Buffs Shine At CU Invitational

BOULDER - The University of Colorado track and field team recorded four first-place finishes on the second day of the CU Invitational on Saturday.

Sophomore Camille Logan came close to setting the Potts Field record for the 1,500-meter run as she placed first with a time of 4 minutes, 25.96 seconds. The record of 4:25.00 was set by Sally Kipyego in 2008 at the Big 12 Championship.  CU went 1-2 in the race as Shalaya Kipp was the second Buff to cross the line, doing so in 4:29.63.

"Camille ran 10 seconds faster than I thought she would," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "She ran a brilliant race. We think of her as a 10,000-meter runner and to run 4:25 here is really hard to comment on since she ran so much faster than we expected."

Several Buffs earned individual titles at the meet. Emily Hanenburg started out the day for CU on the track with a top finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 11:21.32. She finished almost 20 seconds ahead of runner-up and teammate Courtney Bouchet who finished in 11:40.77.

Jessica Pixler won an exciting women's 800 race where CU took the top seven positions. Pixler took the lead from the start of the race and would win in 2:08.23. Liz Tremblay was the second racer to finish, crossing the line in 2:09.23. Laura Thweatt placed third (2:10.63), Emma Coburn was fourth (2:11.55), Katie Cumming placed fifth (2:13.50), Heather Balbier took sixth (2:17.01) and Staci Foster was seventh (2:17.52).

On the men's side, the Buffs showed off some dominance in the 1,500. Richard Medina took top honors in 3:49.73, but it didn't come easy as he had to outkick Mark Husted in the last 100 meters. (Husted finished in 3:49.86.)

"That is an excellent time at this elevation," Wetmore said. "I think Richard ran 3:52 last year so this is very nice progress."

Joe Morris has been leading the Buff sprinters all season and Saturday was no different as he was the top collegiate finisher in the 100 and 200-meter dashes behind former Buff Jeremy Dodson. Morris had an exceptional race in the 100 to start his day, crossing the line in 10.37. That time ties him for 12th on the all-time list and puts him sixth on the all-time performers list at CU. Dodson finished in 10.27. Morris ran a time of 21.35 in the 200 behind Dodson's finish of 21.07.

"That was a great 100," Wetmore said. "That is a real nice step and a nice PR for him. He already ranks pretty high in the country and this will only add to that."

Dane Chobanian led the Buffs in the field events, recording a second-place finish in the discus with a toss of 175-03. Chobanian launched that toss in his first throw of the day and was just seven feet shy of his personal record of 182-03.

Overall it was a good meet for Colorado and Wetmore was pleased with the results.

"There were some very good performances," Wetmore explained. "We got a lot of good things done. The meet ran well and on time. Our officials did great work."

Colorado will compete at a few different meets next weekend, most notably at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. The competition dates are April 14-16.

2011 CU INVITATIONAL

Potts Field (Boulder, Colo.)

TOP THREE PLUS CU FINISHERS (Complete Results are available at CUBuffs.com)

TRACK EVENTS

Women

3000-Meter Steeplechase: 1. Emily Hanenburg, CU, 11:21.32; 2. Courtney Bouchet, CU, 11:40.77; 3. Brooke Hughes, UW, 12:19.38.

4x100 Meter Relay: 1. UNC, 'A', 46.87; 2. CSUP, 'A', 47.02; 3. UW, 'A', 46.98.

100 Meter Dash: 1. Kiera Benson, CSM, 12.03; 2. Chantel Bernabo, UW, 12.54; 2. Natasha Bruins, UNC, 12.54

                CU Finishers: 8. Rachel Opgenorth, 12.90

400 Meter Run: 1. Shilay Willis, CSUP, 54.98; 2. Brooke Regan, CU, 56.09; 3. Shaylee Robinette, UNC, 56.45.

1500 Meter Run: 1. Camille Logan, CU, 4:25.96; 2. Shalaya Kipp, CU, 4:29.63; 3. Cassie Slade, BRC-Adidas, 4:32.10.

                CU Finishers: 5. Laura Tremblay, 4:37.19; 7. Megan Burrell, 4:40.86; 20. Nicole Look, CU, 5:08.04. 

100 Meter Hurdles: 1. Emily Pearson, UNA, 13.67; 2. Kelly Coomes, UNC, 14.05; 3. Wallapa Punsoongneum, Thailand, 14.33.

                CU Finishers:  8. Holly Odneal, 14.96. 11. Genny Mayden, 15.50; 18. Katie Dreher, 16.52.

800 Meter Run: 1. Jessica Pixler, CU, 2:080.23; 2. Elizabeth Tremblay, CU, 2:09.26; 3. Laura Thweatt, CU, 2:10.63

                CU Finishers: 4. Emma Coburn, CU, 2:11.55; 5. Katie Cumming, CU, 2:13.50; 6. Heather Balbier, 2:17.01; 7. Staci Foster, 2:17.52

400 Meter Hurdles: 1. Diana Long, UW, 1:01.06; 2. Mila Andric, BHS, 1:10.43; 3. Joi Windham, CU, 1:02.04

                CU Finishers: 8. Toi Windham, 1:04.19.

200 Meter Dash: 1. Emily Pearson, UNC, 24.88; 2. Blair Gilkes, CSU, 24.94; 3. Kelly Coomes, UNC, 25.29.

                CU Finishers: 4. Brooke Regan, 25.54; 9. Rachel Opgenorth, 26.31; 13. Katie Dreher, 26.81; 16. Jennifer Gruver, 27.25; 17. Genny Mayden, 27.32; 26. Holly Odneal, 28.12; 27. Sydney Davis, 28.15.          

3000 Meter Run: 1. Kristin Johansen, BRC, 1:41.26; 2. Kelly King, CU, 10:58.13; 3. Kaitlin Frier, UCCS, 11:00.98.

                CU Finishers: 7. Jhenya Nahreini, 11:18.68; 22. Becky Popiel, 12:20.14.

4x400 Meter Relay: 1. UNC, 'A', 3:48.78; 2. CU, 'A' (Joi Windham, Rachel Opgenorth, Brooke Regan, Toi Windham), 3:58.40; 3. UNC, 'B', 4:58.68.

                CU Finishes: 8. CU, 'B' (Heather Balbier, Shalaya Kipp, Staci Foster, Katie Cumming), 4:09.70.

Men

3000-Meter Steeplechase: 1. Kenyon Neuman, BRC, 9:20.68; 2. Aric VanHalen, CU, 9:37.62; 3. Nik Deininger, UW, 9:51.76.

4x100 Meter Relay: 1. UW, 'A', 40.86; 2. CSC, 'A', 41.20; 3. UNC, 'A', 42.00.

100 Meter Dash: 1. Jeremy Dodson, UNA, 10.27; 2. Joe Morris, CU, 10.37; 3. Evan Taylor, UNC, 10.59.

                CU Finishers: 12. Adam Salzmann, 11.25; 24. Alex Von Hagen, 11.67; 27. Brock Emory, 11.72.

400 Meter Run: 1. Tyler Hoerner, UNC, 48.08; 2. Derek Fiorini, MSC, 48.28; 3. Blake Reimer, CU, 48.28.

                CU Finishers: 8. Matthew McCathran, 49.49; 16. Blake Berens, 50.31; 24. Eddie Taylor, 50.67.

1500 Meter Run: 1. Richard Medina, CU, 3:49.73; 2. Mark Huster, MHE, 3:49.86; 3. Joe Bosshard, CU, 3:52.24.

                CU Finishers: 4. Matt Tebo, 3:53.32; 12. Jonny Stevens, CU, 4:01.0h; 12. Martin Medina, 4:01.0h; 16. Andy Wacker, 4:05.78.

110 Meter Hurdles: 1. Karl McFarlane, CSC, 14.28; 2. Brandon Douglass, UW, 14.85; 3. Noah Palicia, AFA, 15.36.

                CU Finishers: 8. Brock Emory, 15.54; 14. Alex Von Hagen, 16.78.

800 Meter Run: 1. James Hatch, UNA, 1:52.13; 2. Mack McLain, CSM, 1:53.05; 3. Matthew Biegner, CU, 1:53.42.

                CU Finishers: 4. Steve Kasica, 1:53.43; 19. Evan Johnson, 1:58.22; 21. Geo Tam, 1:58.63

400 Meter Hurdles: 1. Nathanial Garcia, AWC, 52.21; 2. Kyle MacIntosh, CU, 53.52; 3. Tyler Baker, CU, 53.65.

200 Meter Dash: 1. Jeremy Dodson, UNA, 21.07; 2. Joe Morris, CU, 21.35; 3. Evan Taylor, UNC, 21.83.

                CU Finishers: 8. Blake Reimer, 22.82; 17. Blake Berens, 23.38.

3000 Meter Run: 1. Christian Thompson, UNA, 8:45.50; 2. Sean Gildea, CSM, 8:50.77; 3. Tommy Neal, UNA, 8:52.05.

                CU Finishers: 9. Ryan Savercool, 8:59.77; 14. Garrett Ward, 9:10.79.

4x400 Meter Relay: 1. Blue Steel, 3:16.0h; 2. UNC, 3:18.0h; 3. CU, 'A', 3:20.0h.

                CU Finishers: 6. CU, 'C', 3:28.77; 7. CU, 'E', 3:31.90; 8. CU, 'D', 3:32.22; 9. CU, 'D', 3:33.90.

FIELD EVENTS

Women

Long Jump: 1. Natasha Bruins, UNC, 18-08.00; 2. Jazmyn Webster, CSC, 18-02.50; 3. Julia Bayer, CSC, 18-02.50.

Discus Throw: 1. Liz Podominick, RNF, 171-00; 2. Christina Burke, AFA, 147-07; 3. Alyssa Norton, CSC, 147-05.

                CU Finishers: 10. Emily Hunsucker, 120-01.

High Jump: 1. Lindsey Malone, UNA, 5-08.50; 2. Jazmyn Webster, CSC, 5-05.25; 2. Emily Pearson, UNA, 5-05.25

                CU Finishers: 4. Genny Mayden, 5-03.25; 10. Katie Dreher, 5-01.25.

Shot Put: 1. Ashley Hutchinson, UW, 46-01.25; 2. Jenna Sliwinski, UNA, 44-02.75; 3. Teresa Marie Loya, AFA, 44-02.00.

                CU Finishers: 10. Emily Hunsucker, 38-10.25; 15. Adrienne Lettow, 34-05.50; 17. Kajsa Bank, 34-01.25; 19. Kristen Wicks, 33-06.25; 25. Max Van Dyke, 29-07.50.

Pole Vault: 1. Rachel Sunder, CSU, 11-07.75; 1. Morgan Griffin, CSU, 11-07.75; 3. Briana Suppes, CSM, 11-01.75.

Triple Jump: 1. Tori Smith, UNA, 44-00.50; 2. Kassie Gurnell, AFA, 38-03.50; 3. Ashley Fanelli, CSC, 36-09.50.

Men

Shot Put: 1. Joe Riccio, UW, 52-10.00; 2. Ryan Walstrom, WSC, 49-05.50; 3. Alec Pott, UNA, 49-02.25

CU Finishers: 4. Michael Field, 49-00.75; 5. Dane Chobanian, 47-08.00;

6.Alex Kizirian, 45-10.50

Discus Throw: 1. Brian Trainor, UNA, 191-09; 2. Dance Chobanian, CU, 175-03; 3. Joe Plante, UW, 174-08.

                CU Finishers: 10. Trey Mullen, 152-09; 12. Alex Kizirian, 138-04; 27. Niklas Cederstrom, 120-02; 31. Eddie Taylor, 112-02; 33. Adam Slazmann, 111-08.

Long Jump: 1. Lenyn Leonce, UW, 24-00.25; 2. Anthony Cardinale, UCCS, 23-08.25; 3. Stephen Michel, UW, 22-08.50

High Jump: 1. Eric Bauder, UNA, 6-08.00; 2. Jason DeWitt, UNA, 6-06.00; 2. Steven Gomez, UNA, 6-06.00.

CU Finishers: 4. Emory Brock, 6-04.00; 6. Adam Salzmann, 6-02.00; 8.

Alex Von Hagen, 6-00.00; 9. Eddie Taylor, 5-10.00.

Pole Vault: 1. Rory Quiller, HU, 17-00.75; 2. Andrew Zollner, UNA, 16-06.75; 3. Elliott Beski, AFA, 15-07.00

Triple Jump: 1. Samual Gagliano, AFA, 45-11.75; 2. Derek Hammond, UNA, 45-04.50; 3. Jeff Brummer, CSC, 43-07.25.