Vaughn Wins 5k; Hazen Sets School Record At Big 12 Championships

Zach Hazen

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

Vaughn Wins 5k; Hazen Sets School Record At Big 12 Championships

February 23, 2007 | Track and Field

By: Linda Poncin, Associate SID

AMES, Iowa - Brent Vaughn broke the Big 12 Indoor 5,000-meter record to win his sixth Big 12 individual title and Zach Hazen set a CU school record in the weight throw on the first day of action at the 2007 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Leid Recreational Facility on the campus of Iowa State University.

Vaughn finished in a time of 13:48.74 and earned a national provisional qualifying mark in the process. He led the entire way and defeated Texas Tech's Kevin Chelimo by almost four seconds (13:52.33). Vaughn broke a five-year old Big 12 record of 13:51.32, set by former CU harrier Jorge Torres in 2002. This is the fourth-straight year CU has won the 5k and is the fifth-time in six years. Vaughn also won 5k in 2005.

"It feels great to win," Vaughn said. "I feel blessed to be healthy this season because I have had injury problems and I feel blessed to be given the ability to come out here and run like this. I think the 5k is as deep as it has ever been. The Big 12 just keeps getting deeper and deeper each year so it is very tough and you have to feel a little lucky now to win the Big 12."

Hazen recorded a toss of 63-09.00 to finish fifth, his best finish at any conference championship, on his last throw. The toss was also a school record, breaking his previous record of 63-00.75, set two weeks ago at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. Hazen owns the top six marks in CU history and eight of the top nine.

"It felt great," Hazen said. "I can't complain. It was my best finish ever. I kept dreaming that there would be that big throw, a two-three foot pr. This year, there were small improvements and hopefully it will continue and I can take it from here."

Six teams broke the men's Big 12 distance medley relay record of 9:47.13, set by Missouri in 2005. The Colorado team, made up of Daniel Kenney, George Pincock, Wil Buchanan and Pete Janson took second overall, recording the second best time in school history at 9:44.24. It was the fastest time CU has run since 1973, when the DMR ran 9:48.7 on March 10 in Detroit, Mich. The record is 9:42.9, set on Feb. 9, 1974 in Pocatello, Idaho. The mark is a provisional qualifying time. Texas won the DMR with a time of 9:43.66.

"As always at the end of the first day, there have been some good things and some disappointments," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "We are about where we thought we would be on the men's side. On the women's side, we are behind. Cortney's inability to make the finals was a big blow and Amberly did not make the finals. We are going to have a hard time making up points.

"A great, amazing race for Vaughn and a great anchor race for Pete (Janson) to get us from seventh to second in the DMR. We also got a great performance from Zach Hazen. A measurement of a throwers performance is not just their one best throw, but what makes up their series. And he had three or four excellent throws on the day. He's a senior and contributed to the team and I am very proud of Zach."

Jenny Barringer and Stephen Pifer each advanced to the finals in the mile, both registering the second best time overall. Barringer placed second in her heat with a mark of 4:53.08. She finished behind Natalija Zarcenko of Nebraska, who crossed the finish in 4:52.18. Pifer was also second in his heat. He finished in 4:06.79, just off of Leonel Manzano's (Texas) pace of 4:06.65.

Anthony Chiulli took first in the preliminaries of the 1,000-meters. He crossed the finish in 2:26.13, just ahead of Darren Brown of Texas at 2:27.17.

In the 60-meter dash, Ryan Campbell advanced to the finals. He tied for sixth overall with a time of 6.83 with Courtney Thomas of Baylor. Campbell tied for second in the first heat with Thomas.

Campbell also qualified for the finals in the 200. He finished seventh overall and was second in his heat, recording a mark of 21.26. Jeremy Dodson finished in 21.43, just missing qualifying by placing ninth overall. Pincock took 13th overall (21.68).

"Ryan had a great performance today," assistant coach Brandon Couts. "I told him that he was supposed to make the finals in the 60 and the 200. He did that and I am very happy. He has been working hard all season and it is showing on the track."

"Ryan just keeps getting better," Wetmore added. "He is in two finals tomorrow and will get us some points. Anthony (Chiulli) and Stephen (Pifer) are through tomorrow and the distance runners are back in the 3k. I don't know if we will run Vaughn tomorrow because he has some blisters, but he is a gamer and if we are doing well and are fairly high up in the team title, we may give him a go. We'll see how everyone else does tomorrow."

Rob Thayer just missed qualifying for the finals in the mile, finishing ninth overall with a time of 4:09.12.

Amberly Casey also took ninth in the long jump. She just missed scoring for the Buffs and was just 1.5 inches from the eighth position. Casey recorded a leap of 19-01.25. Chelsea Haverty placed 20th overall with a jump of 18-00.25.

Courtney Hutmacher had a disappointing day in the weight throw. She placed 14th overall, throwing just 52-05.75. Kaitlin Kark took 17th overall, recording a toss of 46-00.00. James Begley placed 14th overall, recording a throw of 55-09.00

Sara Price led CU in the 600-yard run. She placed 16th overall (1:30.78). Troi Smith took 17th (1:31.60) and Sasha Abuan took 18th (1:36.96). Nate Terry took 18th in the men's 600-yard run, finishing in 1:12.24.

In the 400-meter dash, Haverty led the Buffs with a 13th-place finish. She ran a time of 57.53. Veronica Maul finished in 57.64 to place 14th and Jackie Sturm took 16th (60.79). Sturm also took 22nd overall in the 200 (27.20). Pincock took 14th overall on the men's side with a time of 48.85.

Dani Rodgriguez missed qualifying for the finals in the 800-meter run. She took 10th overall, fifth in her heat, with a time of 2:18.27.

Erin Marston took ninth in the 5,000-meter run. She finished in 17:18.15. Kenyon Neuman placed ninth in the men's 5k (14:26.04). Chris Pannone took 12th overall, finishing in 14:34.43.

The Colorado men are currently second with 22 points from the first day behind Missouri with 28 points. The women are the only team to not yet score at the meet.

The Buffaloes will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 24, to complete the 11th Annual Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championship.

BIG 12 INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ames, Iowa (Leid Recreational Facility)
Field Events (CU Athletes Only)
Men's Weight Throw: 5. Zach Hazen, 63-09.50; 14. James Begley, 55-09.00
Women's Weight Throw: 14. Cortney Hutmacher, 52-05.75; 17. Kaitlin Kark, 46-00.00
Women's Long Jump: 9. Amberly Casey, 19-01.25; 20. Chelsea Haverty, 18-00.25

Track Events (CU Athletes Only)
Men's 60-Meter (prelims): t6. Ryan Campbell, 6.83
Men's 200-Meter (prelims): 7. Ryan Campbell, 21.26; 9. Jeremy Dodson, 21.42; 13. George Pincock, 21.68
Women's 200-Meter (prelims): 22. Jackie Sturm, 27.20
Men's 400-Meter (prelims): 14. George Pincock, 48.85
Women's 400-Meter: 13. Chelsea Haverty, 57.53; 14. Veronica Maul, 57.64; 16. Jackie Sturm, 60.79
Men's 600-Yard (prelims): 18. Nate Terry, 1:12.24
Women's 600-Yard (prelims): 16. Sara Price, 1:30.78; 17. Troi Smith, 1:31.60; 18. Sasha Abuan, 1:36.96
Women's 800-Meter (prelims): 10. Dani Rodriguez, 2:18.27
Men's 1,000-Meter (prelims): 1. Anthony Chiulli, 2:26.13
Men's Mile (prelims): 2. Stephen Pifer, 4:06.79; 9. Rob Thayer, 4:09.12
Women's Mile (prelims): 2. Jenny Barringer, 4:53.08
Men's 5,000-Meters: 1. Brent Vaughn, 13:48.74; 9. Kenyon Neuman, 14:26.04; 12. Chris Pannone, 14:34.43
Women's 5,000-Meters: 9. Erin Marston, 17:18.15
Men's Distance Medley Relay: 2. Colorado (Daniel Kenney, George Pincock, Wil Buchanan, Pete Janson) 9:44.24