Colorado University Athletics
Rivas and Barringer Race to Athlete of the Week
March 17, 2009 | General, Track and Field, Skiing
BOULDER-- University of Colorado athletes Gabriel Rivas (junior) and Jenny Barringer (senior) were named the Athlete of the Week for the week of March 9-15.
This marks Rivas's first career honor and is the fourth week this season that a member of the Ski team has been awarded this honor. As for Barringer this is her fourth honor of the season as she continues to add on to her school record which now stands at an amazing 18 honors.
Rivas, a St. Jean De Maurienne, France (Universite Savoie) native, blistered the course in a two-run time of 1:36.69, easily defeating New Mexico's Petter Brenna (1:37.50). Rivas led the field after a first run of 47.77, and then posted the second fastest run despite starting in the 30th position to become CU's first male slalom champion since Andy LeRoy in 2000. He led the Buffs to a victory in the men's slalom for just the fourth time since 1983, and for the first time since 2000. The victory was his third in the slalom this winter, having previously won the event in the UAA and CU invitationals, and also earned him first-team All-America honors. He helped CU to an overall second place finish. Rivas also was 18th in the giant slalom at NCAA's.
Barringer, an Oviedo, Fla. (Oviedo) native, captured the 3,000-meter run crown in record time at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship at the Gilliam Track & Field Stadium on Saturday night. Barringer finished the race in a NCAA record 8 minutes, 42.03 seconds, which is the fourth best time run in the world this year. She defeated the 2008 champion Susan Kuijken (Florida State) who finished in 8:56.27. Barringer started to pull away from Kuijken after 2,000 meters and from that point it was clear that the title was Barringer's to lose. Barringer was quickly gaining on the rest of the field and started to lap the end of the pack with less than 150 meters to go. As she entered the bell lap, Barringer started to kick but had to maneuver her way around most of the field. Despite having to run around the entire pack, Barringer kicked to a split of 30.74 second. The time of 8:42.03 was a collegiate, facility, school and NCAA Meet record. The previous collegiate best of 8:48.77 was run by Sally Kipyego on Feb. 7, 2009. Kim Smith had held the meet record at 8:49.18 (set in 2004) and the facility record was 9:09.83; also held by Kipyego (Feb. 28, 2009). Barringer now owns three collegiate indoor records. She ran 4:25.91 in the mile, 8:42.03 in the 3k and 15:01.70 in the 5k. Not to be forgotten is her outdoor steeplechase collegiate best, which also doubles as the American record, at 9:22.26.
Other nominated for this week's award were: Patrick Grady (men's golf), Alexa Turzian (skiing), Abbie Probert (tennis) and Christine Kim (women's golf).
Men's Golf: Patrick Grady, Senior, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Grady led the Buffs to a sixth place finish in the Louisiana Classics with his second third place finish in as many tournaments this spring. He closed with a 66 in the final round on the strength of seven birdies and just a single bogey on the 7,141-yard, par-72 Oakbourne Country Club course, giving him a 5-under 211 score for the tournament, one shot out of the lead. It was the second best round in his collegiate career, and he now has six career top five finishes, tied for the eighth most in school history, with his nine top 10 efforts now tied for 10th most. Grady was the nation's 101st-rated player in the latest rankings, and tied for the lead here this week with 14 birdies.
Skiing: Alexa Turzian, Sophomore, Sun Valley, Idaho.
Turzian finished second in the 15k freestyle at NCAA Championships (seventh in the 5K classic), earned first-team All-America honors.
Tennis: Abbie Probert, Sophomore, London, England.
Probert won a pair of singles matches helping the Colorado tennis team to a pair of 4-3 victories over Oklahoma and No. 73 Oklahoma State. The London, England native won both her No. 3 matches in straight sets defeating Kristina Radan (Oklahoma) 6-2, 6-2 and Maryna Tkachenko (Oklahoma State) 6-1, 6-2. In doubles, Probert teamed with Michala Hedelund Jensen for a 1-1 record over the weekend and helped the Buffaloes clinch the doubles point over the Cowgirls. Probert has won a team-best seven spring matches and has reached the winner's circle five of her last seven singles matches. CU (6-5) has begun the conference season 2-0 for the third straight year.
Women's Golf: Christine Kim, Junior, Pahoa, Hawai'i.
Kim led the Buffs from start to finish at the LSU Classic over the weekend and finished the tournament tied for 25th individually. After starting the final day two-over through eight holes, Kim turned things around and carded three birdies in a four-hole span. Sitting at one-under through 12 holes, Kim followed with another bogey before playing the remaining holes to par and posting her second even-par score of the tournament. Kim's three-round total of 219 proved to be her lowest 54-hole score of her career.
