Pifer, McFarland and Zikova Named CU Athletes of the Week

BOULDER-Track distance runner, Stephen Pifer (senior), women's basketball forward Jackie McFarland (junior) and slalom skier Lucie Zikova (junior), were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of March 5-11.  This is the first CU athlete of the week award of the year for Pifer, the second for Zikova and the third for McFarland.  This is Pifer's second career honor, while Zikova now has four and McFarland's tally is at six.  Zikova is now tied for skiing's all-time winner of the award, while McFarland took sole-possession of the second place in women's basketball, just three behind Shelly Sheetz (nine).   

Pifer, an Edwardsville, Ill., (Highland Park) native,  was the lone Buff to score at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champsionships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. on Saturday as he earned All-American honors for the fifth time in his career, twice in the indoor mile and three times in cross country.  Pifer placed third in the mile, scoring six points for the Buffs.  He ran the mile in 4:00.93. It was the third time this year Pifer has run the mile in under 4:01.00.  Pifer, who owns the school record, also owns the top four times in CU history in the mile.

McFarland, a Derby, Kan., (Derby) native, recorded a double-double in both of Colorado's Big 12 Tournament games this past week.  The double-doubles are her 36th and 37th respectively, moving her into a tie for the second-most double-doubles in a career with Erin Scholz.  In CU's opening round win over Texas Tech, McFarland recorded 32 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 14-of-16 from the free-throw line, 12 rebounds (five offensive) and four assists.  The 32 points are a Big 12 Tournament opening round record and also ties the Colorado Big 12 Tournament record, as Tera Bjorklund scored 32 in a quarterfinal game against Oklahoma in 2003.  She also surpassed the 500-point mark for the third consecutive year, making her just the third Buff in CU history to do so in three consecutive seasons.  She followed that performance up with a 17 point, 13 rebound, 2 block and four steal game in Colorado's second round loss to No.13 Texas A&M.

Zikova, a Prague, Czech Republic, (Gymnasium Ustavni 400) native,  helped CU to a third place finish in the NCAA Championships with two first-team All-American performances.  She was fourth in the giant slalom and second in the slalom.  She now has five top four finishes in six career NCAA championship races.

Others nominated for this week's Michael Baird (men's golf), Matt Gelso (skiing), Lindsay Caljouw (women's golf) and Melisa Esposito (tennis).

Men's Golf: Michael Baird, Junior, Castle Rock, Colo.

Baird led CU to a 5th place finish in the meet, CU's season stroke average leader (72.47 for 15 rounds) is even par through nine rounds this spring.  His second round 66 was a team best for the season, and tied the 13th best round in school history.

Skiing: Matt Gelso, Freshman, Truckee, Calif.

Gelso helped CU to a third place finish in the NCAA Championships with two All-American performances:  he finished fifth in the classic race to earn first-team honors, and was sixth in the freestyle to attain second-team status.

Women's Golf: Lindsay Caljouw, Sophomore, Nanaimo, B.C.

Caljouw posted three-consecutive top-10 finishes for the Buffaloes in the first three tournaments of the spring, with a scoring average of 74.57 in those seven rounds.  It's the second time ever that a Buff has had three straight top-10 finishes in school history (Erin Kerr, 2002).  She posted a two-under par 70 for her best score of the spring also tying her career best score, to lead the San Jose Spartan Invite after one round.

Tennis: Melisa Esposito, Freshman, Nanaimo, B.C.

Esposito won her lone singles match and teamed up for a doubles win helping the No. 30 nationally ranked Colorado Buffaloes to a 6-1 road over Missouri.  CU improves to 8-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in Big 12 play.  Esposito defeated Katelyn McKenzie 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles for her sixth straight singles victory.  In doubles, Esposito teamed with Martina Sedivec at No. 3 doubles for an 8-5 win to remain unbeaten is six matches.