Buffs Off To Good Start at Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT, Calif. - Sophomores Hugh Dowdy and Blake Theroux led the University of Colorado on the first day of the Mt. SAC Relays Thursday, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Dowdy crossed the finish in 8 minutes and 59.9 seconds, just narrowly missing his personal best of 8:56.19 for the fifth-place finish. Theroux, taking sixth place, did record a personal best, clocking in at 9:02.10. His previous best was 9:06.76. Both were racing in the Olympic Development section.

Shalaya Kipp, who was competing unattached, won the elite section of the women's steeplechase in 9:52.82. She defeated the runner-up, Lindsey Anderson, by more than a second and a half as Anderson came in at 9:54.46.

The Buffs had a couple of other steeplechasers running at Mt. SAC. Diana George placed seventh in the Open GÇÿA' section, finishing in 10:41.97 and Jonny Stevens was 15th (9:21.84) in the Open GÇÿB' section.

The open sections of the 1,500 were also run on Thursday and Connor Winter had the best time for the Buffs at 3:46.27 for sixth place overall, fourth in his section. Ammar Moussa took 13th (3:47.01) and Aric Van Halen also had a top-20 finish with a time of 3:47.73 (20th overall). Richard Medina finished his race in 3:53.22 to place 73rd out of 131 athletes competing in the men's open race.

On the women's side, Staci Foster placed 49th overall out of 171 participants in 4:29.31.

This is a busy weekend for the Buffs in California and many more will compete on the second day of the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday, while others will compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. Another group of athletes will be in action at the Beach Invitational on Saturday in Cerritos, Calif.

Mt. SAC Relays

Historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium

Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut, Calif.)

TRACK RESULTS:

(CU Athletes plus top finisher)

Women's 1500 (Open): (1. Amber Henry, Weber State, 4:16.07) 49. Staci Foster, 4:29.31

Men's 1500 (Open): (1. Christopher Antonio Sand, Mexico, 3:44.83) 6. Connor Winter, 3:46.27; 13. Ammar Moussa, 3:47.01; 20. Aric Van Halen, 3:47.85; 73. Richard Medina, 3:53.22

Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Open B): (1. Luis Alberto Gallegos, Mexico, 9:00.95) 15. Jonny Stevens, 9:21.84

Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Open A): (1. Heather Olson, Rice, 10:23.14) 7. Diana George, 10:41.97

Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Olympic Development): (1. Michael Jordan, Southern Indiana, 8:50.49) 5. Hugh Dowdy, 8:59.90; 6. Blake Theroux, 9:02.10