March 12, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – University of Memphis senior weight thrower Knut Syversen became the Tigers second NCAA Indoor track and field All-American at the NCAA Indoor track and field championships. The Sarpsborg, Norway native was named to the second team.

“Knut was injured,” said head coach Kevin Robinson. “He slipped a disc Monday and it was hard getting him to the point of competition this weekend. He’s a fighter though; he plowed through it and you have to give him credit for the way he manned up and fought through the pain.”

Plowing ahead through the pain, Syversen finished 15th with an 18.52m (60’ 9.25”) mark that placed him 15th in his first NCAA Indoor Championship bid.

The senior had qualified for the field at last week’s LSU Last Chance Invite behind his personal-best 21.14m (69’ 4.25”) toss. Now the concern is getting him ready for an outdoor season that begins at next weekend’s Rhodes Invite.

“We have an MRI set for Knut on Monday,” Robinson said. “Once we find out more, we can plan a course of rehabilitation for him. After everything that happened with him this weekend, we’re extremely proud of Knut. He’s the last to make excuses in a situation like this, and we know if he’s healthy he’s one of the top throwers in the field.”