Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Ken Moreland
Saarel, Kiernan, Fan Collect CU Athlete of the Week Honors
May 17, 2018 | General, Track and Field, Women's Golf, Lacrosse
In their final days as Colorado Buffaloes, seniors Ben Saarel (track and field), Darby Kiernan (lacrosse), and Brittany Fan (women's golf) have earned UCHealth CU Athlete of the Week honors after their outstanding performances last week.
Saarel, an engineering physics major from Salk Lake City, Utah, became the Pac-12 5,000-meter champion last Sunday after clocking a 14:11.23. It was Saarel's first Pac-12 Championship win, after finishing fifth in the 5k last spring and earning two top-4 finishes in the 1,500 as a freshman and sophomore. Saarel's outstanding performance in the classroom was also recognized last weekend, as he was named the Pac-12 Men's Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Kiernan, an international affairs major from Ridgewood, New Jersey, recorded a CU single-game record 12 points in the Buffs' first-round win over Jacksonville, the program's first NCAA Tournament win. She scored seven goals, tying her own school record, and added five assists and 11 draw controls. Then in the second round, Kiernan scored two goals and had an assist, in addition to seven draw controls, as CU fell to No. 6 Florida.
Fan, an advertising major from Pearl City, Hawaii, led the women's golf team to its second NCAA Championship berth in school history, shooting a 5-under 211 to finish tied for sixth. Her sixth place finish is the highest in CU history at an NCAA Regional, while she also set school NCAA Regional records for best 54-hole score (211), 36-hole score (141), 18-hole score (66 – first round) and 9-hole score (31 – first round front nine). Already CU's all-time stroke average leader, Fan improved her career mark to 74.24 with a 66-75-70–211 scorecard.
Saarel, an engineering physics major from Salk Lake City, Utah, became the Pac-12 5,000-meter champion last Sunday after clocking a 14:11.23. It was Saarel's first Pac-12 Championship win, after finishing fifth in the 5k last spring and earning two top-4 finishes in the 1,500 as a freshman and sophomore. Saarel's outstanding performance in the classroom was also recognized last weekend, as he was named the Pac-12 Men's Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Kiernan, an international affairs major from Ridgewood, New Jersey, recorded a CU single-game record 12 points in the Buffs' first-round win over Jacksonville, the program's first NCAA Tournament win. She scored seven goals, tying her own school record, and added five assists and 11 draw controls. Then in the second round, Kiernan scored two goals and had an assist, in addition to seven draw controls, as CU fell to No. 6 Florida.
Fan, an advertising major from Pearl City, Hawaii, led the women's golf team to its second NCAA Championship berth in school history, shooting a 5-under 211 to finish tied for sixth. Her sixth place finish is the highest in CU history at an NCAA Regional, while she also set school NCAA Regional records for best 54-hole score (211), 36-hole score (141), 18-hole score (66 – first round) and 9-hole score (31 – first round front nine). Already CU's all-time stroke average leader, Fan improved her career mark to 74.24 with a 66-75-70–211 scorecard.
Players Mentioned
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