Colorado University Athletics
True freshman Jenny Barringer won her first NCAA title in the steeplechase on Friday
Photo by: Ian Halperin/James D. Smith
Barringer Wins NCAA Steeplechase
June 09, 2006 | Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - University of Colorado freshman Jenny Barringer won the NCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase title in a school-record 9 minutes, 53.04 seconds at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday night in Sacramento, Calif. In doing so, she became Colorado's first true freshman to win an NCAA title, as well as the first Buffalo to win a steeplechase crown.
"The race was amazing," Barringer said. "I went into it confident and knew all I had to do was stick with the girls, and the plan was just to try to be an All-American. It didn't even cross my mind that I could possibly win it. With about 400 meters left to go, it just seemed like the race was falling into my hands. I saw the one girl ahead of me and I knew I had so much left and I could really work it for the win. It was really exciting."
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Racing in just her fifth steeplechase race ever, Barringer shattered former Buff Natalie Florence's school-record of 10:07.51, which was set at the 2005 USA Track & Field Championships in Carson, Calif. The Oviedo, Fla. native, has seen success in the event all season as she won the NCAA Midwest Regional Crown and placed second at the Big 12 Championships, both in May. This is Barringer's first All-American honor as a Buff.
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"Jenny's race was a wonderful surprise beyond any optimistic aspirations," Colorado Head Coach Mark Wetmore said. "I had hoped that she could run down around 10:05, but to run 9:53 and win the NCAAs as a freshman is incomprehensible. She ran very smart and followed our plan, except she ran a little bit faster than we planned. By the end of the race, the crowd was cheering for her. She ran off of her last hurdle to a beautiful race."
Brent Vaughn finished 10th in the men's 5,000, clocking in at 14:26.79 to earn second team All-America honors, his fourth in track and field and his fifth overall. Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky won in 14:11.71. Â
"Honestly I was very happy with Brent," Wetmore said. "We know the 10k back in Waco hurt him in some way metabolically. He hasn't been ready since then. In any case, we reluctantly allowed him to run this race; he really lobbied hard and let us put him on the track. It was instinct to hold him out. He followed our instructions and laid really low and luckily the whole field laid low for him. When the accelerating started, he responded fairly well.
"Heading into the season, we wouldn't have been excited about this 10th-place finish. But heading into today, I was excited he made it around all of the way. He was 10th and an All-American and he finished the race feeling decent. He's getting better and he got All-American. I'm happy with that."
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sacramento, Calif. (Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex)
Running Events (CU Athletes Only)
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase final: 1. Jenny Barringer, 9:53.04
Men's 5,000-meter run final: 10. Brent Vaughn, 14:26.79
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"The race was amazing," Barringer said. "I went into it confident and knew all I had to do was stick with the girls, and the plan was just to try to be an All-American. It didn't even cross my mind that I could possibly win it. With about 400 meters left to go, it just seemed like the race was falling into my hands. I saw the one girl ahead of me and I knew I had so much left and I could really work it for the win. It was really exciting."
Â
Racing in just her fifth steeplechase race ever, Barringer shattered former Buff Natalie Florence's school-record of 10:07.51, which was set at the 2005 USA Track & Field Championships in Carson, Calif. The Oviedo, Fla. native, has seen success in the event all season as she won the NCAA Midwest Regional Crown and placed second at the Big 12 Championships, both in May. This is Barringer's first All-American honor as a Buff.
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"Jenny's race was a wonderful surprise beyond any optimistic aspirations," Colorado Head Coach Mark Wetmore said. "I had hoped that she could run down around 10:05, but to run 9:53 and win the NCAAs as a freshman is incomprehensible. She ran very smart and followed our plan, except she ran a little bit faster than we planned. By the end of the race, the crowd was cheering for her. She ran off of her last hurdle to a beautiful race."
Brent Vaughn finished 10th in the men's 5,000, clocking in at 14:26.79 to earn second team All-America honors, his fourth in track and field and his fifth overall. Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky won in 14:11.71. Â
"Honestly I was very happy with Brent," Wetmore said. "We know the 10k back in Waco hurt him in some way metabolically. He hasn't been ready since then. In any case, we reluctantly allowed him to run this race; he really lobbied hard and let us put him on the track. It was instinct to hold him out. He followed our instructions and laid really low and luckily the whole field laid low for him. When the accelerating started, he responded fairly well.
"Heading into the season, we wouldn't have been excited about this 10th-place finish. But heading into today, I was excited he made it around all of the way. He was 10th and an All-American and he finished the race feeling decent. He's getting better and he got All-American. I'm happy with that."
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sacramento, Calif. (Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex)
Running Events (CU Athletes Only)
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase final: 1. Jenny Barringer, 9:53.04
Men's 5,000-meter run final: 10. Brent Vaughn, 14:26.79
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