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Pro Track and Field Buffs (& current Buffs in pro races)- 2021 news and highlights

AztecBuff

Club Member
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I will be adding more detail for all the great racing that will be occurring in this biggest of years (Tokyo Olympics!) for the top Buffs, but wanted to quickly start this thread now, as a couple #ForeverBuffs had, I believe, their 1st races of the year.

This will of course, hopefully, be a huge year for the most elite Buffs, as they will be working on attaining their highest professional goals every 4 years (or 5 years this time due to the pandemic) - qualifying for and then giving their best efforts at the Olympics, with track and field scheduled to be competed in Tokyo from July 31st through August 8th. Other Buffs will be looking to advance their careers, and may just be shooting for strong performances up to and through the U.S. Olympic Trials, scheduled for June 18th- 27th in Eugene.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Edit - Here are the minimum performance standards to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials and Tokyo Olympics:

U.S. Olympic Trials (being held June 19-28) - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/p...-team-trials-track-field/qualifying-standards
Olympics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Information for this summer's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials -

Home page - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/postponed-2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field

Schedule - Will add link when I find it/ it's posted.
 
As I noted in the OP, a couple Buffs opened their years yesterday.



I found an article which includes a summary of the "rust busting" races the Buffs ran in (the women's 600M and mile) at https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/0...yan-crouser-unleashes-another-monster-series/
(Gabby Scott, who I'm assuming will be working towards representing Puerto Rico at the Olympics, I assume concentrating on her 400M Hurdles specialty (along with possibly a relay?), was stretching her distance in a 600M race yesterday, while Dani Jones ran the mile.)
 
Wanted to mention 2-3 #ForeverBuffs look to be in action this evening at the Prickly Pear Invitational being contested in Phoenix. Looks like its a small in number meet (only 4 races- men's and women's 800M and 3000M), but has a lot of top U.S. (much of it young) talent racing.

The Buff alums I can see who are racing :
  • 5:00 PM MT - Dani Jones in the women's 800M run (which is the 1st race of the meet)
  • 5:15 PM MT - Emma Coburn in the women's 300M run (I saw something in a message board she may have scratched due to illness, but can't find any definitive confirmation of this.)
  • 5:30 PM MT - Joe Klecker in the men's 3000M
Live results (including start lists) - https://results.wingfootfinish.com/meets/7114/events and/ or https://results.wingfootfinish.com/meets/7114

Live video stream (is only available for those who have a premium ($) subscription to usatf.tv.) - https://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?d...250&year=2021&mgroup_id=45365&video_id=303017
 
Since she's now a pro, figured I'd put this here- congrats to Dani Jones (and Nate Landman) for another well-earned honor!

 
Wanted to mention there's a great chance to see a couple #ForeverBuffs race this afternoon, as the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is being televised on NBC from 2:00-4:00 MT. Emma Coburn and Dani Jones (both New Balance sponsored) are entered in the 2 mile, with the race scheduled to star at 2:41 PM MT. Buff alum Joe Klecker is also racing, in the men's 2 mile, but that looks to be before TV coverage begins as it's scheduled to start at 1:20 PM MT. (Hopefully they may re-show the race, or at least provide highlights, during the broadcast.)

Edit- I just noticed, for those with Peacock premium (included for me as part of my Comcast internet subscription), the men's 2 mile will be included in their extended coverage, which begins at 1:15 PM MT.

Links for the meet:
Homepage - https://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com/
Schedule, and possibly results - https://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com/events-results/
 
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Emma Coburn beat the previous American Record in the indoor 2 mile (previously held by #ForeverBuff Jenny Simpson), but came in 2nd as the winner smashed the record (by ~8-9 seconds). Great result by Ms. Cobrun, and I'd guess (???) maybe one of if not her best in a "flat" race (one that didn't include the barriers present in her steeplechase specialty event).

Tweet with the results (posted by yet another all-time Buff great Kara Goucher)-
 
Another chance to watch some of the pro track Buffs this evening at a top quality meet, as a few are participating at the "Texas Qualifier" meet in Austin that is scheduled for last night and tonight. A free stream is being provided on citiusmag.com's Youtube channel (see link at the bottom of this post). (I'm going off my often faulty memory on trying to identify the Buffs involved in the meet. I ask forgiveness in advance if I'm missing anyone.)

Note - This is billed as a meet for those motivated to meet U.S. Olympic qualifying (https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field/qualifying-standards) and Olympic (Page 9 of "Qualification system (English)" that can be linked to from https://www.worldathletics.org/competition/standards/2021) qualifying standards. Just in case any challenge these tough marks, wanted to provide links to them.

Re last night's races, the only names that jumped out to me as Buff alums were Carrie Verdon and Maddie Alm, who both competed in the women's 5000M. It must have brought back many memories for them of past training and competitive runs, as they ended up 4th and 5th (out of a field of 18) within a second of each other.
(For anyone wanting to view that night of racing, looks like it's available for replay at -

)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For this evening, the top runner's racing and coverage starts at 6:00 PM MT, with names that I recognize as #ForeverBuffs being (in order of scheduled start time, all times converted to MT; scheduled times and racers from https://trialsofmilesracing.com/tom/the-texas-qualifier):

6:00 PM - Women's 1500M - Sara Vaughn
7:05 PM - Women's 5000M - Emma Coburn
7:29 PM - Men's 10000M - Connor Winter
8:07 PM - Women's 10000M - Laura Thweatt and Makena Morley

Race homepage -
https://trialsofmilesracing.com/tom/the-texas-qualifier

Live results - https://live.athletic.net/meets/7337/events

Youtube streaming video should be available at race time from the following account - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg
 
A couple #ForeverBuffs, along with a current one, are racing in Eugene, in the women's 1500M tomorrow afternoon, with coverage on NBC SportsNet (NBCSN). (The broadcast begins at 3:00 MT, with the race at 3:12 PM MT.)

 
The 3 Buff women are around 5 minutes from the scheduled start of their 1500M race.

(Note- with the 2 Pro and one current Buff I'd assume all having different goals for this race, one time to look for all is 4:06, which is the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time.)
 
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Dani Jones does get the Olympic Trial standard and finishes 4th, running a Personal Record (PR) of 4:05.27!

Sage Hurta finishes 8th in 4:08.38, which will EASILY become the fastest NCAA time so far this season (The fastest time showing on TFRRS so far is a 4:12.38 run by an Arkansas Razorback)! That time, a PR for her, will also move her up to 4th in the Buff record book, ahead of Buff great Mary Decker, and behind only Jenny Simpson (her record is also still the NCAA record), Olympic medalist and World Championship gold record holder (in the steeplechase) Emma Coburn, and the aforementioned Dani Jones. (Per the below tweet, her time also ties for the fastest in the NCAA EVER to be ran in April.)

In her 1st race in over a year, Jenny Simpson looks to have treated this as a rust buster, and finished behind Ms. Hurta in 9th, running 4:10.07.

 
Wanted to mention that, as the current Buffs begin action at the Pac 12 Championships today, many #ForeverBuffs will also be in action over the next 2 days at the "Track Meet" presented by On Running, being held somewhere in Southern California. (They aren't disclosing exact location as no fans are allowed.)

It looks like the only action today is this evening with the 10000M runs, while tomorrow's afternoon section is being shown on ESPN beginning at noon MT, and there's also a night session. Sounds like both evening sessions can be viewed via a premium pay per view cost of $5.99; per soundrunning 90% of that is going direct to the athletes (with the other 10% for production costs).

Partial Schedule (all times Pacific)/ meet homepage - https://www.soundrunning.run/trackmeet
(Haven't looked that hard, but can't find a detailed time schedule for the part of the meet on ESPN.)

Live results - https://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/meets/10061/events

Just from eyeballing entries, here are the #ForeverBuffs racing (sorry in advance if I miss anyone) -
Tonight:
Women's 10000M (9:40 PM MT scheduled start) - Laura Thweatt , Makena Morley (I'm assuming the later is running, as the entry list has a "Makena Morely" listed.)

Men's 10000M (Top heat, 10:20 PM MT start) - Connor Winter, Joe Klecker

Saturday afternoon (begins on ESPN at noon MT):

Women's 1500M (top heat) - Dani Jones, Emma Coburn

Saturday (Under the lights):

Women's 1500M (Heat 2) - Sara Vaughn

Women's 5000M (Heat 2) - Carrie Verdon, Maddie Alm, Sara Sutherland

Men's 5000M (Heat 2) - Zach Perrin

Video links:
Link for premium pay per view stream for tonight and tomorrow night's races
- https://www.soundrunning.run/live

Link to ESPN stream for tomorrow afternoon (for those who can't watch it on TV; assume it requires a person have a subscription to ESPN via their cable/ satellite/ cord cutting service provider.) - https://www.espn.com/watch/schedule/_/type/live/categoryId/edb3a386-604c-341a-ba4a-b7b7e44d41a7
 
In the women's 10000M recently completed, if they needed it, both #ForeverBuffs racing (Ms.'s. Morley and Thweatt) earn the U.S. Olympic trial qualifying time. Hopefully Ms. Morley isn't too bummed, as she had a great 4th place finish in the BIG (31 runners finished) field, but missed the Olympic qualifying time by less than 0.2 seconds while running 31:25.19.
 
Congrats to Joe Klecker, who in a meet sponsored by his main sponsor (ON Running), DID attain what I assume his main goal was tonight, earning the Olympic standard in the 10000M (27:28.00) by running 27:23.44, which was also good for 3rd place in his race.
 
Not only a track and field athlete anymore, but thought this would be a good place to give a BIG CONGRATS to #ForeverBuff distance runner Morgan Pearson, who earned a place on the U.S. Olympic Triathlon team with his podium finish in a world-class triathlon in Japan!



Article with more detail - https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/M...-With-Podium-Finish-At-World-Triathlon-Series

"
Morgan Pearson made some history Saturday in Yokohama, Japan, earning the first individual World Triathlon Series podium of his career, and just the third ever for a U.S. man.

But Pearson’s third-place finish was even more significant than that.

By virtue of finishing in the top eight, Pearson also locked down a spot in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 — heading to the Games for the first time. The 28-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, found himself outside of the lead group following the event’s 1,500-meter swim, but caught up during the 40-kilometer bike. The race came down to the 10-kilometer run, and Pearson was able to pass up two of the lead four runners to finish third in 1:43:12.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a better feeling,” Pearson said in an article from USA Triathlon. “You put in the work and you do the training, and you know you’re in shape to do something special, but none of that really matters when the race starts.”
...
"
 
Just wanted to mention that #ForeverBuff great Emma Coburn is running her 1st steeplechase since September 2019 a little later this morning (Mountain Time), as she's in Doha, Qatar for the annual Diamond League meet held there.

Meet coverage starts at 10:00 AM MT, with her race scheduled to begin at 10:53 AM MT. Coverage in the U.S. for today (and I believe for all Diamond League meets) is on Peacock Premium.
(For those who don't know it, Peacock is an NBC streaming service. I believe I get the Premium version "for free" (at least for now) as a Comcast/ Xfinity internet customer who opted for one of their free Flex media streamers and its streaming offerings. Believe those with Comcast's X1 service, as well as any having a Digital Starter or higher cable TV subscription, also get it for free. See https://www.peacocktv.com/xfinity for more info.)

Best wishes to Ms. Coburn!

Meet schedule, entries, and live results - https://doha.diamondleague.com/prog...edule#ScheduleInit#Doha2021_CURRENTEVENT_JSON

 
Ms. Coburn finished in 5th (out of 13), with a time of 9:08. I'm GUESSING (???) she might want to have been more in the chase for a higher placed finish (the winner finished in just over 9:00), but not a bad time for a 1st steeple in a long time.
___________________________________________________________________

In addition to Doha, the Portland Track Festival, which also has some #ForeverBuffs scheduled to compete, is being held this evening (steeplechases and 10000M only) and tomorrow.

From just eyeballing the list of entries linked to below (sorry if I miss anyone), #ForeverBuffs competing include (All times are PM and (hopefully) converted to MT. Heats are assigned by time, with the heat #1's the fastest.) -

Tonight:
Women's steeplechase (Heat 1, 8:15) - Valerie Constien and Sara Vaughn
Women’s 10000M (8:30) - Mackenzie Caldwell

Saturday:
Women’s 1500M-
Heat 3 (6:50) - Tabor Scholl
Heat 2 (7:55) – Maddie Alm
Heat 1 (8:00) - Dani Jones

Women’s 5000M (Heat 1, 9:05) - Sara Sutherland, Makena Morley

Various meet links:
Meet homepage - https://www.portlandtrack.com/ptf

Schedule (assume all times Pacific, so tonight's action begins at 7:30 PM MT, while tomorrow begins at 5:00 PM MT.) - https://www.portlandtrack.com/schedule

Video coverage (Looks to only be available as a $5.99 pay per view event.) - https://www.portlandtrack.com/watch-live

Heat Sheets/ Start lists - https://www.portlandtrack.com/ptf-entries

Live results - https://live.athletictiming.net/meets/10078/events
 
Heat 3 of the Women’s 1500 went 1:10 faster than Dani’s Heat?

I look forward to seeing how that individual does in the finals.
 
Heat 3 of the Women’s 1500 went 1:10 faster than Dani’s Heat?

I look forward to seeing how that individual does in the finals.

Not sure if you're joshing with me? (I am EXTREMELY dense that way.)

If not, wanted to clarify those are times the races will begin tomorrow, not how fast anyone ran or seed times. (I assume Ms. Jones hasn't run an 8:00 1500M in a competition since she was 10 years old or so.)
____________________________________________________________________________________

On the track this evening, the women's Heat 1 of the steeplechase recently completed, and I'd think both #ForeverBuffs should be happy with their performances. Valerie Constien finished in a great 2nd place (over a few prestigious names I know) with a 9:25.53 that looks to be both a U.S. Olympic Trials and Olympic qualifying time (9:30 standard). Sara Vaughn, who looks to be transitioning over to the steeplechase so hasn't raced it much since a kid, had a very good final lap to pass some runners and finish 5th in a time of 9:38.52, a time that also easily qualifies her for the U.S. Olympic Trials (the standard for that is 9:50). (The only runner who out-raced Ms. Constien tonight is Courtney Frerichs, who I believe is the U.S. record holder in the steeple, so no insult in losing to her.)
 
Just noticed I made a couple posts to the wrong thread. Moving the 1st to this one-

It's now Olympic Trials Eve.

Best wishes to the 14 #ForeverBuffs (and/ or maybe current*** Buffs) competing over the next 10 days or so!

(***If I'm counting right, 3 of the women and 1 of the men competing were seniors/ grad students this past season for CU, so could if they and the coaches want come back next season due to pandemic-related NCAA rules (IF I'm understanding the rules properly). In any case, if they haven't officially turned pro and earned a contract so they wear their sponsor's kit (which would of course the BEST for them, and me as a fan), hope I get to see at least 1 or 2 representing the Buffs by wearing a CU uniform in their race(s).)



USATF TRIALS SCHEDULE

DATEDAYTIME (MT)EVENTROUNDATHLETEQUALIFYING MARKSEASON BESTPERSONAL BESTUSA RANKING
18-JunFriday5:03 PMWomen's 1,5001st RoundJenny Simpson3:58.424:06.183:57.222nd
Dani Jones4:04.264:04.264:04.2610th
Micaela Degenero4:09.384:09.384:09.3824th
6:54 PMWomen's 5,0001st RoundJenny Simpson14:58.67N/A14:56.268th
Carrie Verdon15:18.5615:18.5615:18.5621st
Maddie Alm15:19.0315:19.0315:19.0324th
8:25 PMMen's 10,000FinalJoe Klecker27:23.4427:23.4427:23.447th
19-JunSaturday7:40 PMWomen's 1,500SemifinalsJenny Simpson3:58.424:06.183:57.222nd
Dani Jones4:04.264:04.264:04.2610th
Micaela Degenero4:09.384:09.384:09.3824th
20-JunSunday7:35 PMWomen's Steeplechase1st RoundEmma Coburn9:02.359:08.229:02.351st
Val Constien9:25.539:25.539:25.534th
Sara Vaughn9:38.529:38.529:38.5216th
Madie Boreman9:48.099:48.099:46.4832nd
21-JunMonday6:05 PMWomen's 1,500FinalJenny Simpson3:58.424:06.183:57.222nd
Dani Jones4:04.264:04.264:04.2610th
Micaela Degenero4:09.384:09.384:09.3824th
6:40 PMWomen's 5,000FinalJenny Simpson14:58.67N/A14:56.268th
Carrie Verdon15:18.5615:18.5615:18.5621st
Maddie Alm15:19.0315:19.0315:19.0324th
24-JunThursday8:00 PMWomen's 8001st RoundSage Hurta2:00.622:00.622:00.6218th
9:04 PMMen's 5,0001st RoundJoe Klecker13:06.6713:06.6713:06.677th
Eduardo Herrera13:24.4613:24.4613:24.4624th
9:47 PMWomen's SteeplechaseFinalEmma Coburn9:02.359:08.229:02.351st
Val Constien9:25.539:25.539:25.534th
Sara Vaughn9:38.529:38.529:38.5216th
Madie Boreman9:48.099:48.099:46.4832nd
25-JunFriday4:02 PMWomen's 800SemifinalsSage Hurta2:00.622:00.622:00.6218th
26-JunSaturday7:44 PMWomen's 10,000FinalMakena Morley31:25.1931:25.1931:25.1913th
Carrie Verdon32:09.8232:09.8232:09.8231st
Laura Thweatt32:22.4132:22.4131:52.9444th
27-JunSunday5:30 PMMen's 5,000FinalJoe Klecker13:06.6713:06.6713:06.677th
Eduardo Herrera13:24.4613:24.4613:24.4624th
5:52 PMWomen's 800FinalSage Hurta2:00.622:00.622:00.6218th


USATF TRIALS QUALIFIERS
Sage Hurta800-meters2:00.624/3/2021GCU Antelope
Dani Jones1,500-meters4:04.865/15/2021Sound Running
5,000-meters15:17.112/14/2020BU Valentine
Jenny Simpson1,500-meters3:58.4210/5/2019DohaOlympic Standard
5,000-meters14:58.672/14/2020BU ValentineOlympic Standard
Emma Coburn800-meters2:01.108/22/2020UA Sunset
1,500-meters4:03.828/15/2020Music City DistanceOlympic Standard
3,000-meter SC9:02.359/30/2019IAAF World ChampOlympic Standard
Valerie Constien3,000-meter SC9:25.535/28/2021Portland High PerformanceOlympic Standard
Eduardo Herrera5,000-meters13:24.464/2/2021Hayward Premiere
Joe Klecker5,000-meters13:06.673/6/2021San Juan CapistranoOlympic Standard
10,000-meters27:23.445/14/2021Sound Running InviteOlympic Standard
1,500-meters3:37.006/3/2021Stumptown Twilight
Carrie Verdon10,000-meters32:09.8212/5/2020The Track Meet
5,000-meters15:18.565/15/2021Sound Running
Madie Boreman3,000-meter SC9:48.094/24/2021Oregon Relays
Maddie Alm5,000-meters15:19.035/15/2021Sound Running
Laura Thweatt10,000-meters32:22.415/15/2021Sound Running
Makena Morley10,000-meters31:25.195/15/2021Sound Running
Sara Vaughn3,000-meter SC9:38.525/28/2021Portland High Performance
Micaela Degenero1,500-meters4:09.386/10/2021NCAA Championships Prelims
Qualifying Marks starting Jan 1, 2019: https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field/qualifying-standards
 
Some links for the Trials (being held in Eugene, Oregon):

Sponsoring body (USATF) Trials homepage - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field

Schedule (All times Pacific) - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field/schedule

Status of Entries (AKA Entries lists (by event)) - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field/status-of-entries

***Start lists (AKA Heat sheets; as I type this only day 1 lists are available) - https://www.usatf.org/events/2021/2020-u-s-olympic-team-trials-track-field/start-lists
TV schedule (All times Eastern) - https://www.usatf.org/news/2021/robust-television-schedule-announced-for-u-s-olymp
(Looks like all coverage is going to be on either NBC or NBCSN, with coverage beginning at 5:00 PM MT tomorrow evening on NBCSN.)

NBC link to streams that includes the items in the TV schedule link above, as well as separate streams for the multi-events (men's decathlon and women's heptathlon) and field events. - https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/track-field

Live results - https://results.usatf.org/
(***Live results should also include start lists as they become available, and they look to be in a more easily readable format than the start lists linked to above.) - https://results.usatf.org/

Quote
 
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Cubuffs preview article now available-



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/6/17/...faloes-competing-in-usatf-olympic-trials.aspx

"
EUGENE – Colorado track and field will have fourteen current and former members of the program compete at the 2021 USATF Olympic Trials that begin Friday June 18 and conclude Sunday June 27, including four current members that will run in the black and gold.

The four current student-athletes are Sage Hurta in the women's 800, Eduardo Herrera in the men's 5,000, Madie Boreman in the women's steeplechase and Micaela Degenero in the women's 1,500. The former athletes are Dani Jones in the women's 1,500, Jenny Simpson in the women's 1,500 and 5,000, Emma Coburn in the women's steeplechase, Val Constien in the women's steeplechase, Sara Vaughn in the women's steeplechase, Joe Klecker in the men's 5,000 and 10,000, Maddie Alm in the women's 5,000, Carrie Verdon in the women's 5,000 and 10,000, Laura Thweatt in the women's 10,000 and Makena Morley in the women's 10,000.

The Buffs have two athletes ranked in the top-3 in their respected events, Olympians Jenny Simpson in the 1,500 and Emma Coburn in the steeplechase. Coburn is the top-ranked American in the steeplechase at 9:02.35. Simpson is second in the 1,500 with a personal-best of 3:57.22.

Colorado has seven total marks inside the top-10 in the US heading to the trials. After the two top-three marks, Val Constien is fourth in the steeplechase, Klecker is seventh in the 5,000 and 10,000, Simpson is eighth in the 5,000 and Jones is 10th in the 1,500.

The first event for Colorado will be the women's 1,500 first round where the three CU women will look to finish top-six in their heats of 10 or have one of the six next fastest times. Simpson owns the fastest mark in her heat while Jones is third and Degenero is ninth. The second round will consist of the top-five in each heat of 12 advancing to finals with the next two fastest times for the women's final where the top-three will represent the US at the Olympics if they have gone under the Olympic Standard mark.

The men's 10,000 is the first final on the track for CU where 25 men will battle for three spots. Klecker has the fifth-best 10,000 for an American this year but is ranked seventh heading into the final based on personal bests.

Events will be live streamed and televised on NBC and NBCSN. A few events for Buffs are not scheduled to be streamed and those include the women's steeplechase first round, all of the rounds of the men's 5,000 and the women's 800 first two rounds. Live results including heat sheets released the day before and a schedule of events are available at https://trialsresults.usatf.org/.
...
"
 
Dani Jones finished 2nd in the next heat to advance to the semis and Micaela DeGenero finished 9th and will not advance
 
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