Weather Causes Delays at Season Opening Wyoming Invite; Only Women Compete
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The 2021 NCAA season was set to begin for the University of Colorado men's and women's cross country teams on Friday evening at the Wyoming Invitational but mother nature had ideas in mind, causing a couple of delays with heavy rain and lightning.
The women's 5-kilometer run at Little America Golf Course, which was pushed back 30 minutes from the original start time, was completed. But the men did not have a chance to run their 5k as heavy rain after the women's race forced their race to be pushed back again, and after a lightning delay, the race was postponed.
Race officials rescheduled the men's race for Saturday at 7:30 a.m. but CU would be unable to make the trip again, meaning the men would have to wait to open their season until the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla., on September 18.
WOMEN'S RACE
As a race, the Wyoming Invitational was successful for the CU women, who are ranked eighth in the USTFCCCA preseason poll. Running a mixture of athletes in uniform and unattached, the Buffaloes took second (34) in the team standings, just two points behind Colorado State (32). Colorado placed six total runners in the top 10 and of those six, four were in uniform.
Emily Covert led CU, finishing second overall in 17 minutes, 17.8 seconds. She was less than half a second behind Colorado State's Claudia Burgess (17:17.4) who took home the individual crown and was a split second in front of another CSU harrier, Lauren Offerman, who placed third (17:17.9).
India Johnson raced unattached for CU but recorded a strong performance as she placed fourth overall in 17:19.2. The Michigan State transfer was a little over a second off the lead pack of three.
The Buffaloes also recorded the sixth, seventh and eighth positions. Madie Boreman led that trio, finishing sixth in 17:28.1. Annie Hill was seventh (17:30.5) and Rachel McArthur placed eighth (17:31.1). Another unattached Buffalo, Hannah Miniutti, finished just behind the group in ninth (17:36.8).
Colorado had another two uniformed harriers finish in the top 20 as Kaitlyn Barthell was 11th (17:42.5) and Elizabeth Constien placed 17th (17:55.9). The Buffs' other runner in uniform at the meet was Anna Shults, who recorded a 33rd place finish (18:35.4).
There were several additional unattached Buffaloes racing Friday evening. Elliot Pribramsky finished 30th (18:32.6) while Whitney Valenti was 38th (18:58.8), leading a pack of three more Buffs across the finish as Bella Longo was 39th (19:07.0), Camille Jackson was 40th (19:08.0) and another new transfer, Elle Orie, was 41st (19:09.0). Karina Andersen was the final unattached runner for CU, crossing the finish 57th (19:53.1).
WYOMING INVITATIONAL
Little America Golf Course (Cheyenne, Wyo.)
5-Kilometer Collegiate Race Results
Women's Team: 1. Colorado State 32; 2. Colorado 34; 3. Unattached-Colorado 106; 4. Colorado Mines 115; 5. Wyoming 146; 6. Unattached-Wyoming 154; 7. Western Colorado 199; 8. Unattached-Western Colorado 220; 9. Northern Colorado 245.
Women's Individual (CU Only): (1. Claudia Burgess, CSU, 17:17.4); 2. Emily Covert, 17:17.8; 6. Madie Boreman, 17:28.1; 7. Annie Hill, 17:30.5; 8. Rachel McArthur, 17:31.1; 11. Kaitlyn Barthell, 17:42.3; 17. Elizabeth Constien, 17:55.9; 33. Anna Shults, 18:35.4.
Unattached CU Runners:
4. India Johnson, 17:19.2; 9. Hannah Miniutti, 17:36.8; 30. Elliot Pribramsky, 18:32.6; 38. Whitney Valenti, 18:58.8; 39. Bella Longo, 19:07.0; 40. Camille Jackson, 19:08.0; 41. Elle Orie, 19:09.0; 57. Karina Andersen, 19:53.1.