CROSS COUNTRY CHRISTENS '03 WITH TIME TRIAL

August 30, 2003 | Cross Country

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER ? It would be breaking tradition if a freshman didn't win their respective races of Colorado's annual time trial, so in following suit, Buffs Brent Vaughn and Shanna Sparks won the men's 8k and women's 5.8k tests at the Buffalo Ranch on CU's South Campus here this morning.

While Vaughn came across a puddle-stricken finish line in 26 minutes 50 seconds and Sparks in 26:50, it also seems tradition that CU's top runners cross the finish as a collective unit, all within two to three seconds of each other as CU's top seven men came in between 22:50 and 22:52 and CU's women, 22:50-53.

Crossing the finish of the men's race in 26:51 was CU sophomore All-American Billy Nelson, Casey Burchill, Bret Schoolmeester and Payton Batliner, all of who ran unattached. Jared Scott and Jon Severy ran in uniform and closed out CU's top seven in 26:52.

'Our plan was to go out slow, at 5:40/45 the first mile while the second mile was a little faster because it was downhill,' explained Nelson. 'By the third mile we wanted to pinch it down to six of us at a good steady pace. The last loop there were six of us up hill and when we came down, Brent had caught up to us and made up ground the last mile. We surged in and let him take the win, as is tradition.'

Erica Siemers, an unattached open runner who ran the race for fun, was directly behind Sparks in the women's race, tying her for the win on time, 22:50. CU sophomore Christine Bolf finished third (22:51), Villanova transfer Kailen Toedebusch in 22:52 while Natalie Florence, Sara Gorton and Georgia Tech transfer Renee Metivier (the 2001 NCAA runner-up) all crossed the finish in uniform in 22:53. Running unattached, Jackie Zeigle finsiehd eighth (23:39) while Kendall Grgas-Wheeler (23:44) and Katie Kissane (24:17) rounded out the CU effort.

'It was muddy, but then again, this is cross country, ' said two-time All-American Sara Gorton on the rain-drenched course. 'Our goal was to break it to six and keep together. There were 10 of us together and each mile we broke away. This is the best I've felt in a time trial, but I'm not sure if it's because we're fit or that we ran slower so it felt easy. But it's a good indication of how fit our young team is.'

'Our plan this season is to be conservative from August to November, and run hard late,' said CU assistant coach Jay Johnson. 'If they ran slower and felt great, then that's right on line for the whole season. We really went into today wanting it to be an easier race than a year ago.'

The Buffs officially open the season Sept. 13 when CU's developmental teams run at Colorado College. The varsity will be in full form Oct. 4 when they host the 18th annual Rocky Mountain Shootout on the Buffalo Ranch at CU South Campus.

COLORADO OPEN/ALUMNI/TIME TRIAL