Colorado University Athletics
Friday, March 10
College Station, Texas
All Day
Colorado
vs
NCAA Indoor Championships
The women's DMR relay won the 2017 National Championship title
DMR Relay Wins National Title
March 10, 2017 | Track and Field
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — The University of Colorado women's DMR relay won their first National Championship title in dramatic fashion here Friday night at the Gilliam Indoor Stadium at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships.
WHAT HAPPENED
WOMEN'S DMR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Dani Jones was on fire in the final 1600 meter leg of the DMR relay as she started off her final leg of the race around 10th place and grinded and pushed her way into third. In the last 200 meters, Jones sprinted from third place past both Pac-12 foes Oregon and Stanford to cross the finish line .02 seconds ahead of the Stanford team to finish with a time of 11:00.34.
The relay kicked off with with Tabor Scholl running 1,200 meters. Scholl stayed in the middle of the field but got pushed back a little bit by other teams right before she passed the baton to Elissa Mann for her 400 meter run. Sage Hurta ran a strong 800 meters holding steady before handing off the final leg to Dani Jones who closed it out the relay with an incredible finish.
NOTEABLE
-This is the first DMR relay to advance to the NCAA Championships in head coach Mark Wetmore's time at CU. More than 25 years
- The team of Scholl, Mann, Hurta and Jones broke the CU DMR relay school record previously set in 2011
5,000 METERS
John Dressel earned his first All-America honor placing 4th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:47.84. Dressel ran a very smart race staying in the middle of the field until he needed to break out and finish in the top eight and earn team points and collect his All-American honor. Freshman Makena Morley, who only learned she was competing at the Championships on Tuesday because of a scratch in te 5,000, had a solid race. Morley ran a steady and solid race despite improper training as she clocked a 16:12.39. Her time is only one second off her personal best time from the Husky Classic.
MILE
Ben Saarel put together a stellar performance in the men's mile putting up a PR time of 4:00.39 to advance to the finals heat. Oregon's Edward Cheserek is heading into tomorrow's finals event in the top slot clocking a sub four minute mile at 3:59.30. Saarel currently sits in sixth place and will look to move up on Saturday. Teammate Zach Perrin also competed in the mile finishing in 15th place with a time of 4:03.48.
QUOTABLE (Head Coach Mark Wetmore)
On the DMR Relay
The DMR relay for the women. Well, we honestly hoped to bring them here, and maybe finish in the top eight and earn a point or two and get some some All-American honors for some young folks. But, every women ran what we were hoping for or a little better. The first three kept Dani close enough to the lead of the race that she could do what she does best, which is run smart and patient. Just made contact with the lead pack with about only three laps to go. And then she gunned them down one by one. Coming off the turn it was three Pac-12 schools with Dani in third but she found another gear. Big win for us.
On the Men's Mile
We started out with Ben advancing to the mile final tomorrow. He looked really strong, and smart. He survived a small stumble with about two laps to go but gathered himself up again to advance. Zach was doing fine until a lap to go where he got a little tired and faded towards the end and unfortunately did not advance, but had a good season.
On the 5,000 meters
Makenna Morley who was added to the 5,000 field just on Tuesday after some pretty hard training after not expecting to be here. She came here, beat a couple of people and finished higher than 16th and ran about her second fastest time. Given the circumstances it was still a decent race for her as just a Freshman.
John Dressel looked beautiful in the 5,000. He was very patient, smart moving up through the traffic. It was slow early. I didn't see it but after the race, he was covered in blood from all the spike wounds of a close race like that. Fourth overall as a sophomore is excellent he has a big future ahead of him. He earned nice points for the team.
2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
College Station, Texas
Men's Mile: (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 3:59.30) 6. Ben Saarel, 4:00.39; 15. Zach Perrin, 4:03.48
Women's 5,000 Meters: (1. Karissa Schweizer, 15:19.14) 14. Makena Morley, 16:12.39
Men's 5,000 Meters: (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 13:41.20) 4. John Dressel, 13:47.84
Women's DMR Relay: (1. COLORADO, Scholl/Mann/Hurta/Jones, 13:47.84)
WHAT HAPPENED
WOMEN'S DMR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Dani Jones was on fire in the final 1600 meter leg of the DMR relay as she started off her final leg of the race around 10th place and grinded and pushed her way into third. In the last 200 meters, Jones sprinted from third place past both Pac-12 foes Oregon and Stanford to cross the finish line .02 seconds ahead of the Stanford team to finish with a time of 11:00.34.
The relay kicked off with with Tabor Scholl running 1,200 meters. Scholl stayed in the middle of the field but got pushed back a little bit by other teams right before she passed the baton to Elissa Mann for her 400 meter run. Sage Hurta ran a strong 800 meters holding steady before handing off the final leg to Dani Jones who closed it out the relay with an incredible finish.
NOTEABLE
-This is the first DMR relay to advance to the NCAA Championships in head coach Mark Wetmore's time at CU. More than 25 years
- The team of Scholl, Mann, Hurta and Jones broke the CU DMR relay school record previously set in 2011
5,000 METERS
John Dressel earned his first All-America honor placing 4th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:47.84. Dressel ran a very smart race staying in the middle of the field until he needed to break out and finish in the top eight and earn team points and collect his All-American honor. Freshman Makena Morley, who only learned she was competing at the Championships on Tuesday because of a scratch in te 5,000, had a solid race. Morley ran a steady and solid race despite improper training as she clocked a 16:12.39. Her time is only one second off her personal best time from the Husky Classic.
MILE
Ben Saarel put together a stellar performance in the men's mile putting up a PR time of 4:00.39 to advance to the finals heat. Oregon's Edward Cheserek is heading into tomorrow's finals event in the top slot clocking a sub four minute mile at 3:59.30. Saarel currently sits in sixth place and will look to move up on Saturday. Teammate Zach Perrin also competed in the mile finishing in 15th place with a time of 4:03.48.
QUOTABLE (Head Coach Mark Wetmore)
On the DMR Relay
The DMR relay for the women. Well, we honestly hoped to bring them here, and maybe finish in the top eight and earn a point or two and get some some All-American honors for some young folks. But, every women ran what we were hoping for or a little better. The first three kept Dani close enough to the lead of the race that she could do what she does best, which is run smart and patient. Just made contact with the lead pack with about only three laps to go. And then she gunned them down one by one. Coming off the turn it was three Pac-12 schools with Dani in third but she found another gear. Big win for us.
On the Men's Mile
We started out with Ben advancing to the mile final tomorrow. He looked really strong, and smart. He survived a small stumble with about two laps to go but gathered himself up again to advance. Zach was doing fine until a lap to go where he got a little tired and faded towards the end and unfortunately did not advance, but had a good season.
On the 5,000 meters
Makenna Morley who was added to the 5,000 field just on Tuesday after some pretty hard training after not expecting to be here. She came here, beat a couple of people and finished higher than 16th and ran about her second fastest time. Given the circumstances it was still a decent race for her as just a Freshman.
John Dressel looked beautiful in the 5,000. He was very patient, smart moving up through the traffic. It was slow early. I didn't see it but after the race, he was covered in blood from all the spike wounds of a close race like that. Fourth overall as a sophomore is excellent he has a big future ahead of him. He earned nice points for the team.
2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
College Station, Texas
Men's Mile: (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 3:59.30) 6. Ben Saarel, 4:00.39; 15. Zach Perrin, 4:03.48
Women's 5,000 Meters: (1. Karissa Schweizer, 15:19.14) 14. Makena Morley, 16:12.39
Men's 5,000 Meters: (1. Edward Cheserek, Oregon, 13:41.20) 4. John Dressel, 13:47.84
Women's DMR Relay: (1. COLORADO, Scholl/Mann/Hurta/Jones, 13:47.84)
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