Buffs Ready For NCAA Championships

BOULDER - The Colorado cross country program looks ahead to the NCAA Championships this Saturday in Charlottesville, Va. where the Buffs competed in their first official meet of the 2023 season.

In Colorado's final year as a Pac-12 program it hopes to end the season on a positive note. Both the men's and women's teams have high standards for themselves and expect to have a good showing on Saturday.

"We have had some good races and some not great races," head coach Mark Wetmore stated before heading to Virginia. "We are still waiting to have a majority of athletes click on the same day, but maybe that will happen this weekend."

The championships are set to take place at Panorama Farms, where earlier this season Colorado's men's team placed 12th and the women placed ninth out of 23 teams. On Saturday, the women's race is scheduled for 8:20 a.m. MT, followed by the men's race at 9:10 a.m. MT.

All season, Emily Covert and Austin Vancil have been notable leaders for Colorado. While they have consistently led the Buffs on the course they have also been great role models off of it, helping freshmen Karrie Baloga and Isaiah Givens transition into college athletics.

"Karrie and Isaiah are talented and motivated," said Wetmore. "Each has done some very good running for us this season and they will be integral contributors for us for a few years."

Along with Covert and Baloga on the women's side, Ella Baran is a big name to look out for as she was the first Buff to finish at regionals. Colorado is also sending Samree Dishon, Katie Doucette, Elliot Pribramsky, Whitney Valenti and Tiya Chamberlin.

For the men, Paul Stafford, Noah Hibbard and Caleb Niednagel are expected to round out the scoring five for the Buffs. Joining them on the trip are Jake Derouin, James Overberg and Charlie Welch.

Colorado's men's team is coming off a sixth-place finish at regionals while the women's team is coming off a fourth-place finish.

"We weren't brilliant at the recent regionals," Wetmore stated. "We will hope to swing around, beat some of the teams that were ahead of us in Lubbock, and outrun our rankings."

Live results can be found here.

MEET INFORMATION
The events will be broadcasted live on ESPNU and the ESPN app with coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. MT.

Tickets are sold out. If you already have a ticket, see below.

Parking is only available at Fashion Square Mall with shuttles beginning at 6:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and returning 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Tickets include parking at Fashion Square Mall, entry into the event, and roundtrip shuttle service.

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Players Mentioned

Karrie Baloga

Ella Baran

Tiya Chamberlin

Emily Covert

Jake Derouin

Samree Dishon

Katie Doucette

Isaiah Givens

Noah Hibbard

Caleb Niednagel

James Overberg

Elliot Pribramsky

Paul Stafford

Whitney Valenti

Austin Vancil

Charlie Welch