Colorado University Athletics
2016 Track & Field Season Outlook
January 07, 2016 | Track and Field
The 2015-16 University of Colorado track and field season started with a few small meets in December, but things will really kick into high gear in January.
As in the past, CU will host three home meets. The Potts Indoor Invitational (January 15-16) is the only indoor home meet the Buffs will host at Balch Fieldhouse, but they will host a pair of outdoor meets as well at Potts Field, the Jerry Quiller Classic, March 18-19, and the Colorado Invitational, April 8-9.
DISTANCE
Colorado, under the direction of head coach Mark Wetmore and assistant coach Heather Burroughs, is one of the top distance programs in the country. Both teams had an excellent 2015 cross country season, winning the Pac-12 and NCAA Mountain Region Championships, before recording runner-up finishes at NCAAs.
The men's side is loaded with talent and has six cross country All-Americans ready to compete on the track. Fifth-year seniors Ammar Moussa, Pierce Murphy, Morgan Pearson and Connor Winter, as well as junior Ben Saarel and true freshman John Dressel are ready to get back to business after some time off over the winter break.
Murphy recorded a pair of All-American track honors, indoor and out, in 2015. He placed sixth in the indoor 5,000 and went on to take fifth in the outdoor 10k. Pearson has recorded four All-American honors on the track, one first team, two second and one honorable mention. In 2015, he was a first team indoor 3k and a second team indoor 5k performer. During the outdoor campaign, he earned honorable mention status in the 5k. Winter also recorded honorable mention All-America status in 2015 in the steeplechase and was the Pac-12 champion in the event.
Saarel is also a track All-American, earning a pair of honors in 2014. He was third in the indoor 3,000 and 16th in the 1,500 (outdoors). Moussa won the Pac-12 10,000-meter title in 2015, his first conference title. He also placed seventh in the 5k the following day to score 12 points for the Buffs at the Pac-12 meet.
Sophomores Erin Clark and Kaitlyn Benner will take on leadership roles this spring after picking up All-American status last November in cross country. Clark finished 11th at NCAAs, while Benner recorded a 16th place finish. Both have already had success on the track as well, winning individual conference titles in 2015. Benner won the 5k at the MPSF Championship, while Clark was the Pac-12 steeplechase champion.
Graduate student Lucy Cheadle also joins the Buffs. Cheadle was a successful NCAA Division III student-athlete, earning All-American recognition 13 times. She won the 2014 and '15 NCAA steeplechase title and was the 2015 indoor 5k champion. Several other Buffs have contributed to the teams' success in the past and will likely do the same this year, including juniors Melanie Nun and Carrie Verdon.
JUMPS/COMBINED EVENTS
Assistant coach Lindsey Malone is in her ninth year at the helm of the combined events and jumps program and has another great group of athletes this year. The men's side is young. Sophomore Andrew Ghizzone is the top returning combined events athlete, but he is poised to have an outstanding season. Ghizzone ranks sixth on CU's all-time performers list in the heptathlon and is 12th in the decathlon.
In the open jumps, the Buffs have added a trio of high/long jumpers who will look to crack into CU's record books quickly with freshmen Duane McClurkin Jr., DeJour Plunkett-Elliott and Dionne Taylor.
Abrianna Torres is the only senior on the women's side and she will provide a great deal of leadership as she heads into her final season with the Buffs. An honorable mention All-American in the heptathlon, Torres is one of the best combined event athletes, ranking third in the pentathlon and the heptathlon. She is also one of the best in the open long jump, ranking third on CU's all-time list. Other veterans returning to the line-up are junior Mariah Slack and sophomore Michaela Wenning.
Senior Kelsey English returns for her final season after redshirting the 2015 season. She is one of the best high jumpers CU has had, ranking fourth on the outdoor list and sixth indoors. English has scored for the Buffs at the MPSF and Pac-12 meets for CU, and came close to advancing to the NCAA Championship after placing 13th at the 2013 NCAA West Preliminary Championship. Sophomore Rajon O'Quinn is also looking to make a big impact this season.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Assistant coach Burke Bockman is in his first season at the helm of the Buffalo sprinters and hurdlers and there is a lot of talent on both the men's and women's teams. Junior Jaron Thomas has been a solid contributor to the team since his freshman campaign, scoring for the Buffs indoors and outdoors. He is one of the top hurdlers CU has seen and he will continue to perform at an elite level for the Buffs. Junior Austin Mitsch has been coming on strong and is sure to make an impact on the team score this season.
The CU women have a strong group and will be led by senior Eileen Gehring and sophomore Ana Holland, who combine for a pair of CU outdoor records. Holland is the 200-meter record holder (23.54), while Gehring is the 400 record holder (53.23) and is the former 200 record holder (23.80). The duo looks to be a strong 1-2 punch.
THROWS
Casey Malone, a two-time Olympian and two-time U.S. Discus Champion, is at the helm of the Buffs throwers for the 16th season. Over the course of the last few years, his team has made huge strides, qualifying for NCAAs and setting CU records.
Senior Brady Rutt is looking to have a breakout season in his final campaign. He has scored for the Buffs at a conference level, placing fifth in 2012 in the discus (168-4) and has come close several other times. His teammates, sophomore Matthew Denton, junior Paden Gatlin, freshman Austin Swanson and sophomore Grayson Webber will also look to contribute to the team.
The women are led by senior Sophie Hallam-Eames and sophomore Mariah Walker. Both are on the verge of scoring for the Buffs on the conference level. They will be joined by redshirt freshman Elisa Grandemange, freshman Delaney Hall and junior Makenzie Kline.
THE MEET SCHEDULE
A small group of athletes began competing in December before winter break, but the season will start for the entire team at the beginning of January. The Air Force Open is the first meet on the schedule (Jan. 8) before CU hosts the Potts Indoor Invitational Jan. 15-16. The Buffs will stay on the Front Range for most of the indoor season, but there will be a chance to head to Seattle for the Husky Classic (Feb. 12-13). A group of athletes will also compete at the Don Kirby Collegiate Open (Feb. 12-13) in Albuquerque, N.M.
The University of Washington will host the 2016 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Seattle, February 26-27, and the NCAA Indoor Championships will follow March 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala. for those who qualify.
As soon as the indoor season is over, the Buffs will switch gears to the outdoor campaign, hosting the first of its two home meets at Potts Field. CU will host the Jerry Quiller Classic March 18-19, and the second home meet is the Colorado Invitational, slated for April 8-9.
As usual, CU will compete at several meets along the Front Range in Fort Collins, Colo. and at the Air Force Academy. The Buffs won't just compete regionally as many athletes will have the opportunity to compete across the country at Texas Relays, a pair of meets at Stanford and Mt. SAC Relays.
Washington will host the 2016 Pac-12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The combined events portion of the meet will be contested May 7-8, while all other event areas will compete May 14-15. Kansas will host the NCAA West Preliminary Championships, May 26-28. The 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships are June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore. at Hayward Field, which is also the site of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, July 1-10.
