Colorado Opens 2020 Track Season

BOULDER – The University of Colorado track and field program begins the 2020 indoor track and field season this weekend when members of the jumps, sprints, combined events and throws compete at meets at Colorado School of Mines Thursday and Friday as well as the Air Force Holiday Open Friday.

This weekend will see the debut of 10 Buffs including Tamia Badal in the 60 hurdles, Ryan Charles in high jump and Avery McMullen in the pentathlon. On the throwers side, Lars Atkinson, Henry Carlson and Clayton Castro will all make their indoor debuts after redshirting last year. They will be joined by four true freshmen on the women's side in Elena Opp, Jane Powers, Gya'ni Sami and Lauren Whyrick at the Air Force Holiday Open. Tyler Sconce will be the only non-freshman competing for the throws.

The hurdle squad will also feature Val Welch, Dani Johnson and Kellen Monestime. Welch and Johnson are coming off of NCAA performances in the 4x400 as well as Preliminaries in the 400 hurdles. Jeremy Cody placed third in the USA U20 Championships this summer in the high jump and will debut his season as the Mines meet alongside Kylee Harr. Both sophomores are 10th in school history in the event. They will also be joined by Giancarlo Narvarte in the high jump while Cheyenne Cheshier competes in the triple jump.

First on the track will be Davis Butte and Wyatt Rhoads in the heptathlon alongside McMullen's debut in the pentathlon.

This will mark the first meet of the season and a test before the winter break. Colorado will host the 2020 Potts Invitational on Jan. 10th and 11th, this year open to more than just the local Division I teams. The Colorado Invitational Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 will feature stricter competition with event standards appropriate to that of top-75 on the NCAA descending list last season.

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Players Mentioned

Lars Atkinson

Tamia Badal

Davis Butte

Henry Carlson

Clayton Castro

Ryan Charles

Cheyenne Cheshier

Jeremy Cody

Kylee Harr

Dani Johnson

Avery McMullen

Kellen Monestime

Giancarlo Narvarte

Elena Opp

Jane Powers

Wyatt Rhoads

Gya'ni Sami

Tyler Sconce

Lauren Whyrick