Posts tagged CU
How Fast Is CUs Saarel?
May 2nd
Saarel, of Park City, Utah, arrived in Boulder already in the passing lane.
An engineering physics major with an interest (bet on it not being mild) in chemistry, he earned a 4.0 GPA in his first semester. And that, said Wetmore, was because “you can’t get a 5.0 . . . he finishes practices, takes his shoes off and goes to the library.”
When the Buffs leave the state for meets, as some will do this weekend for competitions in Austin, Texas and Stanford, Calif., Wetmore says Saarel “studies on the bus to the airport, studies at the airport and studies on the airplane. He’s a willing worker when he gets to practice and will do anything we ask of him. If he’s ever tired he doesn’t show it. He’s intense in practice, intense about his school work. I’d like to find a way for him to get a 3.999 (GPA) and relax a little, gear it down a little more.”
Saarel didn’t start running until he was a high school freshman, and that came at the urging of his sister, Emma, now a runner at Swarthmore (Pa.) College. After starting in cross country, he branched out to track, and in a short time reached a comfort level in both.
After winning the Utah State Class 3A cross country championship in the second-fastest time (14:56.7) ever run on the course, he was named the 2012 Gatorade Utah Cross Country Runner of the Year. Other accomplishments that year included first place at the Foot Locker West Regional and a second-place finish at the Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional championship. In track as a senior, he also won Utah state titles, with record times in the 800 (1:51.13) and the 1,600 meters (4:07.95).
Like all else he attempts, Saarel is into it in a big, big way at CU. Last fall, in his first cross country season for the Buffs, his finishes earned All-Pac-12 First Team, All-Mountain Region and All-America honors. In his first race for the Buffs – the NCAA Pre-Nationals – he was CU’s No. 2 scorer with a ninth-place finish. In the NCAA Championships, he finished eighth as the Buffs won their fourth NCAA team title since 2001. He became CU’s first true freshman since Billy Nelson to earn All-America recognition. Nelson, who finished 42nd that year (2002), now is one of Wetmore’s assistants.
Saarel is among 14 CU student-athletes who will compete on Sunday in the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford, while a pair of CU sprinters will run at the Longhorn Invitational on Saturday in Austin. Saarel is scheduled to run in the 5,000 meters on Sunday night.
Source: CU Buffs
CU Continuing At NCAA Regionals
Apr 29th
University of Colorado will continue its season at the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regionals.
The Buffaloes received one of 44 at large bids to the regional tournaments, considered the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Championships competition.
CU, who will be sending the team or an individual to the regionals for a fourth consecutive year, will compete as the No. 17 seed in the Central Regional at the 6,200-yard, par-72 Karsten Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla. from May 8-10.
The Buffs’ region includes fellow Pac-12 opponents UCLA, Arizona and California (all of whom rank in Golfstat’s most recent top 35) and former Big 12 foes Kansas, Texas and host team Oklahoma State. Additionally, Texas Tech’s Kimmie Hill will be competing as an individual.
The top eight teams and two individuals from each of the three regionals will advance to the NCAA Championships Finals, held at the Tulsa Country Club from May 20-23 in Tulsa, Okla.
Going into the tournament with the ups and downs of the regular season behind them and with prior knowledge of the course helps Kelly know what her team has to do to have success at regionals and have the possibility of advancing to the NCAA Championships. Kelly says it’s a difficult time, with the team also taking its final exams during the week of regionals, but believes the Buffs can find the right balance.
Source: CU Buffs
Nun in 3000 Meter Steeplechase
Apr 27th
In her debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Melanie Nun turned heads, with a first place finish on Saturday at the Jack Christiansen Invitational.
Nun recorded a time of 10:59.36, which was more than a minute faster than the runner up, who recorded a time of 12:14.34.
Alex Kizirian and Emily Hunsucker got the weekend off to a hot start on Friday with first place finishes in the hammer throw. Kizirian recorded a new personal best with a toss of 198-11. Hunsucker threw for a mark of 208-10. Hunsucker dominated on the women’s side, throwing almost 18 feet further than the runner up.
In addition, Brittany Lewis added a second place finish in the long jump with a mark of 18-10.50. Abrianna Torres finished just after Lewis to earn third for the Buffs with a mark of 18-7.75.
Dillon Shije also recorded a second place finish in the 1500-meter run, recording a time of 4:01.47, a new personal best.
The sprinters found success at the meet as well. Shaw Gifford finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.37, followed closely by Austin Mitsch in third place with a 21.48 finish. Gifford also finished third with a time of 10.66 in the 100-meter dash, again followed by Mitsch in fourth place. Mitsch recorded a time of 10.67 in the event.
The men finished the 4×100 meter relay in second place, after CSU, for a combined time of 40.77.
On the women’s side, Lindsy Mattson recorded a third place finish in the 200-meter dash, running in 24.55.
As a team, CU’s men’s side tied for second place with Air Force Academy combining for 112.50 points. The women finished fourth with a total of 101.50 points.
The Buffs will be back in action next weekend at the Longhorn Invitational on Saturday, May 3 in Austin, Texas and at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford, Calif. next Sunday, May 4.
Source: CU Buffs