Senior Shaw Gifford and freshman Austin Mitsch race in the 60-meter dash final Saturday at the Potts Indoor Invitational in Balch Fieldhouse. Gifford placed first with a time of 6.76 and Mitsch placed third at 7.06. (Matt Sisneros/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado track and field team hosted the Potts Indoor Invitational at the Balch Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday. The vertical jumps, including the men’s and women’s high jump, were showcased on Friday and the field and running events proceeded the following day.
The Colorado women’s jumpers — sophomore Brittany Lewis, freshman Mariah Slack, sophomore Ewelina Pena and returning jumper junior Kelsey English — competed in the preliminary high jump event on Friday afternoon. Three athletes successfully cleared 5-3 and only one would continue, clearing 5-10. English, who was competing unopposed, jumped 5-10 on her second try. That would be her peak mark of the day.
The women took first place in three events on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Abrianna Torres grabbed the top spot in the long jump, recording 19-08. Her fellow buff Brittany Lewis followed Torres closely with a 18-09 jump. Torres, who previously recorded the eighth best toss in CU history at 38-7, took first in the shot put competition and broke her record, throwing for 41-2 1/4. Senior Kajsa Bank came in second place at 39-5 3/4.
The final first place field event held by the lady Buffaloes was the women’s weight throw. Senior Emily Hunsucker blew the competition out of the water as she threw for 57-7, which was about 8 feet higher than her opponents’ throws.
In track, the women grabbed the first three titles for the 60-meter dash, with Eileen Gehring at 7.71, Lindsy Mattson at 7.91 and Brittany Hanrahan at 8.30. In the 60-meter hurdles event, Lewis and Torres ranked second and third respectively.
On the men’s side, first place finishes for the Buffs included the shot put and the weight throw. Senior Alex Kizirian led the way, throwing the shot put for 53-11 1/4 and recording the highest weight throw in the event at 65-11.50.
In the high jump, junior Mark Jones jumped 6-10 3/4, coming in first place in the event. In the men’s pole vault, senior Jason DeWitt came neck and neck with the event’s leader Ben Timmer from Colorado Mines. DeWitt came 4 inches shy of taking home first place for the Buffaloes.
Senior Shaw Gifford took first in the 60-meter dash with a personal best of 6.76 while freshman teammate Austin Mitsch came in third in the event at 7.06. Freshman Jaron Thomas also grabbed a first for the Buffaloes in the 60-meter hurdles event, with a time of 8.29. Jones followed Thomas in third place with 8.45.
The Buffs continue this Thursday in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Invitational.
Contact CU Independent staff writer Elizabeth Vogel at Elizabeth.vogel@colorado.edu.
