Gorton Wins Indoor 5K Title

Feb. 28, 2003

Lincoln, Neb. - In the first night of action here at the Big 12 Track & Field Indoor Championships, junior Sara Gorton took the women's 5,000 meter run title, the lone CU individual win of the evening at the seventh annual meet here Friday. Through the first day's events, the men's team is in first place, while the women are tied for second.

Gorton ran a time of 15:58.86, setting new Colorado, Big 12 Meet, and Bob Devaney Fieldhouse records on the evening en route to her fourth career Big 12 track title, third indoors. It is also the fastest collegiate time in the country as of Friday night, passing 16:02.96 by Kate O'Neill of Yale. CU also got top five finishes in the 5K from Natalie Florence (3rd, 16:22.09), Molly Austin (4th, 16:28.74) and Brianna Torres (5th, 16:46.57). Gorton's mark is an NCAA automatic qualifying time, while Florence and Austin earn provisional marks.

In the men's 5,000 meters, senior Ed Torres came up just short in his bid for a 5,000 meter win, taking second in 13:57.91. Torres earned an NCAA automatic qualifying time with his finish, which is the sixth fastest men's indoor 5K time in school history. Freshmen Billy Nelson (2nd, 14:15.93) and Payton Batliner (6th, 14:37.38) along with sophomore Jon Severy (7th, 14:37.63) rounded out the CU scorers in the event.

In other action, the men's distance medley relay team was second in a time of 9:50.50, with CU anchor Brett Schoolmeester just edged out at the finish line by Kyle King of Baylor, who anchored the Bears squad to a time of 9:50.23.

Colorado's field events also had a good day, with Matt Carr scoring his first ever Big 12 point for the Buffs with his eighth place finish in the men's 35-pound weight throw. His toss of 57-9.5 is the sixth-best in CU men's indoor history. Freshman Mary French did not score in the women's pole vault, but her leap of 11-4.25 breaks her own school record by almost two inches (11-2.5).

Saturday night will conclude the Big 12 Indoor Championships, with the first event at 9 a.m. MST in the men's heptathlon. The first individual event on Saturday will be the women's triple jump at 12:30 p.m. MST. The meet will wrap up with the men's 4x400 meter relay at 5:45 p.m. MST.

Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships
Friday, February 28, 2003
Results - Colorado Athletes Only

Men 60 Meter Dash
19. Sam Napp, 7.17

Men 400 Meter Dash
9. Chris Abuan, 48.84

Men 5000 Meter Run
2. Ed Torres, 13:57.91
3. Billy Nelson, 14:15.93
6. Payton Batliner, 14:37.38
7. Jon Severy, 14:37.63
9. Andy Knutsen, 14:47.35

Men's Distance Medley Relay
2. Bryan Dillon, Sam Napp, Gus Lundin, Brett Schoolmeester, 9:50.50

Men Long Jump
12. Brandon Johnson, 6.84m 22-05.25
13. Brian Calhoun, 6.81m 22-04.25
20. Marcus Moore, 6.38m 20-11.25

Men Weight Throw
8. Matt Carr, 17.61m 57-09.50
15. Chase Mullen, 16.16m 53-00.25

Women 400 Meter Dash
17. Deneeka Torrey, 58.35

Women 600 Yard Run
17. Jessica Harbeck, 1:28.15

Women 5000 Meter Run
1. Sara Gorton, 15:58.86
3. Natalie Florence, 16:22.09
4. Molly Austin, 16:28.74
5. Brianna Torres, 16:46.57
9. Christine Bolf, 17:00.95

Women's Distance Medley Relay
9. Jackie Zeigle, Deneeka Torrey, Amanda Manatt, Kendall Grgas-Wheeler, 11:56.31

Women Long Jump
23. Maxine Marlow, 5.20m 17-00.75

Women Pole Vault
14. Mary French, 3.46m 11-04.25
18. Brianna McDevitt, 3.31m 10-10.25

Men's Team Standings
1. Colorado, 28
2. Missouri, 22
3. Kansas State, 20
4. Texas, 19
5. Texas A&M, 18
6. Nebraska, 14
7. Oklahoma State, 11
8. Baylor, 10
9. Oklahoma, 5
9. Kansas, 5
11. Iowa State, 4
12. Texas Tech, NTS

Women's Team Standings
1. Nebraska, 72.50
2. Colorado, 25
2. Missouri, 25
4. Texas, 24
5. Baylor, 20
6. Kansas State, 16
6. Iowa State, 16
8. Kansas, 13.50
9. Texas A&M, 11
10. Oklahoma, 8
11. Texas Tech, 3
12. Oklahoma State, NTS

Colorado University Athletics