Hazen Sets School Hammer Throw Record At Big 12 Meet

LINCOLN, Neb. - Senior Zach Hazen set the Colorado school record in the hammer throw at 210-11 on the second day of the 2007 Big 12 Outdoor Championships at the Ed Weir Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Seven other Buffs qualified for the finals in four events.

"It's a huge surprise to myself," Hazen said. "I don't know what I was ranked coming into this, but I know it wasn't second. It feels amazing."

Hazen came in to the Big 12 meet ranked fifth with his then personal best and school record of 200-09. The highest he had ever finished in the outdoor meet in the hammer throw was seventh in 2004 and 2005. Hazen redshirted the outdoor season in 2006.

Hazen recorded the record-setting throw on his fourth attempt of the day, first in the finals, passing his former record by more than 10 inches (three meters). He was second to Igor Agafonov of Kansas who recorded a Big 12 meet and stadium record of 230-01. Hazen bested Jason Morris of Missouri by just four inches (210-07). Hazen moved up to third on the Big 12 list and fourth in the Midwest region.

"I wish I knew where this came from because then I would go and get more," Hazen said. "Sometimes you get pr's that you expect, from throwing in warm-ups and you just expect it and it happens and you are satisfied. This was a gift from nowhere and it couldn't have happened on a better day. I am so proud to contribute to my team and have this happen to me today."

"I couldn't be more ecstatic for Zach," throwing coach Casey Malone said. "He's been working extremely hard his entire career here. And my dream as a coach is that the athlete throws their best throw at a big meet and wherever that places them, that places them.

"But to throw your best throw over three meters is literally a dream come true; the odds of that happening at a big meet are so rare and to pr by that much is amazing. He just did phenomenally. I feel like I am walking on clouds right now."

In total, Hazen scored nine points for CU at the league championships as he placed eighth on Friday afternoon in the discus.

"I'm just so proud to see the field events helping out the team and seeing our team grow in new ways," Hazen said. "I am so proud of Casey (Malone). He's had so much patience with me and has worked with me every day late after all of my weird classes. He's helped me stay late in the weight room or whatever I have needed. He has just been there for me and it has been amazing."

"Hazen was definitely the best performance of the day," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "It was the corner stone of our meet so far for sure. He is a great guy, it's his senior year, his parents are here. He pr'd by nearly 10 feet and it really couldn't have happened to a greater guy. I'm really happy for him and it is a big boost to our team."

The Buffs qualified seven in preliminary action in the 1,500-meter, 800-meter and 200-meter races.

Stephen Pifer led the men in the 1,500-meter run. He recorded a mark of 3:46.72 to lead the field. Rob Thayer was third in the same heat, coming in just one second after Pifer at 3:47.72. Thayer moved up from the back of the pack and qualified for the finals due to his strong finish. The time was a personal best and his first regional qualifying mark of the season. Brent Vaughn was second in the final heat, finishing in 3:48.08.

"We got three people through and that would have been an optimistic outcome for us I think," Wetmore said. "Now we have to see how we can maximize our points in that event. I am very pleased with Rob Thayer getting through honestly. He was a dark horse for us, but he ran a great race and got a big pr and a regional qualifier here in an important meet. I am really happy for Rob."

Sara Ensrud led the CU women in the 1,500. She placed third overall and was third in the second heat. Ensrud finished in 4:27.72, her third regional qualifying mark of the season in the event.

"We expected Sara to get through and she did," Wetmore said. "She's been nursing a little cold, but I think she will be better tomorrow and I think she has a great tactical race and I think she is going to do very well tomorrow."

Anthony Chuilli took first in the 800-meter run. He recorded a personal record of 1:48.85 which ranks sixth on the Buffaloes' all-time list. Chuilli also became the third fastest Buff in the 800 with his regional qualifying time.

"We got everything we hoped for out of him (Anthony Chuilli) and a little bit more," Wetmore said. "I think he has only run three 800's at Colorado that is what he told me today. So it's not his specialty, but we rolled the dice a little bit on putting him in that event when he probably should have been in the 1,500. Still, he got through well."

Jeremy Dodson and Ryan Campbell both qualified for the finals in the 200-meter dash. Dodson earned a pr of 20.64 and Campbell recorded a pr of 20.78. Both were regional marks. Dodson finished first in the second heat and Campbell was second in the third heat.

"I am very pleased with Ryan Campbell and Jeremy Dodson," Wetmore said. "Both of them had the worst possible lane, well, maybe not the worst, but its lane 8 and you are out there against the fence with people leaning and screeching and it's not the optimal lane. Sprinters don't like it, but they both got through out of that lane and it was a good run for them."

Dodson and Campbell each also earned regional qualifying marks in the 100-meter dash despite not qualifying for the finals. Dodson took ninth, just one hundredth out of qualifying with a time of 10.42. Campbell earned a time of 10.50. Chris Abuan placed 10th in the 400-meter dash with a regional qualifying time of 47.01.

After two days, Colorado's men are tied for eighth with Kansas State at nine points. Kansas owns the lead with 37 points. On the women's side, CU is 11th with five points. Nebraska is the leader with 74 points.

The Big 12 championship concludes on Sunday with the finals for all of the preliminary events held on Saturday as well as the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 5k and the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. Live results can be found at http://www.deltatimingresults.com/events/2007/big12/default.aspx.

2007 BIG 12 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lincoln, Neb.

Team Scoring:

Men: 1. Kansas, 37; 2. Texas, 28; 3. Nebraska, 27; 4. Missouri, 25; 5. Oklahoma, 18; 6. Texas Tech, 16; 6. Iowa State, 16; 8. Colorado, 9; 8. Kansas State, 9; 10. Texas A&M, 6; 11. Oklahoma State, 4.

Women: 1. Nebraska, 74; 2. Texas Tech, 41; 3. Kansas, 27; 4. Oklahoma, 23; 5. Kansas State, 22; 5. Missouri, 22; 7. Texas, 21; 8. Iowa State, 16; 9. Oklahoma State, 11; 9. Texas A&M; 11. Colorado, 5.

Field Events (CU Athletes Only)

Men's Hammer Throw: 2. Zach Hazen, 210-11

Women's Long Jump: 11. Amberly Casey, 19-05.50

Track Events (CU Athletes Only) (top eight advance)

Women's 1,500-Meters (prelims): 3. Sara Ensrud, 4:27.13; 16. Dani Rodriguez, 4:45.21

Men's 1,500-Meters (prelims): 1. Stephen Pifer, 3:46.72; 4. Rob Thayer, 3:47.72; 6. Brent Vaughn 3:48.08; 20. Daniel Kenney, 3:57.22

Women's 100-Meter Hurdles (prelims): 13. Blayne Kelly, 14.89

Women's 400-Meters (prelims): 13. Veronica Maul, 57.19; 14. Chelsea Haverty, 57.52

Men's 400-Meters (prelims): 10. Chris Abuan, 47.01; 14. George Pincock, 47.23; 26. Abe Friesen, 48.36

Men's 100-Meters (prelims): 9. Jeremy Dodson, 10.42; 12. Ryan Campbell, 10.50; 20. Trae Plueger, 11.01

Men's 800-Meters (prelims): 1. Anthony Chuilli, 1:48.85

Women's 400-Meter Hurdles (prelims): 14. Blayne Kelly, 63.75

Women's 200-Meters (prelims): 24. Veronica Maul, 25.07; 27. Chelsea Haverty, 25.49

Men's 200-Meters (prelims): 3. Jeremy Dodson, 20.64; 8. Ryan Campbell, 20.78; 16. George Pincock, 21.28; 19. Chris Abuan, 21.53; 23. Trae Pflueger, 22.05; 24. Abe Friesen, 22.31

--COLORADO?