Newcomer Justine Kipkoech Marvelous in the Mile at Colorado Invitational

Saturday, January 24

Boulder, Co.

Colorado

Colorado Invite

Justine Kipkoech was excellent in first race as a Buffalo

Newcomer Justine Kipkoech Marvelous in the Mile at Colorado Invitational

January 24, 2026 | Track and Field

2026 Colorado Invitational Final Results Donate to Track & Field

Hurdler Antonio Votour also stars for Buffaloes in second home meet of the season

By: Steve Hurlbert, Director of Strategic Communications

BOULDER — In his very first race as a Colorado Buffalo, transfer sophomore Justine Kipkoech made quite an impression, recording a top three program finish in the mile to lead Buffs runners in the second and final day of the Colorado Invitational held at the Ford Practice Facility (FPF).

Kipkoech ran a time of 4:00.79, 3:54.92 adjusted for altitude, the third fastest indoor time in the event in program history, while finishing third overall in the race. Kipkoech's altitude-adjusted time is currently the sixth-fastest in the NCAA so far this year and capped a whirlwind two weeks that saw him get settled in Boulder just in time to compete this weekend.

"The last two weeks have been a bit chaotic for him, getting settled in classes and to be able to open with a 3:54 given the chaos that's happened with him over the last couple of weeks is really, really impressive," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Sean Carlson. "Over the next two years he's going to be one of the best milers in the country for sure."

Kipkoech's performance comes just one week after his teammate Isaiah Givens set a facility and Colorado soil record at the same distance, creating quite a one-two Buffalo punch in the mile.

"Obviously, our distance side is very cross country focused," said Carlson. "But it just so happens we have some really, really good milers that can run cross country too, which is nice. With Justine and Isaiah shaping up to be two of the better milers in the country right now it sets us up for a really, really good Distance Medley Relay in a couple of weeks. I think we can run one of the top times in the country."

Junior Antonio Votour also added his name to the Colorado record books, recording the sixth fastest time in program history in the 60 meter hurdles with a personal-best mark of 8.00 in the preliminaries. He followed that performance up with a time of 8.07 in the finals to finish fourth.

In the 400 meters, a pair of Buffaloes achieved personal records with sophomore Jameson Leigh recording a time of 49.44 for the men, good enough for sixth overall, and sophomore Abby Miller running a time 58.21 for the women, good enough for fourth.

Meanwhile, sophomore Jessie Secor reached the podium in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:11.86 (2:11.01 Converted), good enough for third place, and junior Danny Tragarz finished second in the men's 200 meters with a time of 21.50.

Up Next
Colorado will head east for one of the premier indoor track meets of the season, Boston University's John Thomas Terrier Classic, taking place Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31.

Buffaloes' Colorado Invitational Day Two Results:
Men's 60m Hurdles
Antonio Votour – 8.00 (Prelim) - 8.07 (Final- 4th place)
Teagan Malcom – 8.46 (Prelim)

Men's 60m
Nick Gehring – 6.84 (Prelim) - 6.89 (Final- 4th place)
Johnny Homsy – 7.15 (Prelim)

Men's Mile
Justine Kipkoech – 4:00.79 (3:54.92 Converted - 3rd place)
Charles Robertson – 4:14.07
Conner Wingfield – 4:19.63
Tanner Newkirk – DNF

Women's Mile
Georgia Bell – 5:14.10

Men's 400m
Jameson Leigh – 49.44
Joran Ball – 50.25

Women's 400m
Abby Miller – 58.21 (4th place)
Avery Pearson – DNS

Women's 800m
Jessie Secor – 2:11.86 (2:11.01 Converted - 3rd place)

Men's 200m
Danny Tragarz – 21.50 (2nd place)

Women's 3000m
Linda Weigang – 10:31.43
Ana Peters – 10:31.56

Men's 4x400m Relay
Colorado A – 3:13.36 (3rd place)
Leigh, Tragarz, Malcolm, Ball

Colorado C – 3:33.01
Liebert, Overberg, Bulto, Rauba

Colorado B – 3:46.59
Costelow, Mathison, Haug, Hansen

Colorado D – DNF
Wingfield, Casey, Givens, Cook

Women's 4x400m Relay
Colorado A – 3:58.05
Miller, Burkey, Pearson, Larochelle

Colorado B – 4:06.30
Hagen, Forstrom, Nechanicky, Barker

Colorado C – 4:43.02
Lounes, Prosser, Sheridan, Pribramsky