Colorado University Athletics
Gorton Runs to Athlete of the Week
March 16, 2003 | General, Track and Field
Boulder - Junior indoor track athlete Sara Gorton earns Athlete of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks after a record-breaking performance at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark on Friday and Saturday for the week ending on Sunday, March 16. Gorton won a title in the women's 5,000 and finished third in the 3,000-meter runs, setting a new meet, track, Big 12, and school record in the 5,000 meter.
On Friday, Gorton began her championship weekend by recording a time of 15:29.25 in the 5,000-meter run. The unbelievable effort topped her own record of 15:58.86, which was the only sub-16 minute time in the country and was a Big 12, school, and meet record. It was also a Randal Tyson Track Center record. The national title made her the first national champion in track since Jodie Hughes earned a national title in the same event in 2001. Teammate Natalie Florence finished ninth with a time of 16:10.99.
Gorton continued her performance on Saturday as she finished third in the 3,000-meter event, clocking in at 9:07.16. The effort, again, earned Gorton a school record and personal best for the event finishing behind Shalane Flanagan (9:01.05) of North Carolina, and Stanford's Lauren Fleshman (9:01.58)
Others nominated for this week's award were Tera Bjorklund (women's basketball), Kendra Strandemo (women's tennis) and Maciej Dilaj (men's tennis).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Tera Bjorklund, Junior, St. Peter, Minn. Tera Bjorklund averaged 29.0 points in the Big 12 tournament in route to All-tournament honors. She dominated the Buffs' quarterfinals 73-68 victory over Oklahoma on Tuesday with a career high 32 points. Bjorklund's scoring performance tied Nicole Kubik's 2000 (Nebraska) record for points in a Big 12 tournament. She continued her performance in the semi-final against Texas leading the Buffs with 26 points on 13-21 field goal shooting. Bjorklund's outstanding performance helped the Buffs to a fourth place finish and No. 6 seed in the 2003 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship where they will face BYU on Saturday.
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Kendra Strandemo, Sophomore, Encinitas, CA. Kendra Strandemo won in straight sets in her No. 4 singles match this Saturday at the Ranch Country Club, improving her record to 9-1 this spring and keeping a perfect record at No. 4 (6-0). She defeated Kristin Gyaki of Iowa State 6-1, 6-1. Strandemo continued her performance as she and teammate Morgan Sall won 8-6 at No. 2 doubles. The No. 45 Buffs won the match 7-0 against Iowa State improving to 7-3 and 1-2 in conference play.
MEN'S TENNIS: Maciej Dilaj, Senior, Gdansk, Poland Maciej Dilaj earned one of the Buffs' two victories at No. 1 singles this weekend as they fell to Texas in Austin. Dilaj defeated the Longhorns' Jean Simon 6-4, 6-2, giving him his first win of the spring season. Justin Hunter gave the Buffs their second win of the match as he won at No. 2 singles. The Buffaloes (2-10, 0-4) will host Louisiana-Lafayette on Monday at 1 p.m. in Boulder.
