Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Day 4
Coburn Earns NCAA Runner-up Finish
June 12, 2010 | Track and Field
Senior Jeremy Dodson was fifth in the men's 200-meter dash and freshman Shalaya Kipp was fifth in the steeplechase. Sophomore Richard Medina took ninth in the 5,000-meter run. All four, along with Joe Bosshard who ran on Thursday (sixth in the 10k) earned All-American status at the meet.
"We had a good final day; about the day we hoped for," Colorado coach Mark Wetmore said.
Coburn and Kipp ran very smart races in the steeplechase, both finishing with personal bests of 9 minutes, 51.86 seconds and 9:59.37, respectively. Coburn ran a personal best by almost five seconds and Kipp by half of a second.
The twosome was near the front of the pack from the start of the race. Penn State's Bridget Franek took a commanding lead on the field, but Coburn was very comfortable and worked her way from fifth to second. By the time the runners entered the final lap, Coburn had a strong hold of the second position and held off Princeton's Ashley Higginson at the finish.
Kipp had been seventh heading into the bell lap and moved up to fifth to earn the highest finish by a freshman in the event this year. This was just the fifth time Kipp has run the steeplechase in her career.
Coburn and Kipp became the second and third Buffaloes to run the steeplechase in less than 10 minutes this season. This is also the first time at nationals that two Buffs have scored in the event, picking up 12 points.
"This was a nice personal best for Emma, coming down five seconds to finish second," Wetmore said. "That was the highest finish we could have fairly hoped for today. Bridget [Franek] is a step ahead of everyone right now. She ran a PR of 9:37 a year ago. So for Emma to come here and run 15 seconds faster than last year and five seconds faster than her best time this year, is a great run for her. We are really pleased with her and she has a very big future ahead of herself.
"Shalaya PR'd by a little bit again too and has run twice under 10 minutes as a freshman," Wetmore went on to say. "It was a great run for her. She is a pleasure to coach and also has a big future. She and Emma will be a factor in the steeple for years to come."
Dodson recorded a time of 20.65 in the 200. He seemed to struggle a bit around the last turn before the homestretch and lost some ground to the leaders. Dodson finished his career at CU by collecting his third All-American honor. He is the school record holder in the indoor 200 (20.88), outdoor 200 (20.37) and ran the anchor leg of the CU record setting 4x100-meter relay (39.47).
This is Dodson's high finish at nationals, indoor or outdoor, as an individual. The 4x100 relay was sixth in 2007. His best individual finish prior to today was 12th at indoor nationals in 2009 (also in the 200).
"His performance was really admirable when you consider where he has been training for the last five months compared to his competitors on the track," Wetmore said. "He is one of the fastest guys in the country. I look forward to his future when he has an opportunity to train with better weather and with a great indoor facility. He will be one of the fastest in the world."
Medina was running in the lead pack of the 5k for the entire race and finished ninth overall, just out of scoring position. His time was 13:55.66 and he did finish with All-American honors from the USTFCCA.
The front pack of about 15 was very tight for most of the race. Medina was running in ninth place as he entered the bell lap, but he was unable to make up any ground and that is where he finished. Northern Arizona's David McNeill won the race in 13:44.81.
"Richard completed the All-American sweep for our individuals," Wetmore said. "He had a great performance today and we are proud of him."
The CU women finished 23rd with 12 points and the men tied for 35th with 10 points. Texas A&M won both the men's and women's team titles. The Aggie women recorded 72 points and the men notched 55.
- colorado track & field -
2010 NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
Men's 200-Meter Dash: (1. Rondel Sorillo, Kentucky, 20.36) 5. Jeremy Dodson, 20.65
Men's 5,000-Meter Run: (1. David McNeill, Northern Arizona, 13:44.81) 9. Richard Medina, 13:55.66
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: (1. Bridget Franek, Penn State, 9:38.86) 2. Emma Coburn, 9:51.86; 5. Shalaya Kipp, 9:59.37
