Buffs Dominate Millrose Games

NEW YORK – Colorado track and field stars Dani Jones and Joe Klecker made history Saturday afternoon in New York at the 113^th Millrose Games as both secured the second-fastest time in CU history in their events.

Klecker started things off with a second-place finish behind former NCAA cross country champion Justyn Knight in the Dr Sander Men's 3,000 Invitational. The senior opened the first 1,600 meters in around 4:14 and eighth place. Klecker made a huge move with 400 left, jumping up to fourth until the final straight where he finished catching people and closed as the runner-up.

His mark of 7:47.57 is second in school history behind Adam Goucher's 7:46.03, placing Klecker in 19^th on the NCAA's All-Time list. The time is the second-fastest in the nation as Notre Dame's Yared Nuguse ran 7:46.71 at the Meyo Invite today. Klecker out-kicked the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Champion, Edwin Kurgat, in the race by two seconds.

In the elite New York Road Runners Wanamaker Women's Mile, Dani Jones broke a 32-year-old record as she finished seventh in a time of 4:27.88, making her the fastest collegiate athlete in the Wanamaker mile since 1988. The race broke into a sprint early, leaving Jones to lead a pack at 4:30 pace as the leaders finished with Elle Purrier breaking the American Record at 4:16.85.

Jones' time places her sixth on the NCAA All-Time list behind collegiate record holder Jenny (Barringer) Simpson, Purrier in second, Leah O'Conner of Michigan State, Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, Karissa Schweizer of Missouri and Abbey D'Agostino of Dartmouth. She now leads the nation in the event.

Both athletes will move to the 5,000 next week with Klecker heading to the Husky Invitational and Jones going to compete in Boston.

It was a huge weekend for former Buffaloes, as three volunteer coaches competed across the nation. Jenny Simpson set a flat track world record for the indoor 3,000 at 8:51.49. Combined event coaches Carly Paul and Andrew Ghizzone competed at the USATF Indoor Championships Combined Events today at the Naval Academy with Paul placing eighth in the pentathlon at 3,860 points and Ghizzone finishing fifth in the heptathlon with a score of 5,455.

Also for Colorado, throwers and Kellen Monestime competed in the Colorado Running Company Mountain Lion Open Friday and Saturday. Redshirt junior Caleb Penner won the weight throw unattached with a toss of 17.99 meters. His mark is good for fifth in school history. Monestime finished third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.39 seconds.

The team separates across the country next week with competitions at the Husky Invitational in Seattle, Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque.

RESULTS
Millrose Games
Dr. Sander Men's 3,000 Invitational: 1. Justyn Knight (CAN) 7:46.36; 2. Joe Klecker (COLO) 7:47.57
NYRR Wanamaker Women's Mile: 1. Elle Purrier (USA) 4:16.85 (AMERICAN RECORD); 7. Dani Jones (COLO) 4:27.88

Mountain Lion Open
Men's 60 hurdles: 1. Germain Barnes (CSU) 8.22; 3. Kellen Monestime (COLO) 8.39
Men's Weight Throw: 1. Caleb Penner (UNAT-COLO) 17.99m; 6. Clayton Castro (COLO) 15.39; 9. Lars Atkinson (COLO) 14.73;
Women's Weight Throw: 1. Ashton Hallsted (UNAT) 19.72m; 5. Gya'ni Sami (COLO) 16.02; 8. Jane Powers (COLO) 15.23; 9. Elena Opp (COLO) 14.51; 16. Lauren Whyrick (COLO) 12.19
Men's Shot Put: 1. Mariano Kis (CSU) 16.73m; 10. Austin Swanson (COLO) 13.46; 11. Henry Carlson (COLO) 13.35; 15. Clayton Castro (COLO) 12.18; 16. Lars Atkinson (COLO) 12.07; 19. Ryan Ganson (COLO) 10.26
Women's Shot Put: 1. Maria Muzzio (CSU) 15.89m; 6. Laurnen Whyrick (COLO) 12.94; 18. Gya'ni Sami (COLO) 11.42; 26. Elena Opp (COLO) 8.66

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lars Atkinson

Henry Carlson

Clayton Castro

Ryan Ganson

Andrew Ghizzone

Dani Jones

Joe Klecker

Kellen Monestime

Elena Opp

Caleb Penner

Jane Powers

Gya'ni Sami

Austin Swanson

Lauren Whyrick