Track Preps For Indoor Conference Championship
BOULDER-The University of Colorado indoor track and field teams will head to Lincoln, Neb. to compete in the 12th annual Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1 at the Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska.
The multi-events will kick off the weekend events on Friday and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (CT). The running events will start at 2 p.m. on Friday with the prelims of the women's 60-meter hurdles, while the finals of the event will kick off the running events at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The field events will start at 2:45 p.m. on Friday with men's weight throw and at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday with the women's triple jump.
Last year, the CU men finished eighth, while the women came in 11th. The best finish at the Big 12 Championship for the Buffs was in 1999 when the men claimed second place. The highest the women have ever finished was third in 1997.
The Colorado Buffaloes have five individuals who have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Jeremy Dodson ran the eighth fastest time in the country in the 200 at 21.10. His mark is the third best in the conference. Bradley Harkrader and Chris Pannone have provisional marks in the 5,000-meter run. Harkrader's time of 13:59.19 is the best in the league and ranks 12th in the country. Pannone ran a time of 14:05.91, which is third in the Big 12 and 22nd in the nation. Sara Vaughn ran a time of 4:44.10 in the mile, which is second in the conference and 24th in the country.
Hugh Charles is the lone Buff to own a provisional mark in a field event. His best jump of 25-03.25 is the third best in the conference. It is also the 13th best in the country.
Live stats for the event can be found at http://www.huskers.com/fls/100/trackstats/08Big12Indoor/index.htm.
Following the conference championships, the Buffs will have one more opportunity to qualify for this year's NCAA Championships. Select athletes will travel to a last chance meet March 7, 8 or 9 and those qualifiers will compete at the national championships, March 14-15, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Colorado will be hosting the the Big 12 Track & Field Outdoor Championships from May 16-18 at Potts Field on the CU campus. Tickets are on sale now by visiting www.cubuffs.com or calling 303-49-BUFFS.