Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Big 12 Indoor Championships
Buffs Open Big 12 Championships with Three Podium Finishes, Meet Record
February 27, 2026 | Track and Field
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Colorado Buffs wrapped up a successful day one at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with three podium finishes and a meet record inside the Sports Performance Center.
Results:cubuffs.com/tracklive
I thought it was a great day from the men's and women's DMRs — hard-fought races, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Sean Carlson said. Avery setting the meet record in the prelim was impressive, and I'm excited to see what she does in the final tomorrow. Lucas had a very good day in the weight throw. The squad of men's milers making the final along with Drew in the 1K got the first part of the job done.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Avery Pearson stole the show early, winning the women's 600-yard preliminary in a meet-record time of 1:17.92. Pearson led from the gun and never looked back, cruising to the historic mark to automatically qualify for Saturday's final at 2:10 p.m. MT.
In the women's distance medley relay, Riley Burkey led off on the 1200m leg and handed to Abby Miller in ninth place. Miller completed the 400m leg before passing to Pearson in 11th. Pearson surged on the 800m leg, moving the Buffs up three spots to eighth before handing off to Jessie Secor. Secor delivered a strong 1600m anchor, methodically working through the field to bring Colorado all the way up to third place as the quartet finished in 11:22.85.
Abbey Nechanicky secured Colorado's first podium finish of the day in the women's 5000 meters, placing seventh in 16:18.86. She stayed consistent throughout the race, moving between fifth and seventh place over the closing laps to maintain scoring position and earn a top-eight finish for the Buffs.
The men's DMR of Isaiah Givens, Danny Tragarz, Drew Costelow and Justine Kipkoech placed runner-up in 9:38.03. Givens opened on the 1200m leg, handing off in eighth place. Tragarz moved the Buffs up to seventh on the 400 before Costelow carried the baton on the 800, positioning Colorado in sixth for Kipkoech. On the 1600m anchor leg, Kipkoech closed hard and maintained control of second for much of the race before battling with BYU over the final 200 meters to secure the runner-up finish — Colorado's third podium of the day.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
In the men's mile preliminaries, TJ Hansen, Kole Mathison and Isaiah Givens each advanced to Saturday's final, while Drew Costelow moved on in the men's 1000 meters.
Lucas Williams narrowly missed the podium in the men's weight throw, placing ninth overall with a personal-best mark of 19.51 meters.
In the men's 5000 meters, James Overberg and Jake Liebert finished ninth and 10th, respectively.
Competition resumes Saturday at 1:50 p.m. MT with the men's mile final, as the Buffaloes look to build on a strong opening day in Lubbock.
For more information on the Colorado track and field team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsTrack.
Players Mentioned
