Colorado University Athletics
Bolf and Nelson Take 5k; Hutmacher Sets School Record
“Today was kind of as I expected,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “It was business as usual. Christine looked very comfortable in the 5k. She has to come back tomorrow and run hard in the unseated section of the 3k. I hope it felt as easy as it looked.”
Bolf took the 5k crown and won the first conference track title of her career. She finished in 16:12.60. Bolf’s win marked the second straight year a Buff has won the race and was the fourth time in five years CU has claimed the title.
“I haven’t had a conference championship in track yet and it seems like a long time coming,” Bolf said. “It’s nice to keep the tradition going with all of the past winners we’ve (CU) had and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Nelson also came in first in the 5k and earned his first conference championship with a mark of 13:54.70. It marks the third consecutive year CU has won the men’s 5k race and is the fifth win in the past seven years. Nelson was followed closely by teammate Brent Vaughn, the 5k indoor conference champion last year, who finished in 13:56.81.
“I feel great,” Nelson said. “It’s my fourth year here and it felt good to finally win. I called my dad and told him that I won and Brent (Vaughn) was in the back ground yelling ?It’s about time” and that’s pretty much how I feel. I feel that when I am healthy, I can compete with the Big 12 and I finally showed it.“
“Billy ran a great race,” Vaughn said. “He’s really fit and is one of the best runners in the country. I was very happy with my race. I missed out on the cross season, so I am a little behind from where I was last year, but I am happy with my time today.”
“Honestly, this is the toughest 5,000 field in the Big 12 that I can remember ever and that they (Billy and Brent) kind of walked away from it was very impressive,” Wetmore explained. “Billy is the fittest ever in his life and Vaughn has been nursing a cold all week. They don’t come much tougher than Vaughn, much more talented than Billy.”
Hutmacher earned a fifth-place finish while setting a school record, despite fighting a back injury in the women’s weight throw. She recorded a personal record with a throw of 61-8.50, almost eight inches further than her previous pr and school record of 61-0.75.
”Cortney competed phenomenally today,” assistant coach Casey Malone said. “Even though she might have placed slightly lower than she placed last year, I was more impressed with her performance this year. She was coming in with a pretty serious back injury. She was incredibly consistent through warm-ups and the competition.”
Hutmacher was eighth heading into the finals after throwing just one toss to qualify.
“Cortney squeaked through into the finals and then had two really good throws,” Wetmore said. “I know she’s been nursing something in her back and to ultimately pr and break the school record is an admiralable performance.”
“She had two big jumps with her performance towards the end of the competition which is extremely hard to do, especially if your back is tightening up,” Malone added. “She just got better and better and her back was hurting more and more and more. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Zach Hazen placed 14th overall with a toss of 57-1.00 in the men’s weight throw. James Begley was 22nd (53-3.75) and Andy Passen was 22nd with a person-record of 49-7.75.
Amberly Casey earned an eighth-place finish in the long jump with a distance of 19-0.75. Mikaela Raddatz qualified for the 600-yard run tomorrow with a personal best of 1:25.72.
“They guys are doing a little better than we expected,” Wetmore said. “Coach Cout’s group is having a good day and we had a couple get through to tomorrow.”
Chris Abuan set a personal-best in the 600-yard run (11:11.19) and finished in seventh place. Nate Terry also set a pr in the event, but placed 10th overall. George Pincock took seventh in the 400-m (48.79) to qualify for tomorrow’s final.
Stephen Pifer and Bret Schoolmeester qualified for the finals in the mile. Pifer lead the pack with a time of 4:10.13 and Schoolmeester was second in 4:10.32. Anthony Chiulli was third in the 1,000-m prelims at 2:23.95.
The Buffs return to action tomorrow for the final day of the championship. The men are currently tied for second place with 21 points and the women are tied for seventh with 15 points. The women’s triple jump will start the field events at 1:30 p.m. (CST) and the track events will start at 3 with the finals in the women’s 60-meter hurdles.
BIG 12 INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women’s Team Scores: 1. Nebraska, 55.55; 2.
Men’s Team Scores: 1. Kansas, 29; 2.
FIELD EVENTS (CU ATHLETES ONLY)
Men’s Weight Throw: 14. Zach Hazen, 57-01.00; 20. James Begley, 53-03.75; 22. Andy Passen, 49-07.75
Women’s Weight Throw: 5. Cortney Hutmacher, 61-8.50
Men’s Long Jump: 10. Hugh Charles, 23-8.00
Women’s Long Jump: 8. Amberly Casey, 19-00.75
RUNNING EVENTS (CU ATHLETES ONLY)
Women’s 60-Meters (prelims): 17. Jackie Sturm, 8.00; 18. Japera Walker, 8.30
Women’s 200-Meters (prelims): 22. Jackie Sturm, 26.29; 23. Japera Walker, 27.60
Women’s 600-Yard (prelims): 6. Mikaela Raddatz, 1:25.72; 12. Allison Hawes, 1:27.64
Women’s 1000-Meters (prelims): 13. Sara Ensrud, 2:59.29
Women’s 5000-Meters (finals): 1. Christine Bolf, 16:12.60;Erin Marston, DNF
Men’s 60-Meters (prelims): 14. Sam Napp, 7.00; 15. Lionel Lawson Jr., 7.03
Men’s 200-Meters (prelims): 17. Sam Napp, 22.71; 18. Lionel Lawson Jr., 22.71; 19. Abe Friesen, 23.06
Men’s 400-Meters (prelims): 7. George Pincock, 48.79; 11. Brandon Johnson, 49.18
Men’s 600-Yards (prelims): 7. Chris Abuan, 1:11.19; 10. Nate Terry, 1:11.91
Men’s 800-Meters (prelims): 13. Jason Zichterman, 2:00.52
Men’s Mile (prelims): 1. Stephen Pifer, 4:10.13; 3. Bret Schoolmeester, 4:10.32; 16. Rob Thayer, 4:23.65
Men’s 1000-Meters (prelims): 3. Anthony Chiulli, 2:23.95
Men’s 5000-Meters (final): 1. Billy Nelson, 13:54.70; 2. Brent Vaughn, 13:56.81; 9. Payton Batliner, 14:20.83; 12. Chris Pannone; 17. Erik Heinonen, 14:47.84
Men’s DMR (finals): 6. Pete Jason, Wil Buchanan, Daniel Kenny, Nate Terry, 9:53.84