Buffs Set For NCAA West Preliminaries

BOULDER — With 21 individuals (13 women and eight men) and one relay team entered, the Colorado track and field teams will be well-represented at this weekend's NCAA West Preliminaries in Sacramento, Calif.

It is the first step toward the June 6-9 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., and if all goes well, the Buffs could qualify a sizable contingent for the championships.

Of course, Colorado coach Mark Wetmore — now in his 23rd year at the Buffs' helm — has been around far too long to be making specific predictions. But, Wetmore did say earlier this week, "I think we can get between six and 10 through to the following week if we perform to our best abilities."

Each individual event at the prelims (the East meet will be contested in Tampa, Fla.) will have 48 entries, with the top 12 advancing to the championships.

The Buffs are sending a diverse group. Along with the regular group of distance specialists, Colorado also qualified a handful of sprinters, jumpers and throwers.

"Coach (Burke) Bockman is doing good work with the sprints and hurdles," Wetmore said. "We had some success there in 2017 on a conference level and I think he's taken another step. … We'll be good next year. Burke's penetrating that area in the Pac-12."

But when it comes to the athletes with the best chance of moving on to the championships, it is the Buffs distance runners who are ranked among the top qualifiers in their respective events.

Among those in the top 15 in their events this weekend on the women's side are Makena Morley (7th in the 5,000 and 15th in the 10,000), Kaitlyn Benner (5th in the 10,000 and 12th in the 5,000), Erin Clark (6th in the 10,000), Elissa Mann (14th in the 800), Sage Hurta (6th in the steeplechase) and Valerie Constien (9th in the steeple).

On the men's side, Zach Perrin is 5th in the 5,000, Ben Saarel is 12th in the 1,500 and Ryan Forsyth 13th in the 5,000.

"There are people who go to this weekend with reason to be confident of advancing," Wetmore said. "Then there are people who are going who have their fingers crossed and their rabbit's foot in their pocket. Each athlete approaches it differently and the coaches have to decide how to instruct and support them."

Clark, a senior, is a battle-tested veteran. A fifth-place finisher in last year's championships, she will be running in her fourth NCAA preliminaries. Benner, also a senior, also has NCAA outdoor experience, as do sophomores Morley and Hurta. Each is considered to be among the favorites to earn at trip to Oregon.

For the men, Perrin had an excellent race midway through the season at Stanford (a season-best 13:37.06 in the 5K) while Forsyth has been a steady presence throughout the season. Both are veteran, patient racers with good closing speed, something Wetmore said could benefit them in the semifinal round.

"This meet will most certainly be tactical and slow with a fast close," Wetmore said. "Ryan is above-average in that aspect of his skill set, as is Zach."

The meet, held at Hornet Stadium and hosted by Sacramento State, begins Thursday and concludes Saturday.

For complete start lists, schedule and updated results, go to http://www.rtspt.com/ncaa/d1outdoor18/

Colorado entrants in the NCAA West Preliminaries (West ranking in parentheses):

WOMEN

800 — Elissa Mann (14)

1,500 — Lucy May (40), Abigail Regner (44)

5,000 — Makena Morley (7), Kaitlyn Benner (12), Erin Clark (16)

10,000 — Kaitlyn Benner (5), Erin Clark (6), Makena Morley (15), Melanie Nun (21)

3,000 steeplechase — Sage Hurta (6), Valerie Constien (9)

4x400 relay — Colorado (23)

High jump — Michaela Wenning (44), Rajon O'Quinn (45)

Long jump — Eriana Henderson (38)

Hammer throw — Elisa Grandemange (34)

MEN

200 — Duane McClurkin Jr. (34), Jon Maas (42)

1,500 — Ben Saarel (12)

5,000 — Zach Perrin (5), Ryan Forsyth (13), Eduardo Herrera (30)

110 hurdles — Alexander Billing (33)

3,000 steeplechase — Adam Peterman (29)