Buffs Head To NCAA West Preliminaries

BOULDER- The University of Colorado track and field team is set to compete at the 2012 NCAA West Preliminary Championships, May 24-26, in Austin, Texas.

The CU men are sending 12 individuals and the 4x400-meter relay, while the women are sending 13 athletes and their 4x400 relay to the meet at Mike A Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Live results are available at texassports.com on the track and field page.

The Buffs look strong heading into the weekend of action, in particular the women's 5,000-meter run and the men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Jessica Tebo, who recently graduated from CU, owns the top time in the country in the 5k (15:19.43). Shalaya Kipp also has the top NCAA time in the steeplechase at 9:43.09. The men have a contender in the steeplechase with Aric Van Halen. His time of 8:42.79 ranks 12th in the NCAA and is third in the west region.

The Buffs will have more than just distance athletes competing at the meet. Joe Morris, who has led the sprinters all season, will compete in the 100, 200 and 4x400-meter relay. Eileen Gehring, just a freshman, set the CU record in the 400 and will compete in that event as well as the 4x400.

The field events will also be represented in the jumps and throws. Mark Jones, Kelsey English and Alyssa Frank will compete in the high jump. Brittany Lewis will participate in the long jump and Alex Kizirian will throw the hammer.

The weather for the meet will be very hot and humid. Highs are expected in the low 90's with partly cloudy skies. The NCAA Preliminaries are the first step to qualify athletes for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa. There are two championship preliminaries (west and east) this weekend.