FIVE BUFFS THROUGH TO SATURDAY FINALS AT BIG 12 TRACK
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NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Colorado track & field team took part in day two of the 2004 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships here Friday in cold, rainy and windy weather at the John Jacobs Field at the University of Oklahoma.
Colorado had five different athletes advance to Saturday finals on the strength of performances today, and had four athletes on the verge of finals with great personal bests.
The two biggest highlights of the day came from junior Jared Scott and sophomore Brandon Johnson in the 1,500 meter run and 400 meter hurdles, respectively. Scott led the second heat for the last 300 meters and held off teammate Bret Schoolmeester to advance to the finals of the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:49.46, a new personal best. Schoolmeester was second in 3:49.60. They are seeded second and fourth in the Saturday final.
"A pleasant surprise was Jared Scott," said head coach Mark Wetmore. "I had hoped he could squeak through to the finals. I had hoped he'd get in, and he came out on Friday, a day for tactical running and there were 3:44 runners who maybe played it safe but he went out and ran a good race. He can have his highest finish in the conference championships ever and help us out in the team race."
Johnson had a great finish to the men's 400 meter hurdles later in the evening. Running in lane nine, Johnson held his own through the stagger before surging through the final two hurdles over the last 100 meters and reeling in four runners to take second in a personal best of 52.42. He'll be seeded fourth Saturday.
"The surprise of the day was Brandon's 400 hurdles, because he's new to the event, probably the fourth or fifth time he's run it, and he handled it technically like a veteran and accelerated over the last 100 which is rare," said Wetmore. "For a novice to make the finals with the fourth fastest time of the day indicates how good he's going to be when he really is a veteran. Let's hope he can duplicate that performance tomorrow."
On the women's side in the 1,500, junior Renee Metivier led her heat of the 1,500 for all but the last 100 meters, taking third in 4:25.84. She eased up in the last 100 meters, holding some in reserves for both the 1,500 meter final and 5,000 meter run.
Freshman George Pincock got through to the men's 200 meter final with his time of 21.31. Pincock's time was the 11th fastest, but two "out of lane" disqualifications got him in the final. He was also just short of the final in the 400 meters, finishing in the 10th spot for a nine-man final in 48.10, his second fastest time this year.
In field action, Anna Magle took sixth in a tight women's high jump competition that was interrupted by heavy rains. She jumped 5-6 to earn a tie for the sixth spot, with the winners jumping just two inches higher for first through fifth.
Freshman Amberly Casey jumped a huge personal best and was just .01 meters short of earning a spot in the final in the women's long jump, leaping 6.01m (19-8.75) to take 10th. Classmate Cortney Hutmacher was also close in the women's discus, taking 10th with her throw of 146-06, a personal best. It's the second event in two days that she has thrown a PR in after doing so in the hammer on Thursday.
"Another good day for Cortney, who is not only setting pr's in every event, but also has two already this weekend with one event to go," said Wetmore. "We're very impressed by people who come here and do well relative to their PR, some come and do poorly in the pressure of the meet, but then here's Amberly with a significant PR."
Things will get underway for the Buffaloes on Saturday with the women's triple jump at 1 p.m.
Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships ? Day Two
Results - Colorado Athletes Only
Women's Long Jump
10. Amberly Casey, 6.01m 19-08.75
Women's Discus
10. Cortney Hutmacher, 44.65m 146-06
Women's High Jump
6. Anna Magle, 1.68m 5-06.00
Men's Shot Put
12. Andy Passen, 15.49m 50-10.00
Men's Long Jump
17. Brandon Johnson, 7.03m 23-00.75
Women's 1,500 Meter Run
3. Renee Metivier, 4:25.84
14. Laura Zeigle, 4:39.73
Men's 1,500 Meter Run
1. Jared Scott, 3:49.46
2. Bret Schoolmeester, 3:49.60
Women's 100 Meter Hurdles
10. Deneeka Torrey, 14.17
Men's 400 Meter Dash
10. George Pincock, 48.10
14. Daric Wilhite, 48.54
Men's 100 Meter Dash
14. Sam Napp, 10.84
18. Eric Lee-O'Brien, 11.01
Women's 800 Meter Run
16. Jaclyn Baca, 2:18.34
Men's 800 Meter Run
8. Jason Zichterman, 1:51.12
22. Gus Lundin, 1:55.92
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles
11. Deneeka Torrey, 1:04.61
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles
2. Brandon Johnson, 52.42
Men's 200 Meter Dash
9. George Pincock, 21.31
16. Sam Napp, 21.79
18. Eric Lee-O'Brien, 21.84