Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Klecker Earns Spot on Team USA at USATF Championships
July 06, 2023 | Track and Field
The CU alum finished second in the 10K
EUGENE, Ore. – University of Colorado alum Joe Klecker ran his way onto Team USA for the upcoming World Athletic Championships on Thursday.
Klecker was one of 10 athletes with Colorado ties to compete on the opening day of the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships at historic Hayward Field. Alums Sage Hurta-Klecker, Emma Cobrun, Madie Boreman and Dani Jones each advanced out of their respective first-round races.
Klecker had to wait all day for the men's 10K, which didn't get started until 9:30 p.m. MT. He finished on the heels of Woody Kincaid (28:23.01) with a time of 28:24.50. Klecker dropped to ninth at the 4,800-meter mark and didn't make a big move until jumping into fifth with 2,000-meters to go. He ran the final two 400-meter splits in under 60 seconds, including a final lap of 56.88.
Hurta-Klecker was the first Buff to advance on the day, running a time of 2:01.48 in the 800-meters. She was in second in her heat after the first 400-meters and closed the race's second half in 1:00.79 to win her heat. She automatically qualified for the semi-finals by winning the heat, finishing 11th overall.
Coburn and Boreman went first and fifth in the steeplechase to advance to Saturday's final. The field didn't get anywhere close to Coburn's nation-leading time of 9:07.93. Instead, Coburn was able to navigate through the field opening the first lap in 10th and maneuvering into first by the penultimate lap, finishing in 9:36.69.
Boreman took a different strategy into the race opening running in the top five for the first five laps. She fell to sixth with two laps to go but regained her position on the final lap to finish in 9:42.07.
Jones finished third in the final heat, and 12th overall, in the 1,500-meters to claim an auto-qualifier into Saturday's final. She improved on each of her splits and closed with a 45.73 split in the final 300-meters.
Avery McMullen opened the afternoon for CU in the heptathlon. She sits 14th overall after four events. Her best event of the day was the 200-meters, where she finished 10th (24.66).
Buffs who competed but did not advance were James Milholen, who finished 21st in the men's 400-meters (46.68). India Johnson (34:58.50) and Mackenzie Caldwell (35:07.09), who finished 17th and 18th, respectively, in the women's 10K final and Jada Green placed 10th in the women's javelin final.
Friday will continue with the heptathlon, starting with the long jump at 12:45 p.m. MT. Abbey Glynn will be in action in the 400-meter hurdles (5:39 p.m.).
Portions of the meet are being televised on CNBC and Peacock, as well as streaming available at USATF.TV.
Klecker was one of 10 athletes with Colorado ties to compete on the opening day of the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships at historic Hayward Field. Alums Sage Hurta-Klecker, Emma Cobrun, Madie Boreman and Dani Jones each advanced out of their respective first-round races.
Klecker had to wait all day for the men's 10K, which didn't get started until 9:30 p.m. MT. He finished on the heels of Woody Kincaid (28:23.01) with a time of 28:24.50. Klecker dropped to ninth at the 4,800-meter mark and didn't make a big move until jumping into fifth with 2,000-meters to go. He ran the final two 400-meter splits in under 60 seconds, including a final lap of 56.88.
Hurta-Klecker was the first Buff to advance on the day, running a time of 2:01.48 in the 800-meters. She was in second in her heat after the first 400-meters and closed the race's second half in 1:00.79 to win her heat. She automatically qualified for the semi-finals by winning the heat, finishing 11th overall.
Coburn and Boreman went first and fifth in the steeplechase to advance to Saturday's final. The field didn't get anywhere close to Coburn's nation-leading time of 9:07.93. Instead, Coburn was able to navigate through the field opening the first lap in 10th and maneuvering into first by the penultimate lap, finishing in 9:36.69.
Boreman took a different strategy into the race opening running in the top five for the first five laps. She fell to sixth with two laps to go but regained her position on the final lap to finish in 9:42.07.
Jones finished third in the final heat, and 12th overall, in the 1,500-meters to claim an auto-qualifier into Saturday's final. She improved on each of her splits and closed with a 45.73 split in the final 300-meters.
Avery McMullen opened the afternoon for CU in the heptathlon. She sits 14th overall after four events. Her best event of the day was the 200-meters, where she finished 10th (24.66).
Buffs who competed but did not advance were James Milholen, who finished 21st in the men's 400-meters (46.68). India Johnson (34:58.50) and Mackenzie Caldwell (35:07.09), who finished 17th and 18th, respectively, in the women's 10K final and Jada Green placed 10th in the women's javelin final.
Friday will continue with the heptathlon, starting with the long jump at 12:45 p.m. MT. Abbey Glynn will be in action in the 400-meter hurdles (5:39 p.m.).
Portions of the meet are being televised on CNBC and Peacock, as well as streaming available at USATF.TV.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Combined Events
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Combined Events
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
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