Colorado University Athletics
Men's Indoor Track 2017 In Review
December 30, 2017 | Track and Field
BOULDER - Two weeks after claiming sixth place at the MPSF conference championships — the best finish by the CU men ever in the MPSF — the Buffs nabbed five All-America honors at the NCAA Championships.
Leading the way for Mark Wetmore's Buffs was sophomore John Dressel, who finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run on the first night of competition, then came back the next day to nab eighth in the 3K, earning first-team All-America honors for both events. Also earning first-team designations were Joe Klecker, who finished fourth in the 3K; and Ben Saarel, who finished eighth in the mile. Saarel also picked up second-team All-America honors with his 15th-place finish in the 3k.
All three also won MPSF championships. Klecker claimed the 5K title, Saarel won the mile and Dressel the 3K.
Other outstanding performances from the Buffs men in the indoor season included Jaron Thomas becoming only the third CU man to break the 8-second barrier in the 60-meter hurdles, joining Lex Butler and Reggie DePass; Isaiah Oliver breaking four school records in heptathlon events; and Andrew Ghizzone putting his name alongside one heptathlon event mark.
Men's Indoor Track Notes
MPSF (3 Titles)
"I went to Seattle with the team both to observe the championships and how we host it. One highlight was to host our meets in the Indoor Practice Facility. We had some great competitions and set some school records right off the bat. That was exciting to see the potential for that to grow in the future. I went to the Pac-12's to see how Washington did it for so many years in the MPSF. It was great to see both the men and women was finishing highest in history between both teams. The men were sixth, the women fifth, it was great to see us score in so many events that we historically haven't.
"The two highlights were the men's and women's sweep of the 5K. Joe Klecker and Erin Clark winning those events as individuals. The distance medley relay, Dani's kick at the end of that race was exciting. That carried forward to the NCAA Championships where Dani won the 3K and then and the DMR team winning the national championship.
"Opening the IPF and seeing our team internally, the ops and game ops people really stepping up and seeing an opportunity to how to host and do it right. The opportunity to host a pretty big indoor meet it out there."
Leading the way for Mark Wetmore's Buffs was sophomore John Dressel, who finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run on the first night of competition, then came back the next day to nab eighth in the 3K, earning first-team All-America honors for both events. Also earning first-team designations were Joe Klecker, who finished fourth in the 3K; and Ben Saarel, who finished eighth in the mile. Saarel also picked up second-team All-America honors with his 15th-place finish in the 3k.
All three also won MPSF championships. Klecker claimed the 5K title, Saarel won the mile and Dressel the 3K.
Other outstanding performances from the Buffs men in the indoor season included Jaron Thomas becoming only the third CU man to break the 8-second barrier in the 60-meter hurdles, joining Lex Butler and Reggie DePass; Isaiah Oliver breaking four school records in heptathlon events; and Andrew Ghizzone putting his name alongside one heptathlon event mark.
Men's Indoor Track Notes
MPSF (3 Titles)
- Finished 6th - highest MPSF finish in school history
- Titles (3)
- 5K - Joe Klecker
- Mile - Ben Saarel
- 3K - John Dressel
- Notes : Jaron Thomas joined Lex Butler and Reggie DePass in CU history with a sub-8 second 60-meter hurdles
- Finished 16th overall
- All-America Honors (5)
- John Dressel – 1st team, 5K (finished 4th); 1st team, 3K (finished 8th)
- Ben Saarel – 1st team, Mile (finished 8th); 2nd team, 3K (finished 15th)
- Joe Klecker – 1st team, 3K (finished 4th)
- Heptathlon: Oliver broke 4 school records, Ghizzone 1
"I went to Seattle with the team both to observe the championships and how we host it. One highlight was to host our meets in the Indoor Practice Facility. We had some great competitions and set some school records right off the bat. That was exciting to see the potential for that to grow in the future. I went to the Pac-12's to see how Washington did it for so many years in the MPSF. It was great to see both the men and women was finishing highest in history between both teams. The men were sixth, the women fifth, it was great to see us score in so many events that we historically haven't.
"The two highlights were the men's and women's sweep of the 5K. Joe Klecker and Erin Clark winning those events as individuals. The distance medley relay, Dani's kick at the end of that race was exciting. That carried forward to the NCAA Championships where Dani won the 3K and then and the DMR team winning the national championship.
"Opening the IPF and seeing our team internally, the ops and game ops people really stepping up and seeing an opportunity to how to host and do it right. The opportunity to host a pretty big indoor meet it out there."
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Combined Events
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and FieldThursday, May 21
Wednesday, April 01
Monday, August 12
Monday, May 13