Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Gary Breedlove
Men's Outdoor Track 2017 In Review
December 29, 2017 | Track and Field
BOULDER - Two individual titles and a fourth-place team finish at the Pac-12 championships — best ever by the CU men at the Pac-12 meet — highlighted the Colorado men's outdoor track and field season.
Colorado's Zach Perrin ran to a conference title in the 5K, finishing in 13:58.48. Right behind were Joe Klecker in second, John Dressel in third and Ben Saarel in fifth.
In the men's 800, it was CU junior Nick Harris running to a Pac-12 title in 1:48.77, giving the Buffs their first conference title in the event since Mike Macinko claimed a Big Eight championship in 1989.
But the fourth-place finish wouldn't have been possible without hurdler Jaron Thomas, CU's leading scorer in the meet. Thomas finished fourth in the 110 hurdles, then came back to finish third in the 400 hurdles.
Two weeks later, Mark Wetmore's Colorado men earned four All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Saarel finished eighth in the 1,500 for first-team honors; Klecker was seventh in the 5K for first-team designation and Dressel put his name on the first-team list with an eighth place in the 5K. Perrin rounded out the list with an 11th in the 5K to earn second-team All-America honors.
Also in the outdoor season, football standout Isaiah Oliver moved into fourth on CU's all-time decathlon scoring list with 7,394 points at the Pac-12 meet, finishing fourth in the process. Oliver set four school records in decathlon events.
Men's Outdoor Track Notes
Pac-12 Championships (2 Titles)
"There were lots of exciting things both in-house with the teams and concurrently with the World Championships. Madie Boreman getting second in the steeplechase and the history that we have with that event, it was exciting to see that. Then having Emma Coburn get a World Championship and set the American Record and meet record in London was a neat connection with steeple, especially here. Jenny Simpson, same thing, with that kick to see her finish second in the 1,500 at the World Championships.
Then going back to the season. We had Isaiah Oliver, he stood out, coming off such a great football season and then doing so well in decathlon was exciting, setting school records and finishing fourth int eh Pac-12. Once we got to the NCAAs, the distance guys took over and having John and Joe do well in the 5K, Ben in the 1500, continuing that dominance in the distance events. Personally, it was seeing the connection in the steeplechase between the women."
Colorado's Zach Perrin ran to a conference title in the 5K, finishing in 13:58.48. Right behind were Joe Klecker in second, John Dressel in third and Ben Saarel in fifth.
In the men's 800, it was CU junior Nick Harris running to a Pac-12 title in 1:48.77, giving the Buffs their first conference title in the event since Mike Macinko claimed a Big Eight championship in 1989.
But the fourth-place finish wouldn't have been possible without hurdler Jaron Thomas, CU's leading scorer in the meet. Thomas finished fourth in the 110 hurdles, then came back to finish third in the 400 hurdles.
Two weeks later, Mark Wetmore's Colorado men earned four All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Saarel finished eighth in the 1,500 for first-team honors; Klecker was seventh in the 5K for first-team designation and Dressel put his name on the first-team list with an eighth place in the 5K. Perrin rounded out the list with an 11th in the 5K to earn second-team All-America honors.
Also in the outdoor season, football standout Isaiah Oliver moved into fourth on CU's all-time decathlon scoring list with 7,394 points at the Pac-12 meet, finishing fourth in the process. Oliver set four school records in decathlon events.
Men's Outdoor Track Notes
Pac-12 Championships (2 Titles)
- Finished 4th – highest Pac-12 finish in school history
- Titles
- 5K – Zach Perrin
- 800 Meters – Nick Harris
- Notes: Jaron Thomas was the top-scorer for the men's team. Scoring in both the 110 meter hurdles and the 400 hurdles.
- Finished 59th
- All-America Honors (4)
- Ben Saarel – 1st team, 1,500 meters (finished 8th)
- Joe Klecker – 1st team, 5K (finished 7th)
- John Dressel – 1st team, 5K (finished 8th)
- Zach Perrin – 2nd team, 5K (finished 11th)
- Decathlon
- Isaiah Oliver moved into fourth all-time for CU in the men's decathlon with 7,394 points. The top scores are from Mike Hill (1974)
- Oliver broke four school records
"There were lots of exciting things both in-house with the teams and concurrently with the World Championships. Madie Boreman getting second in the steeplechase and the history that we have with that event, it was exciting to see that. Then having Emma Coburn get a World Championship and set the American Record and meet record in London was a neat connection with steeple, especially here. Jenny Simpson, same thing, with that kick to see her finish second in the 1,500 at the World Championships.
Then going back to the season. We had Isaiah Oliver, he stood out, coming off such a great football season and then doing so well in decathlon was exciting, setting school records and finishing fourth int eh Pac-12. Once we got to the NCAAs, the distance guys took over and having John and Joe do well in the 5K, Ben in the 1500, continuing that dominance in the distance events. Personally, it was seeing the connection in the steeplechase between the women."
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Sprints/Hurdles
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