Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Pick Up Three Second Team All-American Honors
June 12, 2016 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Colorado finished the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a trio of second team All-Americas.
"Today was another day where we had a little higher aspirations than the results we ended up with," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "But being realistic and being objective, I would have to say it was a decent week overall."
Freshman Dani Jones and senior Maddie Alm placed ninth and 12th, respectively, in the 1,500-meter run, while sophomore Kaitlyn Benner was 12th in the 5,000; all earning their first All-American track honor.
Jones, who is the CU freshman record holder in the event (4:13.44) finished the race in 4:15.86. She started off well, but was unable to keep pace with the leaders, finishing just outside of the top eight by .25 seconds.
"Dani was the only freshman in the finals," Wetmore said. "She got pushed around a bit, which is not uncommon for rookies. It's upsetting and cost her a couple of seconds. She ran a good time, but maybe next time she can be the aggressor and get that second back."
Alm finished the 1,500 race 12th overall, but had an outstanding end to her season and career with the Buffs. She started the year with a PR of 4:18.84 and shaved off over three seconds (4:14.54) during the season. Her 4:20.22 time in the finals was a good showing for the senior in her final race.
"Maddie was brilliant to get to this meet and was brilliant to get to the finals," Wetmore said. "I think we just ran out of brilliance and she was tired.
"What an amazing senior year for her and an amazing way for her to go out here at NCAAs having never been here before and making the finals this year," Wetmore continued. "This was something she will remember forever.
Benner ran a smart and patient 5k race at the end of the meet, working her way up gradually through a tough field. She finished with a time of 16:20.89.
"Kaitlyn had a good performance," Wetmore said. "She ended up 12th, which is better than where she was on the form chart entering the meet."
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
Women's Track Events
1,500-meter run (finals): (1. Marta Freitas, Miss. St., 4:09.53) 9. Dani Jones, 4:15.86; 12. Maddie Alm, 4:20.22
5,000-meter run (finals): (1. Dominque Scott, Arkansas, 15:57.07) 12. Kaitlyn Benner, 16:20.89
