Coburn Shines At Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT, Calif. - University of Colorado junior Emma Coburn ran a great 1,500-meter race at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday night, finishing eighth in the invitational elite section at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Coburn finished in 4 minutes, 14.34 seconds, the eighth best time in CU history and the fourth best time recorded by an NCAA athlete this season. Coburn ran in a star-studded section as the winner of the race was Olympian Shalane Flanagan (4:11.67).

The Buffs started the day strong in the open section of the women's 1,500 with Staci Foster, Laura Tremblay and Heather Balbier all racing in the seventh heat. Foster led the trio, finishing ninth overall with a time of 4:28.72. Tremblay was 11th in the heat (4:29.52) and Balbier was 13th (4:30.53). Overall, Foster placed 26th, Tremblay took 30th and Balbier was 36th out of 126 competitors.

Liz Tremblay competed in the 800, finishing 11th overall of 95 racers in the open section. Tremblay raced to a personal best time of 2:08.58 to finish sixth in the second section. She was just 1.58 seconds back from Connecticut's Brigitte Mania who won that heat in 2:07.15. The time makes her the fourth fastest performer at CU in the 800 and overall it is the ninth fastest time ever recorded by a Buff.

Stephen Kasica was also successful in the men's 800, running a PR of 1:49.92 to place seventh of 97 runners. Kasica won the fifth heat, edging Mexico's Christopher Sandoval's time of 1:50.27. Kasica now ranks 10th on the CU all-time performer's list.

Dane Chobanian led the Buffs in the field events. He launched a throw of 169 feet, 3 inches in the discus to place eighth overall. Trey Mullen competed in the hammer throw and finished 36th with a toss of 171-09.

CU has a number of athletes competing in the men's and women's 5,000 late Friday night and there is a group of athletes that will compete at the Long Beach State Invitational on Saturday. A few members of the team will compete a little closer to home on Saturday as CSU-Pueblo will host a meet.

53rd Annual Mt. SAC Relays

Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif.

Track Events (CU Athletes Only)

Women's 1,500-Meter Run (Open U/O): (1. Caroline Jepleting, TTU, 4:19.77) 26. Staci Foster, 4:28.72; 30. Laura Tremblay, 4:29.52; 36. Heather Balbier, 4:30.53

Women's 800-Meter Run (Open U/O): (1.Gabriela Medina, Mexico, 2:02.27) 11. Liz Tremblay, 2:08.58

Men's 800-Meter Run (Open U/O): (1. Tracis Burkstrand, Minnesota, 1:49.70) 7. Stephen Kasica, 1:49.92

Women's 1,500-Meter Run (Invitational Elite): (1. Shalane Flanagan, 4:11.67) 8. Emma Coburn, 4:14.34

Field Events (CU Athletes Only)

Men's Hammer Throw (Open U/O): (1. Eric Flores, Cal Lutheran, 221-08) 36. Trey Mullen, 171-09

Men's Discus Throw (Open U/O): (1. Nick Jones, Abilene Christian, 190-03) 8. Dane Chobanian, 169-03

Colorado University Athletics