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2018 Indoor track and field early season news & results (Colorado Invitational Thurs.-Sat., 2/1-2/3)

AztecBuff

AztecBuff

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With athletes going to many different competitions, and hardly ever knowing what athlete's goals are in track and field, thought I'd start this one thread for us to impart any early season news on the indoor track season. (I figure we can probably use this thread up til I start a dedicated one for the MPSF Conference meet which starts on Feb. 23rd.)
_______________________________________________________________

Also, since all the cross country athletes also compete in track, thought I'd also use this thread to post links to the review of the men's Cross Country team season which cubuffs just released. (Assume the women's will be coming out in the next day or so.)-


Direct link - http://www.cubuffs.com/news/2017/12/27/mens-cross-country-2017-in-review.aspx

"
BOULDER - Colorado sophomore Joe Klecker won the CU men's first NCAA Mountain Region individual title in more than a decade, a highlight to a CU season that also included a second-place team finish in the Pac-12 Championships, a third-place team finish in the regionals and an eighth-place finish in the NCAA Championships.
...

Cross Country Notes
  • The Colorado men recorded a second place finish at the Pac-12 Championships, just six points behind champion Stanford
  • The Buffs earned a third place finish at the regional championships and earned an at-large bid to their 26th straight NCAA Championships, the longest active winning streak in the NCAA.
  • Joe Klecker won the regional individual title, becoming the first Buff since Billy Nelson in 2005 to do so.
  • CU finished the season with an eighth place finish at NCAAs
    • Eduardo Herrera led the Buffs with a 33rd place finish to earn All-America honors.
...
"
________________________________________________________

Interview with Coach Wetmore (which,unlike the article, DOES cover both the men and women).-


________________________________________________________

Edit- Wanted to add info for how athletes qualify for the NCAA Indoor T & F Championships. Unlike outdoors, there is no regional championships run to choose who advances. It's merely-
  • Individually, it's just the athletes who earn the top 16 times or marks during the qualifying period who accept the invitation to go the championships.
  • For relays, it's the teams with the top 12 times who accept a bid.
  • Note that there are adjustments made for (1) altitude and (2) facility rating.
  • Full explanation of qualifying is at http://www.ustfccca.org/meets-results/ncaa-championship-qualifying-criteria#d1ITF .
To keep up with how individual Buffs are placed to qualify, I believe the official resource for times are-
 
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Especially since I'll probably be offline for a week or so starting Friday, wanted to bump this thread now.

Local fans will have their of their only chances*** this indoor track season to catch the track and field team at home (at the Indoor Practice Facility) this Friday and Saturday at the Potts Indoor Invitational. (Edit- originally had this as THE only chance to see the team. However, looking again at the schedule, there's a 3 day CU Invite meet at the beginning of February at the IPF. With that meet being a little deeper in the season, assume the performances then might be better than at this earlier meet, as well as possibly having more of the top Buff distance runners participating.)

(VERY general schedule in the below Coach Malone tweet. Assume more detail will be available on cubuffs.com shortly.)


Edit- see now there's a meet informational packet already viewable at http://www.cubuffs.com/documents/2018/1/9//2018_Potts_Invitational_Meet_Information_Packet.pdf .

From/ about that -
  • Current detailed event schedule (subject to change) is on the 2nd page.
  • Adult entry fee is $8 (free with BuffOne Card and to those under 12).
  • Schools participating are CU, CSU, AFA, UNC, and WYO.
  • Have never been able to catch a live indoor track meet, but looks like this one may be (???) more restrictive for fans than some in prior years. (Clear bag policy in effect, no outdoor food or drink (other than water) allowed, etc.)
 
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Just curious. Is the IPF track paying any dividends for CU T&F, especially in recruiting?
 
DBT said:
Just curious. Is the IPF track paying any dividends for CU T&F, especially in recruiting?
Click to expand...
Seems to be. CU had its best result ever at the Pac-12 Championships last spring.

I don't follow it closely, but it seems that CU is competitive in more events than it used to be. Not just a distance program.

It also seems that with the facility tied to football it is making it so that more football players choose to compete. I assume it makes it a lot easier to do so with everything in one place for them.
 


"
USAFA, Colo. - The University of Colorado track and field team enjoyed success on the first day of the Air Force Invite here Friday night at the Air Force Invitational. Freshman Jon Maas and Rajon O'Quinn paced the Buffs advancing in both the 60 and 200 meters.
...

UP NEXT:
The Buffs will continue action at the Air Force Invitational on Saturday Jan. 27. Field events start at 11:30 with the men's shot put and events on the track will begin at 1:00 p.m with the 60 meter hurdles.
...
"
 
Best chance to see the Buffs live during the indoor T & F season for Boulder-area folk is this weekend. Although the sprinters and field athletes have been competing for awhile, believe this, at least in the past, has been when the top middle distance and distance athletes 1st race during the indoor track and field season. (They usually get a slower competition start to help them recover from cross country season and, I'm guessing, to help them peak at the right time (NCAA championships).)



Direct link to Invitational manual (with detail event schedule, etc.)- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.si...ents/2018/1/24/Colorado_Invitational_2018.pdf
 
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Short preview article on the home meet starting Thursday-


Direct link - http://cubuffs.com/news/2018/1/30/track-and-field-cu-invitational-what-you-want-to-know.aspx

"
WHO: The University of Track and Field program
WHAT: Colorado Invitational
WHEN: February 1-3
WHERE: The Sklar Family Track at CU's Indoor Practice Facility

SCHEDULE (full one here)
Thursday, February 1
3:00 - Women's Pentathlon 60 M Hurdles
3:10 - Men's Heptathlon 60 Meters

Friday, February 2
10:30 - Men's Heptathlon 60M Hurdles
10:30 - Women's Long Jump
2:00 - Women's Pole Vault
7:30 – Men's Mile
7:40 – Women's Mile

Saturday, February 3
11:00 – Men's Shot Put, women to follow
11:00 Men's 5,000 Meters, women to follow

SOCIAL MEDIA
For live updates during the meet, follow us on twitter @CuBuffsTrack

LIVE RESULTS
Fans unable to attend the CU Invitational can access live results at cubuffs.com.

THE COMPETITION
The Buffs will compete against several Front Range Schools and a few others.
  • Adams State College, Air Force Academy, Azusa Pacific College, Cal State Fullerton, Chadron State College, Colorado Christian University, Colorado College, Colorado Mines University, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State Univesity Pueblo, Colorado State University, Johnson and Whales, Portland State University, South Dakota Mines College, Southern Colorado College, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Western State College.

ADMISSION FEE
Spectators will be charged for admission to the meet as follows:
  • All Session Pass: $10
  • Thursday: Free
  • Friday: $5
  • Saturday: $8
...
"

Full schedule (linked from above article. Note- link not working for me as I type this.) - http://cubuffs.com/documents/2018/1/30//CU_Invite_Schdule_.png?id=9390
 
Article after the 1st day of action, which was all about the multi-events.-


Direct link - http://cubuffs.com/news/2018/2/1/tr...places-second-in-pentathlon-at-cu-invite.aspx

"
BOULDER - The University of Colorado track and field team kicked off the 2018 CU Invitational here Friday with the multi-events. Maja Wichhart-Donzo finished second in the pentathlon with 3,754 total points, while Andrew Ghizzone leads the field after day one in the heptathlon.

...

UP NEXT
The CU Invitational continues Friday with events beginning at 10:30 am with the men's heptathlon 60 meter hurdles and with the women's long jump. Action will wrap up Saturday with events starting at 11:00 am.

QUOTABLE (Assistant Coach Lindsay Malone)
Overall Performances
"I was really glad everybody was ready to go and compete today. We competed against a strong field including some teams from California that came out. We had a lot of PRs today which was great to see. This meet is actually a prep meet for our multi meet in conference, so it is important to put five and seven events together and we can clearly string that together right now. So, that makes me excited for conference."

On the Women's Pentathlon
"It is the mentality that, 'We were ready for this and we worked for this.' I'm excited that the PRs are coming in the multi. Usually your lifetime PRs aren't always in a multi so to come in and get lifetime PRs not only for the multi but the overall event. In the 800, I was very glad to see the girls finish one, two, three. They stuck with our training plan."

On Ghizzone's Performance
"The fun thing about the multis is a lot of the stuff we have been working on are technical gains. Technical gains that will pay off in competition but, you have to be able to see what is actually going to happen in between practice and competition. Andrew [Ghizzone] has made some huge improvements in high jump, which we got to see today. High jump is one event that I cannot wait to see him compete in for the rest of the season because things are starting to click!"
...
"
 
Articles from Friday's and Saturday's action in the now-completed Colorado Invitational.

Friday -

Saturday -

From Friday -

"
BOULDER - The University of Colorado runner Dani Jones clocked a 4:36.05 mile time, the fastest women's mile ever within the the state of Colorado, here Friday night at the CU Invitational.

WHAT HAPPENED: Seeded Section Mile

Dani Jones continues her stellar career here for Colorado with the seeded mile Friday night. Right off the start, Jones separated from the pack and continued strong crossing the finish line at 4:36.05 to not only win the event but produce a time that will turn heads.
"All we hoped for Dani today, was an NCAA qualifying mark which, up here is about 4:44," head coach Mark Wetmore said. "So she [Jones] overruled the plan completely and ran the fastest women's mile ever within the state of Colorado. Needless to say it qualifies for NCAAs but converted it is either the second or third fastest time for a CU woman."
Jones' previous best mile time of 4:38.68 is the third fastest mile time in school history behind two Olympians in Jenny Barringer and Emma Coburn. With her 4:36.05 she sits in third overall before elevation is calculated.
On the men's side, the Buffs took the top-two spots with Zach Perrin winning the event with a time of 4:03.21. Ben Saarel finished right behind with a 4:03.40 time. Eduardo Herrera finished sixth crossing the finish line at 4:03.40 to round out the Buffs finishing in the top-10.
HEPTATHLON: Ghizzone Wins
Andrew Ghizzone broke his own heptathlon school record here Friday winning the event with a new record 5,417 total points.
...

Andrew Ghizzone's new heptathlon score of 5,405 is currently the top score in the MPSF conference for the men's heptathlon. Brian Matthews from BYU is in second with a 5,393 score.

FIELD EVENTS
Rajon O'Quinn finished second overall in the Women's High Jump with a height of 5-5.25/1.66.
...

QUOTABLE (Head Coach, Mark Wetmore)
On Dani's Mile
"All we hoped for Dani today, was an NCAA qualifying mark. Which up here is about 4:44, so she overruled the plan completely and ran the fastest women's mile ever within the the state of Colorado. 4:35.05, needless to say it qualifies for NCAAs but converted it is either the second or third fastest time for a CU woman."
On the Men's Mile
"Zach and Ben ran exactly what I hoped they would. The goal tonight for them was to get NCAA qualifying marks. Both of them running in the low 4:03 that will convert to sea level marks that will certainly get them into the NCAA, it always has. Good night for those two guys."
...
"

From Saturday -

"
BOULDER - The University of Colorado track and field team closed out the 2018 CU Invitational here Saturday. The women put together multiple strong performances including a 4x400 school record.

WHAT HAPPENED: On The Women's Side
The women's 4x400 relay team of Rajon O'Quinn, Valerie Welch, Eriana Henderson and Gabby Scott capped off the night with a first-place finish to go along with their new school record of 3:42.13. The previous record, 3:45.11, was set in 2012 at the MPSF Indoor Championships. The second place relay team crossed the finish line seven seconds late (3:49.05).

"It's the first time the A team was put together this season," Head coach Mark Wetmore said. "They ran well, but they could run even better."

A duo of CU runners took the top two spots in the women's 3,000 meters. Makena Morley finished first with a strong PR time of 9:20.57 and Erin Clark clocked in behind her at 9:21.41.

"At this time of the year the things we're hoping for are developmental performances towards either scoring at the conference meet, or qualifying for the NCAA, when their two times are converted for the elevation there's a really good chance they qualified for the NCAA today, which was not at all expected."
...

UP NEXT
The Buffs distance crew will hit the road to the Husky Classic in Seattle on February 9 while the sprinters, hurdlers, and field members will see action in Fayetteville, Ark. at the Tyson Invitational (Feb. 9-10).
...
"



 
The men's and women's track and field teams will pretty much be competing from "sea to shining sea" in indoor track this weekend, as:
  • the distance runners and some of the top field and sprint aathletes will be in Seattle for the Husky Classic, being held today and tomorrow.
  • More sprinters and field athletes will, I believe (based on the schedule), be at the Tyson Invitational, being held in Fayetteville, Arkansas today and tomorrow.
  • Finally, junior Dani Jones is off on her own, racing I assume the most elite race in her relatively young career, as she'll be facing off Saturday evening (or afternoon MT) against the pros (including Buff greats Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn) in a 3,000 meter race at the New Balance Grand Prix, being held in Boston.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Husky Classic-

Meet homepage - http://gohuskies.com/news/2018/2/8/track-field-husky-classic-and-indoor-open-meet-information.aspx

Final Schedule - http://gohuskies.com/documents/2018/2/7/2018_Husky_Classic_Final_Schedule.pdf (Today's action in both track and field events starts at 4:00 PM Seattle time, 5:00 MT.)

Heat Sheets - http://gohuskies.com/documents/2018/2/7/Heat_Sheets_Husky_Classic_2018.pdf

Live Video - Only available for those who have a premium Flotrack subscription. IF you do, link looks to be https://www.flotrack.org/events/6050685-2018-husky-classic .

Live Results - (No link yet. Should be available soon from the meet homepage linked to above.)

Tyson Invitational

Final Schedule - http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Tyson-Schedule-Final.pdf (Today's action runs throughout the day, with field events starting at 11:00 AM MT, and the track opens for business at 12:15 PM MT.)

Start List/ Heat Sheets - http://www.flashresults.com/2018_Meets/Indoor/02-09_Tyson/tyson_startlist.pdf

Live Video - Only available through SEC+. Don't know if that requires a separate subscription, or if those whose TV subscription includes the SEC network can watch. If you can watch, Arkansas' link to the stream is https://www.espnplayer.com/.

Live Results - http://www.flashresults.com/2018_Meets/Indoor/02-09_Tyson/

New Balance Grand Prix

Cubuffs.com preview article- http://cubuffs.com/news/2018/2/8/tr...to-race-against-simpson-coburn-in-boston.aspx

"
BOULDER — It has already been a big month for Colorado junior Dani Jones.

It's about to get even bigger this weekend.

Jones last weekend ran the fastest mile ever by a woman on Colorado soil when she clocked a 4:36.05 in the Colorado Invitational, a time that turned heads around the nation, especially because it came at altitude. It was also the third-fastest fastest time ever by a Buff woman, trailing only Olympic and World Championships medalists Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn.

Now, Jones will take the competition level up a notch — actually, several notches — when she competes Saturday in the New Balance Grand Prix 3,000 in Boston. When she puts her toe on the starting line there, she will be lining up against a stellar field of international competitors — including Simpson and Coburn.

Jones will be the only collegian in the race.
...

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will be shown live on the NBC Sports Network from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The women's 3,000 is scheduled to start at 4:32 p.m.
"
Meet Homepage - http://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com/

Schedule / Start List (Click on the race to see the entrants.) - http://www.flashresults.com/2018_Meets/Indoor/02-09_Tyson/tyson_startlist.pdf

Live Video - On NBC. For those who can't watch on NBC TV but have NBC access through their TV subscription (or whatever), assume it may also be viewable through the NBC app or website (http://www.nbcsports.com/).

Live Results - I'm thinking live results will also be available through the Schedule link provided above (once of course the races are completed). If not, also found a secondary link which might provide results - http://boston-indoor-grand-prix.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=590&year=2018&do=info .
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, away from the track, congrats to the 6 cross country athletes, and both the men's and women's teams overall, who earned the Coaches Association (USTFCCA) All-American Academic honors!



(The list from the article -
USTFCCCA Men's Cross Country All-Academic
NameYr.MajorHometown
Joe KleckerSo.BiochemistryHopkins, Minn.
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country All-Academic
NameYr.MajorHometown
Kaitlyn BennerSr.Chemical and Biological EngineeringSuperior, Colo.
Sage HurtaSo.Chemical and Biological EngineeringHamilton, N.Y.
Makena MorleyJr.AnthropologyBigfork, Mont.
Melanie NunSr.Mathematics and EconomicsBroomfield, Colo.
Brianna SchwartzSo.JournalismPittsburgh, Pa.
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
 
Looks like at minimum few strong performances to start things off in Seattle!





As is pointed out in another tweet, Ms. Clark only lost to 2 Olympians (both veteran professionals). Her time looks to be 4th fastest in the nation in NCAA D1 this year***, pending other results from today. Ms. Morley's time looks to be around 8th best so far this year. (Of course, a lot of top races, including conference championships, are still to be run.)

***Noticed I hadn't written anything yet on HOW athletes qualify for the NCAA indoor track and field championships, so edited the original post and put qualifying info down at the bottom. In short, it's the top 16 (adjusted) times and marks in individual events, and top 12 team times in the relays.
__________________________________________________

Edit- it was also in one of the above tweets, but live results link for the Husky Classic is- https://static.gohuskies.com/custompages/trackresults/020918/index.htm .
 
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Had forgotten to post the article after Saturday's action. Potentially a NCAA qualifying time and a few PR's.

On the men's sprint-side, nice to see a freshman already moving up the Buff record books. It would be great to get a few more points at Conference (and ideally beyond there) over the next few years!




Direct link - http://cubuffs.com/news/2018/2/10/t...-clocks-second-fastest-indoor-3-000-time.aspx

"
SEATTLE, Wash. – University of Colorado senior Ben Saarel clocked a 7:50.93 time in the 3,000 meters here Saturday at the Husky Classic. This time is not only the second fastest time in the NCAA but now second all-time for CU behind Goucher's indoor time from 1998.

WHAT HAPPENED
Ben Saarel finished fifth in the 3,000 meters with an impressive time PR of 7:50.93. This time is the fastest time in the MPSF conference as of February 10 and is the second fastest in the nation. Justyn Knight owns the top time in the country with a 7:45.86.
...

TYSON INVITATIONAL
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Buffs competed in the 200 meters today at the Tyson Invitational. Freshman Jon Maas clocked a 21.46 time to tie for 10th. His time is currently the third fastest time in the MPSF conference and the fastest time by a Buff this season.
...

UP NEXT
The Buffs have one more opportunity to improve marks before the MPSF Championships. The Air Force Collegiate Open is set for February 16-17 in USAFA, Colo.
"

(Note- As pointed out in Twitter by a great former Buff, both he and another actually ran faster than Mr. Saarel's time in the indoor 3000M (confirmed via the record-book at https://cu_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/www.cubuffs.com/pdf9/2670192.pdf), so that 2nd fastest Buff part of the article doesn't appear to be quite accurate, but 4th isn't bad, and more importantly it might (???) be enough (looks like it's currently the #9 time in the NCAA this year) to qualify for the NCAA Championships.)
 
So, just a few of the Buffs were in action yesterday in front of next weeks conference championships.


Direct link - http://cubuffs.com/news/2018/2/16/t...ocks-impressive-hurdle-time-at-air-force.aspx

"
USAFA, Colo. – A handful of Colorado track and field athletes competed at the Air Force Collegiate Open here Friday to improve marks before the MPSF Championships next weekend. Alexander Billing, did just that and more.

WHAT HAPPENED – Sub Eight-Second 60-Meter Hurdles
Alexander Billing joins an elite group of CU hurdlers to clock a sub eight-second 60-meter hurdles, as he ran a 7.98 to finish first in the event Friday night. Billing's PR time of 7.98 is tied for the seventh fastest time in the MPSF and will set him up nicely to score points for the Buffs next weekend at the conference championships.

Other than Jaron Thomas' 7.98, 60 meter-hurdle time at the MPSF Championships last year, it had been over 10 years since a CU athlete clocked a sub eight-second 60-meter hurdles. Billing is now tied for third all-time for CU with Thomas.

Women Throwers Dominate
The Buff women took home both the shot put and weight throw event titles. Mariah Walker won the shot put tossing a 47-7.0/14.50 mark to earn a season high. In the women's weight throw, Elisa Grandemange also earned a season best mark of 54-6.75/16.63 to take first.
...

UP NEXT
Next weekend the Buffs will head to the MPSF Championships in Seattle, Washington on February 23-24. Last year the women came in fifth while the men finished sixth.
...
"
 
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