
Three Buffs Earn All-America Honors at NCAA Outdoor Championships
June 07, 2018 | Track and Field
BOULDER – University of Colorado's track and field team finished their first day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with three women earning All-America honors and one advancing to the finals in her event.
The afternoon began with Valerie Constien running the semifinals in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Constien finished in sixth place with a time of 9:50.98, advancing to Saturday's finals.
"Started the day with Val Constien in the women's steeplechase looking very controlled and running smart, sub-maximal, I hope, race advancing to the finals day after tomorrow," CU head coach Mark Wetmore said.
Elissa Mann ran the women's 800-meter semifinals today, finishing in 17th place with an impressive time of 2:06.73. "Elissa Mann in the 800 got caught in a heat that was tentative and did not advance but had a great year overall," Wetmore said.
Kaitlyn Benner, Erin Clark and Makena Morley represented the Buffs in the 10,000-meter run today. Benner finished in seventh place earning First Team All-America honors. She was followed closely behind by her teammates Clark and Morley who finished in ninth and 11th place respectively.
"We went out at an extremely aggressive pace. Makena and Erin took Coach (Heather) Burroughs and my instructions made the decision to go with that pace and it was a little stiff for them, so they both faded from that lead pack in the second half," Wetmore said. "Kaitlyn Benner ran a little more patiently, came up our top finisher, seventh on the podium; a great All-American run for her."
"Erin and Makena (were a) couple of spots behind what we would've hoped for, but still great races. It was a long hard year - 5k and a 10k at the (Pac-12) conference, 5k and a 10k at the regionals and again here tonight."
Up next for the Buffs is Zach Perrin's race tomorrow in the 5,000-meter run, and then Constien's race in the finals of the women's steeplechase.
"I am proud of all of them and tomorrow we have Zach and then on Saturday, Val in the final and Erin Clark in the 5,000 if we can get her all patched up in time," Wetmore said.
For more information including a schedule of events, start lists and live results, click here. The entire meet will either be streamed live or televised by ESPN. Click here for broadcast information.
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase Semi-Finals: (1. Allie Ostrander, Boise State, 9:45.96); 2. Grayson Murphy, Utah 9:48.57; 3. Charlotte Prouse, New Mexico, 9:49.78; CU Finisher: 6. Val Constien, 9:50.98
Women's 800-meter run: (1. Jazmine Fray, Texas A&M, 2:02.55); 2. Sammy Watson, Texas A&M, 2:02.65; 3. Olivia Baker, Stanford, 2:02.76; CU Finisher: 17. Elissa Mann, 2:06.73
Women's 10,000-meter run: (1. Sharon Lokedi, Kansas, 32:09.20); 2. Dorcas Wasike, Louisville, 32:11.81; 3. Karissa Schweizer, Missouri, 32:14.92; CU Finishers: 7. Kaitlyn Benner, 33:13.38; 9. Erin Clark, 33:20.46; 11. Makena Morley, 33:28.66
The afternoon began with Valerie Constien running the semifinals in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Constien finished in sixth place with a time of 9:50.98, advancing to Saturday's finals.
"Started the day with Val Constien in the women's steeplechase looking very controlled and running smart, sub-maximal, I hope, race advancing to the finals day after tomorrow," CU head coach Mark Wetmore said.
Elissa Mann ran the women's 800-meter semifinals today, finishing in 17th place with an impressive time of 2:06.73. "Elissa Mann in the 800 got caught in a heat that was tentative and did not advance but had a great year overall," Wetmore said.
Kaitlyn Benner, Erin Clark and Makena Morley represented the Buffs in the 10,000-meter run today. Benner finished in seventh place earning First Team All-America honors. She was followed closely behind by her teammates Clark and Morley who finished in ninth and 11th place respectively.
"We went out at an extremely aggressive pace. Makena and Erin took Coach (Heather) Burroughs and my instructions made the decision to go with that pace and it was a little stiff for them, so they both faded from that lead pack in the second half," Wetmore said. "Kaitlyn Benner ran a little more patiently, came up our top finisher, seventh on the podium; a great All-American run for her."
"Erin and Makena (were a) couple of spots behind what we would've hoped for, but still great races. It was a long hard year - 5k and a 10k at the (Pac-12) conference, 5k and a 10k at the regionals and again here tonight."
Up next for the Buffs is Zach Perrin's race tomorrow in the 5,000-meter run, and then Constien's race in the finals of the women's steeplechase.
"I am proud of all of them and tomorrow we have Zach and then on Saturday, Val in the final and Erin Clark in the 5,000 if we can get her all patched up in time," Wetmore said.
For more information including a schedule of events, start lists and live results, click here. The entire meet will either be streamed live or televised by ESPN. Click here for broadcast information.
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase Semi-Finals: (1. Allie Ostrander, Boise State, 9:45.96); 2. Grayson Murphy, Utah 9:48.57; 3. Charlotte Prouse, New Mexico, 9:49.78; CU Finisher: 6. Val Constien, 9:50.98
Women's 800-meter run: (1. Jazmine Fray, Texas A&M, 2:02.55); 2. Sammy Watson, Texas A&M, 2:02.65; 3. Olivia Baker, Stanford, 2:02.76; CU Finisher: 17. Elissa Mann, 2:06.73
Women's 10,000-meter run: (1. Sharon Lokedi, Kansas, 32:09.20); 2. Dorcas Wasike, Louisville, 32:11.81; 3. Karissa Schweizer, Missouri, 32:14.92; CU Finishers: 7. Kaitlyn Benner, 33:13.38; 9. Erin Clark, 33:20.46; 11. Makena Morley, 33:28.66
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