Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Day 1
Murphy Punches Ticket To Nationals
May 28, 2015 | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas – University of Colorado junior Pierce Murphy punched his ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after placing seventh overall in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday night at the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
Murphy, who finished in 29:45.35, ran a smart race, steadily working his way up the pack to position himself well at the end to capture one of the 12 qualifying spots for nationals in June. The finish was a very close one with the top nine runners crossing the line within two seconds. Oregon's Edward Cheresek won in 29:43.89, while Southern Utah's Nate Jewkes was ninth in 29:45.50.
“Pierce was very careful and methodical,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “We know that 12 get through, so it doesn't make any difference at this meet if you are first or eleventh, so he was just being smart and careful. He did get his shoe clipped off and had to run the last couple miles with one shoe, but he was never in distress.”
The meet was contested in hot and muggy conditions, which could have attributed to junior Ammar Moussa's 19th place finish in the 10k (30:49.03). The temperature hovered around 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 74% for the duration of the meet, even during the final events.
“We don't experience anything like this all year round,” Wetmore said. “Of course many other teams are in the same situation, but it was hard. I think that hit Ammar hard. He was fifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and finished 19th tonight. He was struggling with the weather, but a lot of people were too. There were lots of drop-outs.”
Murphy was the only Buff who advanced to nationals on Thursday, but the Buffs had a great deal of success in the 1,500 earlier in the day, qualifying several for the quarterfinals on Saturday. The women's 1,500 saw senior Sara Sutherland and junior Maddie Alm moving on to Saturday's races. Sutherland won the first heat in 4:27.71, while Alm placed second with a time of 4:28.02. Sutherland and Alm were 1-2 for most of the race before Alm dropped back to sixth. Alm was able to make a big move on the outside with about 200 meter remaining to earn her runner-up finish behind her teammate.
Sophomore Ben Saarel also moved on to the 1,500 quarterfinals on Saturday after finishing fourth in the second heat, clocking in at 3:45.04. Saarel went straight to the lead from the gun and held that spot until the final lap when he dropped to fourth. He was able to hold on and finished strong to automatically advance.
Senior Jake Hurysz also advanced in the 1,500, but he did it on time as he clocked a 3:48.54 mark, which was seventh in the third heat. Hurysz had to wait for the fourth heat to finish to find out his fate as he had the final qualifying time after his heat, but the fourth heat ended up being the slowest as Cristian Soratos (Montana State) picked up the win in 3:49.81 for an automatic qualifying position, securing Hurysz a spot in the quarterfinals.
“All in all the 1,500s looked good,” Wetmore said. “Sara looked good. Maddie looked good. Ben did what he needed to do and Jake snuck through. So we will go home, have a good meal and get a good 36 hours of rest and see if we can get through to the next round.”
Redshirt freshman Zach Perrin was eighth in the third heat of the 1,500, finishing in 3:49.77, and although he did not move on, Wetmore was happy with his performance.
“I'm not terribly disappointed in Zach,” Wetmore said. “He's just a freshman, this was his first time here managing the pressure, conditions and logistics.”
Senior Lindsy Mattson was also in action on the track and recorded a time of 55.04 in the 400, which placed sixth in the fourth heat. She did not advance to the quarterfinals, but she will be back on the track on Saturday as a member of CU's 4x400-meter relay team.
The Buffs also had three women compete in the 10k. Grad student Abby Levene led CU with a 22nd place finish (35:34.39), while redshirt freshman Annie Kelly was 26th (35:59.19). Freshman Mackenzie Caldwell finished 41st in 37:08.33.
In the lone field event for the Buffs on Thursday, junior Abrianna Torres placed 35th in the long jump with a 19-2.50 mark. Torres has already qualified for the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore. next month in the heptathlon.
Friday's events will start at 1 p.m. MT for the Buffs with Alex Kizirian in the men's hammer throw. The first event on the track for CU is the 110-meter hurdles (Jaron Thomas) at 4:30 p.m.
2015 NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mike A Myers Stadium (University of Texas)
Austin, Texas
Track Events
Women's 1,500 (first round): (1. Shelby Houlihan, 4:20.54) 22. Sara Sutherland, 4:27.71; 24. Maddie Alm, 4:28.02
Men's 1,500 (first round): (1. David Elliott, Boise State, 3:44.15) 4. Ben Saarel, 3:45.04; 15. Jake Hurysz, 3:48.54; 20. Zach Perrin, 3:49.77
Women's 400 (first round): (1. Ashley Spencer, Texas, 52.09) 38. Lindsy Mattson, 55.04
Women's 10,000 (semifinals): (1. Hannah Everson, 34:23.52) 22. Abby Levene, 35:34.39; 26. Annie Kelly, 35:59.16; 41. Mackenzie Caldwell, 37:08.33
Men's 10,000 (semifinals): (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 29:43.89) 7. Pierce Murphy, 29:45.35; 19. Ammar Moussa, 30:49.03
Field Events
Women's Long Jump (first round): (1. Jenna Prandini, Oregon, 21-4.75) 35. Abrianna Torres, 19-2.50/5.85
Players Mentioned
