Junior Shalaya Kipp ran the second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in the world this year on Saturday at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.
Junior Kyle MacIntosh in the 400-meter hurdles during a meet in March at Potts Field in Boulder, Colo. The CU track team performed well this weekend, breaking several records at the Payton Jordan Invitaional in Palo Alto, Calif. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)
Kipp, who ran in the fastest section of the event, went out conservatively but kicked hard the last 50 meters to pass 2011 Track and Field World Championship qualifier Delilah Decrescenzo. Kipp finished the race in a time of 9 minutes, 43.09 seconds. It was a personal best by over 13 seconds, an NCAA leading time, and just .09 seconds off of the Olympic ‘A’ standard.
Kipp’s time solidified her as the third-best steeplechaser in CU history. The only two names ahead of her are Jenny Simpson, American record-holder, 2011 World Championship gold medalist, and 2008 Olympian; and Emma Coburn, 2011 NCAA and USATF Champion and 2011 World Championships finalist in the steeplechase.
Kipp wasn’t the only Buff putting her talents on display this weekend. Graduate student Jessica Tebo, running in the fast heat of the women’s 5,000-meter, ran the third-fastest time in CU history. Tebo stopped the clock at 15:19.43, a personal best by over six seconds. The mark is good enough for an Olympic ‘A’ standard and only 12 seconds behind the school record held by Jenny Simpson.
Sophomore transfer Jake Hurysz continued his strong season in the second section of the men’s 5,000-meter run. Hurysz ran relatively conservatively for a majority of the race, and in a fashion similar to his other races this year, kicked past his competitors to win the section in a time of 13:38.59. His time is a personal best by nearly 40 seconds. If he had been running in a Buffs uniform, Hurysz’s time would have made him the 8th fastest Buff in CU history.
Senior Christian Thompson also impressed in his 5,000-meter run. In his outdoor 5k debut, Thompson ran in the third section. He seized the lead at the 3,000-meter mark and never looked back. Hammering the last 200 meters, Thompson finished the race in a personal best time of 13:59.23.
A handful of Buffs also competed this weekend at the Jack Christiansen Invitational in Fort Collins.
Junior sprinter Joe Morris stayed true to form this weekend, taking first place in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. Morris crossed the finish line in the 200-meter dash in a time of 20.77 seconds and in the 400 meter dash in 47.17. Both times eclipsed the rest of the field by almost an entire second. Sophomore Blake Berens also ran the 200-meter dash, finishing second behind his teammate in a time of 21.62.
Junior hurdler Kyle MacIntosh took away a victory in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. MacIntosh finished the race in 52.23 seconds. Just behind him was teammate sophomore Tyler Baker, who crossed the line in a time of 52.79, good enough for second place.
Freshman standout Eileen Gehring had a nice day as well, winning the women’s 200-meter dash in a personal best time of
24.21. Freshman Bridget Sweeney was also in the race, finishing 9th with a time of 25.61 seconds. Sweeney went on to run in the 400-meter dash, placing 4th with a run of 56.86 seconds.
Junior Courtney Bouchet took top honors in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. Her time of 11:04.79 put her more than 40 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
Overall the Buff’s had an impressive weekend in both the sprints and the distance events. The track and field team will be in action again this Saturday in their first Pac-12 Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ryan Sterner at Ryan.sterner@colorado.edu.
