Baird and Barringer Named CU Athletes of the Week
BOULDER-Golfer Michael Baird (junior) and track distance runner Jenny Barringer (sophomore) were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of April 23-29. This is the first CU athlete of the week award of the year for Baird and the seventh for Barringer, Barringer's seven is now the record for the most in an academic year. Baird has one career honor, while Barringer now has eight career honors, giving her sole-possession of the second most in cross country/track and field history.
Baird, a Castle Rock, Colo., (Douglas County/Pepperdine) native, shot a final round 70, which was even par for the day on the 6,611-yard, par-70 Prairie Dunes Country Club course, enabled him to finish eighth individually with a 10-over 220 score. That matched the fourth best finish by a CU golfer in the Big 12 meet. Baird likely didn't know it at the time, but his eagle on the 512-yard, par-5 seventh hole was the difference for the Buffaloes escaping the league cellar. The Colorado men's golf team has not finished last in a conference tournament since the placed seventh in the Big 7 Championships in 1949.
Barringer, an Oviedo, Fla., (Oviedo) native, led the CU women, as she finished fourth in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 15:48.24 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational hosted by Stanford University this past Saturday. Barringer's time shattered the regional qualifying time of 16:52.00 by over a minute.
Others nominated for this week's award were Brent Vaughn (track and field) and Melisa Esposito (tennis).
Track and Field: Brent Vaughn, Senior, Aurora, Colo.
Vaughn turned in the best result for the Buffs on the day, taking second in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 13:30.12, finishing less than 3 seconds off the winning mark at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. Vaughn's time was also good for an NCAA regional qualifying mark.
Tennis: Melisa Esposito, Freshman, Palm Beach Garden, Fla.
Esposito won her seventh straight singles match and was the lone Colorado player to earn a point in the Buffaloes, 4-1 loss at the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals to Oklahoma State. Esposito recorded her 18th singles win of the year becoming the fourth CU woman to win that many matches this year. She defeated Jennifer Poskitt 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 6 position for her fifth straight win occurring in straight sets. Esposito also notched her 16th dual victory and 13th triumph at the No. 6 slot.