Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Day 3
Historic Season Ends With Title
June 12, 2009 | Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? University of Colorado senior Jenny Barringer capped off a historic career on the track for the Buffaloes as she became the first to win three NCAA titles in the same event over the course of four years.
The Oviedo, Fla. native captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase crown at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship on Friday night at John McDonnell Field at the University of Arkansas in an NCAA and meet record 9 minutes, 25.54 seconds. It is also the fastest time recorded in the world this season. Barringer currently holds the top two times as her mark of 9:26.20 had been first since May 30.
"This was an exciting win,” Barringer said. “I'm happy to have it behind me. It's tough to come in and be a heavy favorite. I just had to keep my mind right and go out there and take care of business. It felt great."
Barringer has been setting records left and right this season; just about every time she set her foot on the track. This time the weather wasn't the best for doing so, but she was able to improve on her collegiate record by .66 seconds.
“It was a warm and humid night, probably a little too much for a major time attempt; plus you come here to win more than to time trial and Jenny had an excellent win,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “She had a couple of opponents with her for 500 meters and continued to open the gap. It was a good solid run.”
The CU ace becomes the first Buff, male or female, to win three titles in the same event and the first female to win four NCAA titles in any sport. Barringer won her first title as a true freshman in 2006 in a then-school record time of 9:53.04. Her second title came in 2008 and she defeated the entire field by 25 seconds.
The track star also joins another very elite club at CU---those who have won four NCAA titles while wearing the black and gold. Barringer is the first female member of the club (three titles in the steeplechase and one in the indoor 3,000-meter run). She joins Adam Goucher, Bill Marolt, Mike Porcarelli and Buddy Werner. Goucher won three of his championships on the track and one in cross country while the other three won their titles in skiing.
Barringer has not lost a collegiate race all season, both indoor and outdoor, and has led the whole time in each of her races. This race was no different; although for the first time this year she actually had competition for the first lap or so.
The race got out to a quick start with Barringer leading the pack. Michigan State's Nicole Bush and Penn State's Bridget Franek tried to hang with Barringer as she shot out, but they were unable to keep pace with her as she slowly but surely pulled away. Barringer looked comfortable and didn't seem to notice the duo behind her.
With three laps remaining she had increased her lead to approximately 40 meters and looked even stronger than before. As she entered the bell lap, Barringer picked up speed and finished the last loop in 1:09. Bush placed second in 9:40.49, almost 15 seconds after Barringer broke the tape.
“It was a great run and has been a great season for her,” Wetmore said.
This is Barringer's fifth career All-American honor on the track (four outdoor and one indoor). She also owns six NCAA records in the mile (4:25.91), indoor 3k (8:42.03), indoor 5k (15:01.70), outdoor 1,500 (3:59.90), outdoor 5k (15:07.64) and the steeplechase (9:25.54). Her steeplechase PR is 9:22.26 which is the American record.
This championship caps off a whirlwind week for Barringer. She placed second at the Prefontaine Classic in the 1,500 and became the third fastest American ever in the event (she was the only collegiate runner in the field). Barringer was also named the winner of the Honda Sports Award for track and field on Wednesday as well as the USTFCCCA Outdoor Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree to add to her list of awards during the 2008-09 season.
The track season will not end there as the USA Track & Field Championships are just around the corner. Barringer will have the option to compete in the 1,500, 5k or the steeplechase since she has ?A' standards in all three. Declarations for the meet are due on June 16. The CU Female Athlete of the Year will continue to compete in the black and gold at the championship as she still has one season of eligibility remaining in cross country.
CU freshman Emma Coburn also ran in the finals of the steeplechase and placed 11th overall. She recorded a time of 10:22.58 in her first NCAA final.
“It was a great year for Emma,” Wetmore said. “We were very proud of her for making the finals. She had a great race the other night to get here and for that we are very proud.”
The USATF Championship runs June 24-28 in Eugene, Ore.
2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship ? Day 3
Fayetteville, Ark. (University of Arkansas)
John McDonnell Field
Track Events (CU Athletes Only):
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase: 1. Jenny Barringer, 9:25.54; 11. Emma Coburn, 10:22.58
MISC. BARRINGER TRACK NOTES:
- Four-time All-American in the steeplechase (five total for track and field)
- Four-time NCAA Champion
- American Record Holder (9:22.26)
- NCAA Championship Meet Record (9:25.54)
- Collegiate Record (9:25.54)
Major 2008-09 Season Honors:
- Honda Sports Award Track & Field Recipient
- CU Female Athlete of the Year
- USTFCCCA Indoor Track Athlete of the Year (indoor, outdoor TBA)
- Big 12 Indoor Athlete of the Year
- Four-time Big 12 Athlete of the Week
- Five-time CU Athlete of the Week
Colorado's Four-Time Individual NCAA Champions (single sport)
JENNY BARRINGER, Track: 2006, 2008, 2009 (3,000-meter steeplechase), 2009 (Indoor 3,000-meter run)
BILL MAROLT, Skiing: 1963 (downhill), 1995 (downhill), 1996 (slalom, alpine combined)
MIKE PORCARELLI, Skiing: 1970 (slalom, alpine combined), 1972 (slalom, alpine combined)
BUDDY WERNER, Skiing: 1961 (slalom, alpine combined); 1963 (downhill, alpine combined)
Colorado's Three-Time Individual NCAA Champions (single sport)
ADAM GOUCHER, Track: 1997, 1998 (indoor 3,000-meter run), 1998 (outdoor 5,000-meter run)
PER KARE JAKOBSEN, Skiing: 1988 (nordic freestyle, nordic relay), 1989 (nordic freestyle)
LUCIE ZIKOVA, Skiing: 2006 (slalom), 2008 (giant slalom, slalom)
KARA GRGAS WHEELER, Cross Country: 2000; Outdoor Track: 2000 (3,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run).
Colorado's Three-Time Individual NCAA Champions (single event)
JENNIFER BARRINGER, OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: 2006, 2008, 2009 (3,000-meter steeplechase)
Colorado's Two-Time Individual NCAA Champions (single event)
GIL CRUTER, OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: 1937, 1938 (high jump)
DIDRIK ELLEFSEN, SKIING: 1974, 1975 (jumping)
ADAM GOUCHER, INDOOR TRACK: 1997, 1998 (3,000-meter run)
AIMEE-NOEL HARTLEY, SKIING: 1999, 2000 (giant slalom)
PER KARE JAKOBSEN, SKIING: 1988, 1989 (nordic freestyle)
DEAN LAHR, WRESTLING: 1963, 1964 (177-pound class)
BILL MAROLT, SKIING: 1963, 1995 (downhill)
CLARK MATIS, SKIING: 1968, 1969 (cross country)
VIDAR NILSGARD, SKIING: 1971, 1973 (jumping)
KRISTEN PETTY, SKIING: 1985, 1987 (cross country)
MIKE PORCARELLI, SKIING: 1970, 1972 (alpine combined)
JOHN SKAJEM, SKIING: 1986, 1987 (slalom)
BUDDY WERNER, SKIING: 1961, 1963 (alpine combined)
LUCIE ZIKOVA, SKIING: 2006, 2008 (slalom)
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