Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Cardinal Invitational
Vaughn Shatters CU 5k Record
May 04, 2008 | Track and Field
Vaughn, along with several members of the CU distance squad competed at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational.
Vaughn ran a mark of 13 minutes and 18.46 seconds to surpass Jorge Torres' previous record of 13:24.56, set on May 3, 2003, also at Stanford. The
The mark is the fastest time by a collegian this season and should put Vaughn in a good position for the U.S. Olympic Trials this June and July as it moves him up from a 13:30.12 mark, his previous personal best that he ran in 2007. Both times are U.S. Olympic Trials ?A' standards.
The time also qualifies Vaughn for the regional championship May 30-31 in
The previous top collegiate 5k mark was 13:29.12, set by Jacob Korir of
Vaughn started the quick-paced race in the front of the pack and was the top collegian as he was in fifth with seven laps remaining. Vaughn was one of two college runners to compete for the top five spots with four Nike athletes. Only five of the 24 harriers in the elite section were collegians.
Vaughn fell back a spot to sixth, but made a big move with a little more than two laps remaining. He picked off the fourth and fifth place harriers and continued the quick pace of the leader, Bernard Lagat (Nike).
Vaughn hung on with Lagat, who is the world champion in the 5k, and picked off Boaz Cheboiywo, who was in second, with about 100 meters left. Lagat won the race in 13:16.29 with Vaughn just a little more than two second behind.
Senior Billy Nelson placed eighth in the top section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The section was quick as some of the top steeplechasers came to compete. Nelson made a move in the halfway point of the second lap from the middle of the pack to second but was unable to hold on and fell to the back of the pack. Nelson moved back up and started to pick off other racers with one lap to go but was only able to move up to eighth.
Senior Pete Janson placed second in the second section of the steeplechase with a personal record of 8:43.28. He started off the race in the top four and moved back to sixth with two laps remaining. Janson moved up to third with one lap remaining and used a strong kick in the final 200 meters to finish second.
Freshman Christian Thompson placed 16th in the same section as Janson and recorded a personal best and regional mark of 9:06.68; just under the regional mark of 9:07.00.
Senior Chris Pannone ran a personal best and a regional qualifying mark of 14:00.51in the second section of the 5k. Pannone placed ninth in the race. Junior Bradley Harkrader ran a time of 14:33.60 in the same section and took 21st.
Senior Stephen Pifer had a disappointing race in one of the two top sections of the 1,500-meter run. He placed 12th overall with a time of 3:43.90. Pifer started off in the back of the pack for the first lap. He moved up to the middle by the end of the second lap, but was unable to hold on and fell to 12th.
Junior Kenyon Neuman placed second in the third section of the 1,500-meter run. He crossed the finish in 3:45.23. Senior Rob Thayer was fourth in the fourth section of the 1500. He recorded a mark of 3:49.82.
Junior Sara Vaughn finished ninth in the second section on the women's side. She earned a season best time of 4:29.92 which was 2.12 seconds off the regional qualifying time. Freshman Allison Eckert placed fourth in the fourth section of the 1500. She earned a time of 4:34.57, which was a personal record.
A live feed was provided on the internet by www.flotrack.org. Flotrack will also post the complete races and interviews on their website.
The Buffs will have next weekend off before hosting the 2008 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Potts Field on May 16-18. For more information on the championship, go to www.CUBuffs.com.
PAYTON JORDAN CARDINAL INVITATIONAL
Track Events (CU Athletes Only)
Women's 1500m (Section 4): 4. Allison Eckert, 4:34.57
Women's 1500m (Section 2): 10. Sara Vaughn, 4:29.92
Men's 1500m (Section 4): 4. Rob Thayer, 3:49.82
Men's 1500m (Section 3): 2. Kenyon Neuman, 3:45.23 rq
Men's 1500m (Section 1B): 12. Stephen Pifer, 3:43.90 rq
Men's 3000m steeplechase (Section 2): 2. Pete Janson, 8:43.28 rq; 16. Christian Thompson, 9:06.68 rq
Men's 3000m steeplechase (Section 1): 8. Billy Nelson, 8:36.44 rq
Men's 5000m (Section 1): 2. Brent Vaughn, 13:18.46 rq/sr
Men's 5000m (Section 2): 9. Chris Pannone, 14:00.51 rq; 21. Bradley Harkrader, 14:33.60
-
Players Mentioned
