Pixler Earns Big 12 Athlete of The Week Honor

March 29, 2011 | Track and Field

By: CUBuffs.com

IRVING, Texas - Another day and another award for University of Colorado graduate student Jessica Pixler as she was selected the Big 12 Conference Track & Field Female Athlete of the Week.

Pixler earned the award from the league office after clocking the world-leading time in the 5,000-meter run at the Stanford Invitational on March 25. She breezed to a finish of 15 minutes, 25.58 seconds, the fourth fastest time ever by a Buffalo. Pixler defeated U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines by over seven seconds (15:32.70) and was over 40 seconds faster than the next collegiate finisher, Washington's Megan Goethals, who recorded a time of 16:06.64.

Prior to Pixler's race, the top time in the world was held by Brazil's Simone De Silva at 15:27.69.

Earlier this week Pixler was named one of three female finalists for the NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Program. The winner will be announced at the end of April.