Jones, Alm Advance To NCAA 1,500 Finals

EUGENE, Ore. – Colorado's women had an excellent start to the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday as both racers in the 1,500-meter run qualified for the finals, which are schedule for Saturday.

Freshman Dani Jones and senior Maddie Alm both ran in the first of two heats in the 1,500, and both recorded impressive personal best times of 4:13.44 and 4:14.54, respectively.

“It was a great day in the 1,500 – beyond our aspirations,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “We got both women through and they ran really fast.”

With a top five finish and a chance to automatically move on to the finals on Saturday on the line, Jones and Alm were quick to move to the front of the pack with Jones third and Alm fourth after the first 300 meters. Jones moved up to second in the following 200 meters, which is where she would stay for the remainder of the race to secure one of the five automatic spots to the finals.

Alm's path to the finals was a little different as she did it on time. She had been fourth earlier in the race, but dropped down to ninth with 250 meters left. Alm wasn't about to give up and down the stretch, she found an extra gear and came back to take seventh in the heat, recording the second of two time qualifiers in the 1,500.

The times also put both Buffs quite high on CU's all-time performers list. Jones, who already has the CU freshman record, improved to sixth on the all-time list, passing her previous PR of 4:15.29, while Alm, who's PR had been 4:17.83, moved to eighth on the all-time list.

Colorado also had a pair of athletes competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, but unfortunately, the result wasn't the same as the 1,500 as neither Erin Clark or Val Constien, both sophomores, moved on to the finals.

Clark ended up eighth in the heat, finishing in 10:12.31, while Constien was 12^th in the heat at 10:41.36.

“The steeplechase, on the other hand, was a disappointment,” Wetmore said. “We were confident we would get Erin through for sure. I don't know what we did wrong, but she was tired and off her game. We will have to go back to work.

“Val was a dark horse anyway,” Wetmore continued. “It was a great year for her and bodes well for next year.”

The final event of the day for CU was the 10,000. Sophomore Mackenzie Caldwell recorded a 21st place finish, clocking in at 34:13.19, her second fastest time this season. Arkansas' Dominique Scott won the race in 32:35.69.

“The race was really rocking the whole way,” Wetmore said. “She was hanging on the best she could. It was a great year getting here (to nationals) and there are big things coming next year.”

NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)

Women's Track Events
1,500-meter run (semis): (1. Dana Giordana, Dartmouth, 4:13.18) 2. Dani Jones, 4:13.44; 7. Maddie Alm, 4:14.54
3,000-meter steeplechase (semis): (1. Ellinor Purrier, New Hampshire, 9:54.91) 16. Erin Clark, 10:12.31; 22. Val Constien, 10:41.36
10,000-meter run (finals): (1. Dominique Scott, Arkansas, 32:35.69) 21. Mackenzie Caldwell, 34:13.19

Remaining NCAA Outdoor Championships Schedule (CU Events Only)

Friday, June 10 (times are Mountain)

8:25 p.m.

M 5,000 Meters (finals)

Morgan Pearson

ESPN

Saturday, June 11 (times are Mountain)