The Colorado Buffaloes track and field team expects to be a powerhouse this year.
They got off to a good start in the season opener last week at the Air Force Academy All-Comers Meet when three Buffs won individual events. The next step comes when CU hosts the Potts Indoor Invitational at 9 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday in Balch Fieldhouse.
Take junior Alex Von Hagen, for example. Von Hagen’s jump of 21 feet, 6.5 inches earned him a win in the long jump last week. He said he expects to improve by as much as a foot this weekend.
“For long jump, I probably like it in the 22s,” Von Hagen said. “That’s where I want to be.”
Von Hagen is not only competing in the long jump, he is a heptathlete. For some, one event is enough. But for Von Hagen, junior Adam Salzmann and other heptathletes, they want to do it all. Heptathletes compete in seven events over two days.
Salzmann explains a heptathlon is four events the first day and three the next. On Day 1, it’s the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put and the high jump. Day 2 consists of the 60-meter hurdles, 1,000-meter run and the pole vault.
Salzmann said he won’t compete in the Potts Indoor Invitational due to a pulled hamstring. However, he said he believes he’ll return shortly.
“I’m expecting to be healthy and expecting to hopefully go to nationals,” Salzmann said.
Von Hagen said he shares the same expectations.
“I want to try to qualify for nationals and score in the Big 12 [Conference Indoor Championships],” Von Hagen said.
Sophomore Kali Gajewski, a thrower, said she is excited for this weekend.
“It’s nice to be at home and be able to have our coaches around, all of your teammates will be here, and you get to have some friends around,” Gajewski said. “It’s always nice to have a home meet.”
Gajewski also explains her goals for this season.
“I’d like to potentially qualify for the Big 12,” Gajewski said. “I’m a sophomore, so I’d like to start traveling and start throwing better. I have been in a rut and I’m ready to get out of it. I want to start breaking some [personal records].”
Gajewski will probably compete in the shot put and the discus. Her personal bests are 37-00.75 and 102-02, respectively.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Gina Yocom at Gina.yocom@colorado.edu.
