history, improving the Nigerian's sixth-place in 2024.
The 'U' will see one final on the track on Friday when the men's competition wraps up in Eugene. The quartet of Zion Campbell, Kion Benjamin, Aaron Charles and Devin Augustine made history as the first 4x100m relay team from Minnesota to qualify for the NCAA final. The team posted a new school record time of 38.16 to finish second in their heat and earn an automatic qualifying spot to Friday's final. The NCAA semifinal time of 38.16 for Minnesota also sets a new Big Ten Conference all-time record that was previously held by Southern Cal (38.41 in 2025).
Jak Urlacher earned his first career All-America finish in the men's pole vault on Wednesday with a clearance of 5.43m (17-9 3/4). The North Dakota native finished 12th with his clearance to become a Second Team All-American and the first to earn the honor in the pole vault at Minnesota since 2014.
Christian Martin's Gopher career came to an end in the 110m hurdles on Wednesday. Minnesota's school-record holder clocked a 13.61 to end his season in 17th and snagged Honorable Mention All-America honors in the process.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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Gophers Finish 1-2 in Hammer Throw
Monday, June 16
Mantzouranis Earns NCAA Silver Medal
Thursday, June 12