Colorado Sets Three Top Marks At Stanford
STANFORD – The University of Colorado track and field program had a solid showing at the Stanford Invitational Friday evening, posting three times in the top-10 in CU history.
The top mark of the day went to Abby Nichols in the women's 5,000-meter invitational section, finishing fourth overall in 15:27.11. Nichols was the top-performing collegiate athlete in the heat and her mark is good for fourth in CU history.
After that, a pair of CU transfers entered the record books in Andrew Kent in the men's 5,000 and Charlie Sweeney in the men's 10,000. Kent finished fourth in the men's 5,000 invitational section in 13:28.28, good for fifth in CU history in the event. In the men's 10,000 invitational, Sweeney finished 12th overall in 28:33.39 seconds, also good for fifth in CU history. Both marks are the earliest mark in the top five in CU history.
Colorado's India Johnson and Emily Covert took home the title in the women's 10,000 section two late Friday evening. The two finished in 33:50.67 seconds, separated by just two-thousands of a second with Johnson winning the section. The two women dominated the field by more than 19 seconds.
Two other CU women competed today, Gabrielle Orie and Hannah Miniuttu in the women's 5,000 second section. Orie finished seventh in 16:07.07, while Miniutti finished 10th in 16:08.99.
The men had Stephen Jones open the meet in the steeplechase, running 8:44.16 seconds. He finished eighth overall in the invitational section and was less than a second from a CU top-10 time. Noah Hibbard took to the track next in the 1,500 second section, finishing second in 3:47.95. Jace Aschbrenner also ran for the men, finishing 22nd in the 5,000 second section in 13:59.84.
Closing out the meet at past midnight mountain time, three men ran in the 10,000 second section. Paxton Smith crossed the line in eighth in 28:59.22 seconds, less than 10 seconds from a top-10 time in CU history. Hunter Appleton finished 18th overall in 29:32.85, while Alec Hornecker finished 23rd overall in 29:50.25.
The Buffs sprints, throws, jumps and combined events athletes compete tomorrow at the Front Range Open at the Air Force Academy.
Results:
Men's 3,000 Steeplechase Invitational: 1. Ryan Smeeton (OSU) 8:34.37; 8. Stephen Jones (COLO) 8:44.16
Men's 1,500 Section 2: 1. Billy Hill (RU) 3:46.87; 2. Noah Hibbard (COLO) 3:47.95
Men's 5,000 Section 2: 1. George Kusche (NAU) 13:39.51; 22. Jace Aschbrenner (COLO) 13:59.84
Men's 5,000 Invitational: 1. Ky Robinson (STAN) 13:23.61; 4. Andrew Kent (COLO) 13:28.28
Men's 10,000 Invitational: 1. Mohamed Mohumed (GER) 28:13.83; 12. Charlie Sweeney (COLO) 28:33.39
Men's 10,000 Section 2: 1. Victor Shitsama (OSU) 28:51.86; 8. Paxton Smith (COLO) 28:59.22; 18. Hunter Appleton (COLO) 29:32.85; 23. Alec Hornecker (COLO) 29:50.25
Women's 5,000 Section 2: 1. Samree Dishon (NMU) 15:54.83; 7. Gabrielle Orie (COLO) 16:07.07; 10. Hannah Miniutti (COLO) 16:08.99
Women's 5,000 Invitational: 1. Molly Grabill (UNAT) 15:22.97; 4. Abby Nichols (COLO) 15:27.11
Women's 10,000 Section 2: 1. India Johnson (COLO) 33:50.67; 2. Emily Covert (COLO) 33:50.67