Colorado University Athletics
Coburn, Pletcher Awarded CU Athlete of the Week
February 15, 2011 | General, Track and Field, Skiing
Coburn, originally from Crested Butte, Colo. (Crested Butte), earned this award after racing the second-fastest time in CU's history this past Saturday at the Flotrack Husky Classic. Coburn finished the mile run in 4 minutes, 37.44 seconds, becoming the second Buff to finish the event in less than 4:40. Prior to Saturday's race, Coburn's personal best had been 4:42.56. Former CU standout and Olympian Jenny Barringer owns the record of 4:25.91 which was set in 2009. Despite finishing sixth overall, Coburn barely missed hitting the NCAA automatic qualifying time in the mile (4:37.00) by less than half a second. The five-foot-eight junior ranks sixth overall in the NCAA and is the top Big 12 performer to date in the event.
Pletcher, a native of Sun Valley, Idaho (Wood River), received this honor after winning his first collegiate race in Aspen at the 2011 Denver Invitational this past weekend. The junior topped the field in the 10K classical race on Saturday and then was the Buffs' top performer in the 21K freestyle race the following day, taking home sixth place in the longest race of the season. In addition to this being his first collegiate victory, it was his third ca reer podium appearance. Pletcher pushed himself into the Top 5 on the ever important RMISA NCAA qualification lists and is in line to earn first-team All-RMISA this season. With the Buffs without Vegard Kjoelhamar, Pletcher's performances were key in the Buffs' come-from-behind team victory at the DU Invitational.
Also nominated for this week's award: Joanne Reid (women's skiing), Alec Burks (men's basketball), Joe Bosshard (track and field), Abbie Probert (women's tennis).
Women's Skiing: Joanne Reid, So., Palo Alto, Calif.
Reid had her best weekend as a collegiate racer in Aspen at the 2011 Denver Invitational. The sophomore recorded her first collegiate win in the 5K classical race and became the first Buff to win a collegiate Nordic race in this season's eight races, as she won with a time of 15:35.3.
Men's Basketball: Alec Burks, So., Grandview, Mo.
Burks averaged 16 points and 7.5 rebounds in the Buffaloes 1-1 week in Big 12 Conference play. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 24 points and five rebounds in CU's 73-70 home overtime loss to Texas A&M. It was his 15th game this season with over 20 points, which successfully pushed him over the 1,000-point mark, making him the 27th player in CU's history to accomplish this feat.
Joe Bosshard, So., Crested Butte, Colo.
Bosshard placed ninth overall at the Flotrack Husky Classic on Friday night after finishing his debut 5,000-meter run in 13 minutes, 49.59 seconds. His time placed him as the seventh-fastest performer in the event at CU and was the ninth-fastest mark in school history. His mark is the 13th best in the NCAA this season and ranks fourth among the Big 12.
Women's Tennis: Abbie Probert, Sr., London, England
Senior Abbie Probert won both her singles and doubles matches in Colorado's 7-0 victory over Metro State on Sunday evening. Probert defeated Alicia Holm, 6-0, 6-1 at the No.1 singles slot. She then teamed up with Michala Hedelund Jensen at No. 1 doubles for an 8-1 victory. This was Probert's 58th career doubles win and her 39th career singles win.
