Tebo, Harkrader Earn All-America Honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? Matt Tebo became the first Buff true freshman since Dathan Ritzenhein to earn All-American honors in the 5,000-meter run at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships here at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

Tebo finished the 25 lap race in 14:14.88 and placed 10^th overall. Tebo worked his way up from the back of the pack to take 10^th. Junior Bradley Harkrader led Tebo for most of the race until Tebo pulled ahead of his teammate in the final 1k of the race. Harkrader recorded a time of 14:15.95. Shadrack Songok of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won the race in 13:51.26. Harkrader also earned All-America status when the teams were releases on Sunday.

“For the men, our goal was to be All-Americans,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “They both have had very hard weeks, running at Big 12s, going to last chance meets last week and then coming here and so I knew that there was a chance they were going to be feeling a little tired. I still think they competed well and achieved our main goal and got the experience for next time.”

Junior Sara Vaughn took eighth in the first preliminary in the women's final and recorded a time of 4:55.12. She placed 17th overall. Vaughn got out to a slow start from the beginning of the race and wasn't able to make up any ground during the eight laps. Vaughn set the CU record last weekend when she ran 4:40.02 at the Alex Wilson Last Chance Meet.

“Sara told me that she isn't feeling well and that she might be coming down with something,” Wetmore said about Vaughn's performance.

Since none of CU's competitors finished in the top eight of their respective events, the Buffs did not record a score in the meet. This is the first time since 1996 that Colorado's men and women have both not scored at this meet.

“We came with three people who had never been here before and I think overall we did alright,” Wetmore said.

The Buffs will get back to the grind as they will kick off the outdoor season with the Potts Invitational on Saturday, March 22 at Potts Field in Boulder. CU will be hosting the 2008 Big 12 Outdoor Big 12 Track & Field Championships on May 16-18.

2008 NCAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

Fayetteville, Ark.

Randal Tyson Track Center

Track Events (CU Athletes Only)

Women's Mile (prelims): 17. Sara Vaughn, 4:55.12

Men's 5,000-Meters (finals): 10. Matt Tebo, 14:14.88; 12. Bradley Harkrader, 14:15.95

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