Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Set To Compete At U.S. Olympic Team Trials
June 30, 2016 | Track and Field
BOULDER — Although the 2016 NCAA Track and Field season concluded on June 13, a pair of University of Colorado runner, Erin Clark and Ben Saarel, are gearing up for possibly the biggest competition of their lives, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Clark (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Saarel (1,500) both earned qualifying mark to compete at the trials, July 1-10, in Eugene, Ore. Clark, a two-time Pac-12 Champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, ran her qualification time of 9:48.72 as she won her second straight league title. She was a second team All-American in the steeplechase after placing 16th in the semifinals at NCAAs.
Saarel has not raced in a CU uniform this track season, but he has raced unattached and has done quite well. He ran at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic in May, recording an impressive time of 3:39.67 in the 1,500-meter run. That time beat CU's record (3:39.77) that was set by Alan Culpepper in 1996. A few weeks later at the Portland Track Festival in June, he lowered the 1,500 record by finishing in 3:48.40.
The Buffs also have a decorated group of former athletes competing, including three Olympians: Emma Coburn, Shalaya Kipp and Jenny Simpson. Coburn and Kipp both qualified for the steeplechase at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Coburn won the 2012 Olympic Trials and has won the last two USATF Championship (she did not compete in 2013). She has the fastest time in the field after setting the American Record earlier in June (9:10.76). Kipp placed third at the 2012 trials to earn her spot on the Olympic roster. She has a time of 9:37.09 entering the meet.
Simpson is a two-time Olympian. She ran the steeplechase at the 2008 Games in Beijing, but shifted gears to the 1,500, qualifying for the 2012 London Games in the event. Simpson is the reigning U.S. champion in the 1,500 and has run 3:57.30, the second fastest time in the field.
Several other former Buffs will head to the start at the upcoming trials, including: Emily Hunsucker (hammer throw), Joe Morris (100m), Sara Sutherland (1,500m), Jessica Tebo (5,000m), Laura Thweatt (5,000m, 10,000m), Aric Van Halen (steeplechase) and Sara Vaughn (1,500m).
CU track & field assistant coach Casey Malone is set to compete in his 21st straight national championship, the longest streak known to the USATF. A two-time Olympian (2004, 08) and U.S. Discus Champion (2009, 10), Malone is looking for his third appearance at the Olympics. He has a personal best of 224-08.
Since 1948, the CU track and field program has produced 30 Olympians. Most impressively, the Buffs have earned 17 berths, nine women and eight men, since 2000, in middle and long distance events, more than any other collegiate program. The next closest to CU is Stanford and North Carolina at eight.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio run August 5 through August 21, with track and field taking the main stage August 12-21.
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
*Selected events at the championship will be televised live on NBC and NBC Sports Network.
Clark (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Saarel (1,500) both earned qualifying mark to compete at the trials, July 1-10, in Eugene, Ore. Clark, a two-time Pac-12 Champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, ran her qualification time of 9:48.72 as she won her second straight league title. She was a second team All-American in the steeplechase after placing 16th in the semifinals at NCAAs.
Saarel has not raced in a CU uniform this track season, but he has raced unattached and has done quite well. He ran at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic in May, recording an impressive time of 3:39.67 in the 1,500-meter run. That time beat CU's record (3:39.77) that was set by Alan Culpepper in 1996. A few weeks later at the Portland Track Festival in June, he lowered the 1,500 record by finishing in 3:48.40.
The Buffs also have a decorated group of former athletes competing, including three Olympians: Emma Coburn, Shalaya Kipp and Jenny Simpson. Coburn and Kipp both qualified for the steeplechase at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Coburn won the 2012 Olympic Trials and has won the last two USATF Championship (she did not compete in 2013). She has the fastest time in the field after setting the American Record earlier in June (9:10.76). Kipp placed third at the 2012 trials to earn her spot on the Olympic roster. She has a time of 9:37.09 entering the meet.
Simpson is a two-time Olympian. She ran the steeplechase at the 2008 Games in Beijing, but shifted gears to the 1,500, qualifying for the 2012 London Games in the event. Simpson is the reigning U.S. champion in the 1,500 and has run 3:57.30, the second fastest time in the field.
Several other former Buffs will head to the start at the upcoming trials, including: Emily Hunsucker (hammer throw), Joe Morris (100m), Sara Sutherland (1,500m), Jessica Tebo (5,000m), Laura Thweatt (5,000m, 10,000m), Aric Van Halen (steeplechase) and Sara Vaughn (1,500m).
CU track & field assistant coach Casey Malone is set to compete in his 21st straight national championship, the longest streak known to the USATF. A two-time Olympian (2004, 08) and U.S. Discus Champion (2009, 10), Malone is looking for his third appearance at the Olympics. He has a personal best of 224-08.
Since 1948, the CU track and field program has produced 30 Olympians. Most impressively, the Buffs have earned 17 berths, nine women and eight men, since 2000, in middle and long distance events, more than any other collegiate program. The next closest to CU is Stanford and North Carolina at eight.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio run August 5 through August 21, with track and field taking the main stage August 12-21.
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
| July 2 – times are Pacific | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 11:04 a.m. | 10,000m-Finals | Laura Thweatt | NBC |
| 1:01 p.m. | 100m-First Round | Joe Morris | NBC |
| July 3 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 1:01 p.m. | 100m-Semifinals | Joe Morris | USATF.tv |
| 5:53 p.m. | 100m-Finals | Joe Morris | NBC |
| July 4 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 4:03 p.m. | Steeplechase-First Round | Erin Clark | USATF.tv |
| Steeplechase-First Round | Emma Coburn | USATF.tv | |
| Steeplechase-First Round | Shalaya Kipp | USATF.tv | |
| 4:33 p.m. | Steeplechase-First Round | Aric Van Halen | USATF.tv |
| July 6 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 1 p.m. | Hammer Throw-Qualifying | Emily Hunsucker | N/A |
| 3 p.m. | Hammer Throw-Finals | Emily Hunsucker | N/A |
| July 7 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 4:20 p.m. | 5,000m-First Round | Jessica Tebo | USATF.tv |
| 5,000m-First Round | Laura Thweatt | USATF.tv | |
| 6 p.m. | Discus – Qualifying | Casey Malone | N/A |
| 6:26 p.m. | 1,500m-First Round | Jenny Simpson | NBCSN |
| 1,500m-First Round | Sara Sutherland | NBCSN | |
| 1,500m-First Round | Sara Vaughn | NBCSN | |
| 7:21 p.m. | 1,500m-First Round | Ben Saarel | NBCSN |
| 7:48 p.m. | Steeplechase-Finals | Erin Clark | NBCSN |
| Steeplechase-Finals | Emma Coburn | NBCSN | |
| Steeplechase-Finals | Shalaya Kipp | NBCSN |
| July 8 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 3:30 p.m. | Discus-Finals | Casey Malone | NBCSN |
| 4:12 p.m. | 1,500m-Semifinals | Ben Saarel | NBCSN |
| 5:03 p.m. | 1,500m-Semifinals | Jenny Simpson | NBC |
| 1,500m-Semifinals | Sara Sutherland | NBC | |
| 1,500m-Semifinals | Sara Vaughn | NBC | |
| 5:23 p.m. | Steeplechase-Finals | Aric Van Halen | NBC |
| July 10 | Event | Entry | How To Watch* |
| 4:28 p.m. | 5,000m-Finals | Jessica Tebo | NBC |
| 5,000m-Finals | Laura Thweatt | NBC | |
| 5 p.m. | 1,500m-Finals | Jenny Simpson | NBC |
| 1,500m-Finals | Sara Sutherland | NBC | |
| 1,500m-Finals | Sara Vaughn | NBC | |
| 5:20 p.m. | 1,500m-Finals | Ben Saarel | NBC |
*Selected events at the championship will be televised live on NBC and NBC Sports Network.
- Declarations for each event have to be made 48 hours prior to each event. The size of the field for each event ranges from 18-34.
Players Mentioned
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Distance
/ Track and FieldColorado T&F/XC: 2016 HOF Sara Gorton Slattery
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