Buffs Open 2020 Hosting Potts Invitational

Friday, January 10

Boulder, Colo.

All Day

Colorado

Day 1

Photo by: Dan Madden

January 08, 2020 | Track and Field

Men's Rankings Women's Rankings

Colorado Squads Ranked Top-12 In Nation

By: Shaun Wicen, Assistant SID

BOULDER – The University of Colorado track and field program open the 2020 season this weekend at home in the Potts Invitational with field events Friday starting at noon and running events beginning Saturday at 11 a.m.

Both squads enter the season ranked in the top-12 in the nation after today's USTFCCCA Indoor Track and Field Preseason rankings came out with the women named 12^th and the men's team ranked 10^th.

On the men's side, Joe Klecker is the top-returning distance athlete after placing second in the 5,000 and third in the 3,000 at last year's national championship. Klecker's converted 8:01.68 that he ran last season to break the Colorado state record in the 3,000 is the fastest returning time in the 3,000 while he is also third in the 5,000 after breaking that school record at the Husky Invitational a week after his 3,000 performance. To complete the distance trifecta, Klecker is also third in the mile with his IPF record 4:01.72 that he ran in 2017.

The men's side also boasts John Dressel who owns the 11^th-best returning time in the 3,000 and 12^th in the 5,000. Eduardo Herrera is also on the list that adds to the team's points in the mile and is coming off of a second-team All-America finish in the 1,500 last season.

For the women, Dani Jones boasts the returning top time in the mile from her 2018 performance where she broke the Colorado state record in the mile. She is also ranked ninth in 3,000 and is also top-50 in the 800. The CU women are a force in the rankings with four individuals ranked in the top-18 in both the mile and the 3,000. In the mile, Jones takes the lead followed by Tabor Scholl in 10^th, Rachel McArthur in 17^th and Sage Hurta in 18^th. In the 3,000, Jones is ninth, Makena Morley is ranked 10^th, Scholl 13^th and Emily Venters 18^th. The list also has Morley 14^th in the 5,000, McArthur 11^th in the 800 and Venters 22^nd in the 5,000.

It should be noted that these lists don't take into consideration Hurta's sub-4:10 1,500 at the Bryan Clay Invitational unattached or her 2:00.99 school record 800-meter mark set at the Music City Distance Carnival. She isn't listed at all in the 800, but is the only athlete returning to the NCAA with a time under 2:02 in the 800.

This weekend will see women entered in all events except the 60-meter dash and pole vault, while the men are represented in events except for the 60, mile and both horizontal jumps. For the women, half of the NCAA qualifying 4x400 team will be in the 200 with Eriana Henderson and Dani Johnson running in both and hurdling. Freshman multi Avery McMullen will also compete in both those events while Kylee Harr will join McMullen in both the 200 and high jump.

In the distance events, Karina Mann will run the 800 and mile, being joined in the mile by Kaitlyn Barthell who will also run in the 3,000 with Liz Constien.

Cheyenne Cheshier will be the only Buff in the horizontal jumps, competing in both the long and triple for the women. Colorado will also have a quartet of freshmen throwers in the weight throw with Gya'ni Sami, Jane Powers, Elena Opp and Lauren Whyrick. All except Powers will double in the shot put as well.

For the men, the 400 and 3,000 will be large focuses on the track with Kendal Smith, Nathan Hoy, Garrett Nelson and Wyatt Rhoads all in the open 400. Eduardo Herrera leads Paxton Smith and Josh Torres in the 3,000.

For field events, the men's high jump will be highly contested with Jeremy Cody, Ryan Charles, Giancarlo Narvarte and Davis Butte all jumping. The Buffs will have another throwing quartet, this time in the men's shot put with Tyler Sconce, Clayton Castro, Henry Carlson and Lars Atkinson. All of them will double in the weight throw except Carlson.