Colorado University Athletics
Five Buffs Punch Ticket To NCAAs
May 28, 2016 | Track and Field
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Colorado qualified five athletes, three women and two men, for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore, June 8-11, in the 10,000-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday at the west preliminary round.
“After a lot of wild weather and delays, delays up to 24 hours, we are finally through the first day,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “We had some mixed results I guess - some expected performances, a disappointment here and there, but finally about the predictable number of qualifiers.”
Action started for the Buffs in the women's 10,000-meter run on Friday morning, which was originally scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday night, but it paid off for Colorado as sophomore Mackenzie Caldwell, punched her ticket to Eugene with an eighth place finish, clocking in at 34:25.58 to earn her first trip to outdoor nationals. It was a huge improvement for Caldwell as she was 41st in the 10k last season at the meet (37:08.33).
Senior Pierce Murphy also advanced to NCAAs in the 10k, finishing second in 29:50.77. Murphy was well positioned in the top 10 around the halfway point and steadily moved up the pack. The pace started to quicken with about 2,000-meters remaining, but he stayed calm and stuck with the leaders as they pulled away from the pack. Murphy moved up to fourth with three laps left and as was second with two laps left where he would stay and finish the race behind Oregon's Edward Cheserek (29:45.41).
“Mackenzie was a pleasant surprise in the women's 10k,” Wetmore said. “We felt she had an outside chance, but she actually looked very controlled. Pierce ran a businesslike race to get through in the men's 10k. I think he even had a gear or two unused.”
Colorado also qualified a trio of athletes in the steeplechase. Sophomore Erin Clark placed third in the second heat of the event to automatically advance to her hometown of Eugene, Ore., finishing in 10:02.92. Clark moved to the front of the pack from the start of the race and was in the top three entering the bell lap. She hung on to finish with one of the three automatic qualifying spots.
Her teammate, sophomore Val Constien, ran in the third section of the steeplechase and also qualified for outdoor nationals, although she had to do so on time. Constien ran a very solid and smart race, working her way up in the pack steadily, and was third with a lap and a half remaining. She dropped back to fourth as the race went down the homestretch, but finished strong (fourth) in the heat in 10:09.89, which was the ninth best time of the day and earned her a spot at NCAAs.
“Erin and Val were perfect in the steeple,” Wetmore said. “Each calm and patient in her respective heat. Erin was probably expected to advance, but Val was another was another happy surprise.”
The men's race was a little more complicated, as a weather delay came in between the second and third heats. Senior Connor Winter recorded a fifth place finish in the second heat (8:51.82) and had the final qualifying spot before the third heat was delayed several hours due to weather.
When the steeplechase was able to resume, sophomore Adam Peterman was able to step onto the track and won a spot to NCAAs with a fourth place finish (8:47.90) in his section, which ended up being ninth overall and pushed Winter down to 14th overall and out of the NCAA picture. Peterman ran a very smart race and with just a few laps, had the lead, but he was not able to hang on for a top three position, but was still able to move on to nationals on time.
“One of the disappointments was Connor,” Wetmore said. “He was great for six laps, but struggled the last 400 meters. He needed a bit of a miracle from the following heat, but didn't get it. He said his legs were just flat. That's probably my fault. But his teammate and event mate Adam was excellent. After a long delay, he ran his second fastest time, kind made a reluctant race happen... so he goes through to Eugene.”
The Buffs had a couple of other narrow misses on Friday. Senior Abrianna Torres cleared 5-9.75, which tied for 11th overall, but with the tiebreaker, knocked her down to 17th overall.
“Abrianna just missed advancing by the narrowest of margins,” Wetmore said. “She jumped the same height as people who advanced, but got knocked out on total misses.”
Another athlete who just missed advancing to NCAAs was freshman Elissa Mann in the 800. Man placed third in her section, finishing in 2:06.97, but ended up 13th overall, just one position from qualifying. Texas' Mary Beth Hamilton took the 12th and final spot in 2:06.89.
“Elissa just barely missed,” Wetmore said. “Just about a tenth of a second. But she had a great freshman year. We are excited about her future.”
The Buffs had several other great performances despite individuals not moving on to NCAAs.
· Senior Ammar Moussa was 22nd in the 10,000, earning a time of 30:13.72.
· Junior Carrie Verdon placed 31st overall in the 10,000 with a mark of 36:01.04.
· Senior Eileen Gehring was 29th in the 400, crossing the finish in 55.26.
· Senior Brady Rutt competed on Thursday in the hammer throw, but the completion of the event was postponed until Friday. He ended up 35th overall with a toss of 191-10.
· Junior Jaron Thomas placed third in his section of the 400-meter hurdles in 52.45, which ended up 25th overall.
· Torres jumped 18-10.75 in the long jump, which at the time of this release was 15th.
The final day of the preliminary round is Saturday.
“We have a big group still trying tomorrow to advance to Eugene,” Wetmore said. “Maybe a few more to advance.”
2016 NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rock Chalk Park (University of Kansas)
Lawrence, Kansas
Track Events
Women's 10,000 (semifinals): (1. Dominque Scott, Ark, 34:20.35) 8. Mackenzie Caldwell, 34:25.58; 31. Carrie Verdon, 36:01.04
Men's 10,000 (semifinals): (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 29:45.41) 2. Pierce Murphy, 29:50.77; 22. Ammar Moussa, 30:13.72
Women's 400 (Quarterfinal): (1. Courtney Okolo, Texas, 51.06) 29. Eileen Gehring, 55.26
Women's 800 (Quarterfinal): (1. Shea Collinsworth, BYU, 2:04.82) 13. Elissa Mann, 2:06.97
Men's 400 hurdles (Quarterfinal): (1. Sean Pille, Neb., 50.72) 25. Jaron Thomas, 52.45
Women's Steeplechase (Quarterfinal): (1. Courtney Frerichs, New Mexico, 9:51.48) 4. Erin Clark, 10:02.92; 9. Val Constien, 10:09.89
Men's Steeplechase (Quarterfinal): (1. Benard Keter, TTU, 8:39.92) 9. Adam Peterman, 8:47.90; 14. Connor Winter, 8:51. 82
Field Events
Men's Hammer (first round): (1. Nick Miller, Okla. St., 252-4) 35. Brady Rutt, 191-10/58.48
Women's High Jump (first round): (1. Chelsie Decoud, Texas St., 5-10.75) 17. Abrianna Torres, 5-9.25
Women's Long Jump (first round): (1. Jahisha Thomas, Iowa, 20-3) Abrianna Torres, 18-10.75/5.76 – placing not yet available
