Barringer Named Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year

IRVING, Texas - The accolades continue to pile up for University of Colorado senior Jenny Barringer as she has been named the Big 12 Indoor Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year for her performance at the conference championship on Saturday.

Barringer recorded a world leading mark in the mile when she ran 4 minutes, 25.91 seconds to capture her first Big 12 Indoor Individual crown. The time is the fastest ever recorded by a collegiate runner, American or foreign. She broke the previous record of 4:28.31 which was set by Vicki Huber in 1988.

            The time also broke the CU record of 4:40.02, which had been held by Sara Vaughn. Barringer finished 14.11 seconds faster than Vaughn's mark.

            Barringer has set three CU records this indoor season in the mile, 3,000-meter run (8:53.88) and the 5,000-meter run (15:01.70). Her 3k time broke a record of 9:07.16 and she became the first Buff to run a sub nine minute 3k. The previous 5k record had been 15:39.25, which Barringer bettered by 37.34 seconds. Both records had been held by Sara (Gorton) Slattery and were set in 2003 at the national championship.                                                             

            The record setting didn't stop there for Barringer. She also recorded a pair of NCAA records in the mile and the 5k. The former 5k record was 15:14.18, while the mile had been 4:28.31. All three of her marks are the fastest run by a collegian this year.          

            The Oviedo, Fla. native is now the third Buffalo to receive this honor. Shayne Wille was awarded the title in the Big 12's inaugural season (1997) and Renee Metivier earned the award in 2005.

"The Big 12 is such a prestigious conference and it's always an honor to receive recognition from them," Barringer said. "Again this enters me into an elite class of people, including alum Renee and Shayne. I couldn't be happier joining them in receiving this honor."

Barringer was named the Big 12 Athlete of the Week twice during the indoor season. She has a chance to add to her record setting indoor season at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship March 13-14 in College, Station, Texas.

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