DALLAS-University of
Colorado head cross country coach Mark Wetmore has been named the women's and men's Big 12 Coach of the Year in vote by the conference coaches the league office announced.
It is the 12th and 13th conference coach of the year accolades for the ninth year head coach as he has now earned seven straight men’s coach of the year honors and has been named women’s coach of the year six of the last seven years.
In addition to Coach of the Year honors, the Big 12 is repeated its all-conference teams and newcomers of the year for 2003.
In a change from the past All-Big 12 recognition goes to the top 15 finishers at the conference championships. In the past the top nine placers were named all-league. On the women's side Colorado senior Natalie Florence became the seventh CU runner to win the individual title running a 21:25 in the 6K course at Barton Creek Lakeside Golf Course in Spicewood, Texas. The other Top 15 finishers went 2. Renee Metivier, Colorado (21:34); 3. Amanda Bales, Missouri (21:36); 4. Kalen Toedebusch, Colorado (21:41); 5. Stefanie Murer, Kansas State (21:43); 6. Angela Marvin, Baylor (21:56); 7. Kristin Walter, Texas (21:59); 8. Brittany Brockman, Baylor (22:01); 9. Talis Apud-Martinez, Texas (22:02); 10. Jessica Eldridge, Oklahoma (22:05); 11. Valerie Lauver, Missouri (22:11); 12. Irene Kimaiyo, Texas Tech (22:13); 13. Tracie Akerhielm, Texas Tech (22:16); 14. Jill Petersen, Missouri (22:17); and 15. Lisa Comelius, Baylor (22:19).
Colorado junior Metivier was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year having the top placing of first-year runners at the meet. CU won its seventh Big 12 women's cross country title out of eight meets by outdistancing Baylor 45-76.
The Colorado men dominated even more by scoring 38 points to Oklahoma State's 91. The Buffs have won all eight Big 12 men's team championships. CU sophomore Dathan Ritzenhein won the Big 12 individual title with a time of 24:11 over the 8K course giving a Colorado male runner its seventh straight league individual title. Other All-Big 12 performers from the meet included 2. Paul Morrison, Texas (24:25); 3. Billy Nelson, Colorado (24:34); 4. Mindaugas Pukstas, Oklahoma State (24:45); 5. Matthew Chesan, Kansas State (24:51); 6. Jason Woolhouse, Oklahoma State (24:53); 7. Siverus Kimeli, Oklahoma (24:56); 8. Brent Vaughn, Colorado (24:57); 9. Matt Chance, Baylor (25:00); 10. Bret Schoolmeester, Colorado (25:09); 11. Benson Chesang, Kansas (25:05); 12. Bo Price, Baylor (25:07); 13. Joe McNair, Oklahoma (25:08); 14. Tim Ross, Missouri (25:11); and 15. Tommy Bonn, Texas A&M (25:17).
Colorado continues the 2003 campaign this Saturday, Nov. 10 when the Buffs’ “JV” teams run at Air Force. The Colorado varsity men's team enters the NCAA Mountain Region Championships Nov. 15 No. 3 nationally. The Buffs finished fourth at the national meet last year and won the 2001 NCAA championship. The CU women's team is No. 6 heading into NCAA region competition
