Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Impress On Final Day At Don Kirby Invite
February 13, 2016 | Track and Field
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of Colorado women's 4x400-meter relay team set the second fastest time in CU history on Saturday, clocking in at 3:43.66 for seventh overall at the Don Kirby Collegiate Invitational.
The team, which was made up of three sophomores (Ana Holland, Rajon O'Quinn and Alex Peters) and one senior (Eileen Gehring) was just a fraction of a second from CU's record (3:43.52), which was set in 2013.
Individually, Holland led the sprinters, finishing 10th in the semifinals of the 60-meter dash, clocking in at 7.49. Peters also had a good individual performance, finishing 24th in the 400 with a personal record time of 55.53, which put her fifth on CU's all-time performers list. Gehring wasn't far from Peters, placing 28th in 55.87, while freshman Gabby Scott was 40th with a PR of 56.56.
On the men's side, freshman Duane McClurkin Jr. had a great day, becoming the third fastest CU performer in the 400-meter dash. He finished 11th overall in the race, clocking in at 47.78. His finish moved him past Randy Berkheim, who ran 47.83 on Feb. 3, 1996. McClurkin Jr. had a full day as he also competed in the high jump, placing 10th overall with a mark of 6-9.75.
He was also a member of the men's 4x400 relay team with juniors Garrett Losty and Austin Mitsch, and sophomore Andrew Ghizzone. The quartet placed third overall in 3:16.23.
Freshman Alex Billing reached the finals in the 60-meter hurdles after placing eighth in the semi-finals in 8.29. He recorded the same mark in the finals, this time placing sixth.
The Buffs will be back in action next weekend at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Laramie, Wyo. and the Joe Davies Open in Golden, Colo.
2016 DON KIRBY COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL
Albuquerque Convention Center (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Men's Track Events
60-Meter Hurdles Semis: (1. AJ Boully, Utah State, 7.99Q) 8. Alexander Billing, 8.29q
60-Meter Hurdles Finals: (1. AJ Boully, Utah State, 7.98) 6. Alexander Billing, 8.29
400-Meters: (1. Marcus Chambers, Oregon, 46.53) 11. Duane McClurkin Jr., 47.78; 29. Andrew Ghizzone, 49.75; 30. Garrett Losty, 49.80; 32. Trenton Stringari, 49.87
4x400 Relay: (1. Utah State 'A', 3:11.23) 3. Colorado 'A' (Andrew Ghizzone/Garrett Losty/Austin Mitsch/Duane McClurkin Jr.), 3:16.23
Men's Field Events
High Jump: (1. David Smith II, unattached, 7-1.75) 10. Duane McClurkin Jr., 6-9.75; 18. Dionne Taylor Jr., 6-6.00; t19. Mason Chronowski, 6-4.00
Women's Track Events
60-Meter Semis: (1. Hannah Cunliffe, Oregon, 7.28Q) 10. Ana Holland, 7.49
400-Meters: (1. Daye Shon Roberson, Oklahoma, 53.08) 24. Alex Peters, 55.53; 28.Eileen Gehring, 55.87; 40. Gabby Scott, 56.56
4x400 Relay: (1. Oregon 'A', 3:31.96) 7. Colorado 'A' (Alex Peters/Ana Holland/Rajon O'Quinn/Eileen Gehring), 3:43.66
Women's Field Events
Shot Put: (1. Jillian Camarena-William, NYAC-Nike, 59-2.00) 19. Abrianna Torres, 42-10.75
Long Jump: (Jimoh Funmi, Rice, 20-10.75) 13. Abrianna Torres, 18-10.00
