Welch Leads Buffs with Long Jump Victory

BOULDER – The University of Colorado track and field program left the Air Force Academy Friday evening with three names on top of qualifying marks and finals in the 2019 Air Force Invitational.

Valerie Welch was the lone victor in finals during the first day of competition, picking up a win in the women's long jump. The hurdler stole the show with a new personal best of 5.85 meters (19-2.5) to win the competition. She was nearly 10 centimeters ahead of second place's Amiya Anoma of Wichita State.

Welch accomplished the victory after running the fourth-best time in qualifying in the women's hurdles with a time of 8.74. Her teammate Dani Johnson was the fastest in qualifying with a race of 8.52, while Eriana Henderson had the second-fastest mark at 8.65. Kylie Davis rounded out the women's hurdle with the eighth-best time at 9.00.

Henderson also joined Welch in the women's long jump, jumping 5.53m (18-1.75) for fourth place.

The final top mark of the day came in the men's 60-meter dash when Duane McClurkin Jr. ran 6.86. The mark is six-hundredths of a second faster than his previous personal best. McClurkin Jr. will have another round of prelims and finals to continue to push his best time.

Another top time produced came in the men's 200 prelims where Jon Maas ran the second-best time of the day at 21.81 seconds. Maas also has the ninth-best 60 qualifying time at 6.97. The Buffaloes ran a few individuals in the men's 200 with Kendal Smith crossing with the 14^th-best time (22.40), Kellen Monestime was 15^th (22.42) and Nathan Hoy was 29^th (22.93).

Other marks that should move forward into prelims include Kellen Monestime in the men's 60 hurdles (11^th | 8.62), Dani Johnson in the women's 200 (7^th | 25.20) and Sam Crosmer in the 400 (8th | 59.20)

One other field event concluded for Colorado, the men and women's weight throw. The men's weight throw featured Caleb Penner, Tyler Sconce and Brock Knechtel. Penner nearly made finals with the 11^th-best throw at 15.59 meters (51-1.75). Sconce finished 18^th overall with a toss of 13.56 meters (44-6), while Knechtel fouled his three tosses and didn't record a mark.

On the women's side of the throws, Elisa Grandemange threw 16.95 meters (55-7.5) for sixth and a personal best by more than 20 centimeters. Mariah Walker joined her with a toss of 15.47 meters (50-9.25), good for 10^th.

Colorado returns to action tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m.

RESULTS:
Men's 60 Hurdles Qualifying: 1. Brendan Ames (UNAT), 7.83; 11. Kellen Monestime (CU), 8.62
Women's 60 Hurdles Qualifying: 1. Dani Johnson (CU), 8.52; 2. Eriana Henderson (CU), 8.65; 4. Valerie Welch (CU), 8.74; 8. Kylie Davis (CU), 9.00
Men's 60-Meter Dash Qualifying: 1. Duane McClurkin Jr. (CU), 6.86; 9. Jon Maas (CU), 6.97
Men's 200-Meter Dash Prelims: 1. Reece Pontious (AFA), 21.75; 2. Jon Maas (CU) 21.81; 14. Kendal Smith (CU), 22.40; 15. Kellen Monestime (CU) 22.42; 29. Nathan Hoy (CU), 22.93
Men's Weight Throw: 1. Isaiah Evans (WSU), 19.49m (63-11.5); 11. Caleb Penner (CU), 15.59m (51-1.75); 18. Tyler Sconce (CU), 13.56m (44-6)
Women's 200 Prelims: 1. Jessica Ozoude (CSU), 24.36; 7. Dani Johnson (CU), 25.20
Women's 400 Prelims: 1. Lauren Gale (CSU), 55.45; 8. Sam Crosmer (CU), 59.20
Women's Long Jump: 1. Valerie Welch (CU), 5.85m (19-2.5); 4. Eriana Henderson (CU), 5.53m (18-1.75)
Women's Weight Throw: 1. Kelcey Bedard (CSU), 20.78m (68-2.25); 6. Elisa Grandemange (CU), 16.95m (55-7.5); 10. Mariah Walker (CU) 15.47m (50-9.25)

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Players Mentioned

Sam Crosmer

Kylie Davis

Elisa Grandemange

Eriana Henderson

Nathan Hoy

Dani Johnson

Brock Knechtel

Jon Maas

Duane McClurkin Jr.

Kellen Monestime

Caleb Penner

Tyler Sconce

Kendal Smith

Mariah Walker

Valerie Welch