Saturday, March 10
College Station, TX
All Day
Colorado
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NCAA Indoor Championships
Jones Finishes Second in Mile at NCAA’s
March 10, 2018 | Track and Field
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Colorado junior Dani Jones finished second in the women's mile here on the final day of the 2018 NCAA indoor Championships Saturday at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
WHAT HAPPENED – Dramatic Finish
Just like the 2017 indoor championships, Dani Jones finished her championship race with a dramatic flair. Jones finished second in the mile to New Hampshire's Elinor Purrier by .06 seconds, which is the closest margin of victory in the women's mile since 1991.
Jones got off to a steady and strong start staying in the top pack. She was in control the whole time, gradually moving up into third place to cruise until she found her moment to make moves. Jones has a strong kick and put it to use in the final lap as the pace quickened. When they reached the final turn, Purrier and Jones were neck-and-neck sprinting to the finish line where Purrier crossed in 4:31.76 while Jones finished in 4:31.82. Jones finished second earning first-team All-America honors.
"I was very very pleased with Dani's race tonight," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "Her preparation has been imperfect since about December, but good enough to get her here and good enough to put her in the hunt. Her natural courage and predatory instincts took over and she very nearly won the race. She out kicked a bunch of very good kickers and fell just a few hundredths short of the title. But coach Burroughs and I are totally thrilled with how she did today."
3,000 METERS
A duo of Buffs competed in the 3,000 meters both earning second-team All-America honors. Ben Saarel raced on the men's side finishing in 10th with an 8:10.05 time. Saarel got off to a solid start staying in the top-eight, but about halfway through he fell back and could not stay with the front pack. Saarel closes out his indoor career with four indoor All-America honors including two in the 3,000 meters.
"It was not the best day for us," Wetmore explained. "Ben wasn't at his best today, but he has been great for us many times before and he will be again hopefully for outdoor season."
Erin Clark was the only Buff who raced on the women's side as Makena Morely just could not race due to illness. Clark placed 13th with a time of 9:21.07 to earn her second All-America honor on the weekend as she also earned first team honors in the 5,000 meters from Friday night.
"Erin was fatigued from last night," Wetmore said. "I know there were other people who doubled from the 5K to the 3K, and everybody responds to that a little bit differently and I know she was leg weary today. Happy with a top-20 finish for the women and will be even better down the road."
Out of 54 teams, the women finished tied for 20th overall with Mississippi State and Auburn with 11 total points.
UP NEXT
The Buffs will set their sights to the outdoor season as they host the Jerry Quiller Classic starting on Friday March 16 at Potts field.
2018 Division I NCAA Indoor Championships
Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium -- College Station, TX | March 9-10, 2018
Women's Mile: (1. Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire, 4:31.76) 2. Dani Jones, 4:31.82
Men's 3,000 Meters: (1. Andy Trouard, Northern Arizona, 8:04.94) 10. Ben Saarel, 8:10.05
Women's 3,000 Meters: (1. Karissa Schweizer, Missouri, 8:53.36) 13. Erin Clark, 9:21.07
WHAT HAPPENED – Dramatic Finish
Just like the 2017 indoor championships, Dani Jones finished her championship race with a dramatic flair. Jones finished second in the mile to New Hampshire's Elinor Purrier by .06 seconds, which is the closest margin of victory in the women's mile since 1991.
Jones got off to a steady and strong start staying in the top pack. She was in control the whole time, gradually moving up into third place to cruise until she found her moment to make moves. Jones has a strong kick and put it to use in the final lap as the pace quickened. When they reached the final turn, Purrier and Jones were neck-and-neck sprinting to the finish line where Purrier crossed in 4:31.76 while Jones finished in 4:31.82. Jones finished second earning first-team All-America honors.
"I was very very pleased with Dani's race tonight," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "Her preparation has been imperfect since about December, but good enough to get her here and good enough to put her in the hunt. Her natural courage and predatory instincts took over and she very nearly won the race. She out kicked a bunch of very good kickers and fell just a few hundredths short of the title. But coach Burroughs and I are totally thrilled with how she did today."
3,000 METERS
A duo of Buffs competed in the 3,000 meters both earning second-team All-America honors. Ben Saarel raced on the men's side finishing in 10th with an 8:10.05 time. Saarel got off to a solid start staying in the top-eight, but about halfway through he fell back and could not stay with the front pack. Saarel closes out his indoor career with four indoor All-America honors including two in the 3,000 meters.
"It was not the best day for us," Wetmore explained. "Ben wasn't at his best today, but he has been great for us many times before and he will be again hopefully for outdoor season."
Erin Clark was the only Buff who raced on the women's side as Makena Morely just could not race due to illness. Clark placed 13th with a time of 9:21.07 to earn her second All-America honor on the weekend as she also earned first team honors in the 5,000 meters from Friday night.
"Erin was fatigued from last night," Wetmore said. "I know there were other people who doubled from the 5K to the 3K, and everybody responds to that a little bit differently and I know she was leg weary today. Happy with a top-20 finish for the women and will be even better down the road."
Out of 54 teams, the women finished tied for 20th overall with Mississippi State and Auburn with 11 total points.
UP NEXT
The Buffs will set their sights to the outdoor season as they host the Jerry Quiller Classic starting on Friday March 16 at Potts field.
2018 Division I NCAA Indoor Championships
Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium -- College Station, TX | March 9-10, 2018
Women's Mile: (1. Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire, 4:31.76) 2. Dani Jones, 4:31.82
Men's 3,000 Meters: (1. Andy Trouard, Northern Arizona, 8:04.94) 10. Ben Saarel, 8:10.05
Women's 3,000 Meters: (1. Karissa Schweizer, Missouri, 8:53.36) 13. Erin Clark, 9:21.07
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and FieldColorado T&F/XC: 2016 HOF Sara Gorton Slattery
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