Track & Field Distance Runners set for Colorado Invitational

Track & Field Distance Runners set for Colorado Invitational

1/30/2019 2:35 PM | Track & Field

Colorado Invitational 2019 Meet Info Colorado Invitational 2019 Schedule Colorado Invitational 2019 Live Results

The Utes travel to Boulder, Colo.

SALT LAKE CITY – After a strong showing at the New Mexico Team Invite last weekend, the Utah track and field team is eager to get back in action at the Colorado Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2. Hosted by the University of Colorado, the two-day meet will take place at the Indoor Practice Facility on the campus of Colorado with competition slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

"We're going to try and get after it up in Colorado against obviously one of the best distance programs in the country," head coach Kyle Kepler said. "We are excited to get to boulder, to get in a great atmosphere, in a great facility and see if we can run some really good times and keep moving this groups season forward as well and continue to improve."

Running for the Utes this weekend will be: Sarah Newton, Brooke Manson, Nicole Griffiths, Sadie Wassum, Scarlet Dale, Sarah Feeny, Emma Christensen, Trina Moreno, Megan Killian, Natalie Platil, Kennedy Powell, Sophie Ryan, Poppy Tank, Bella Williams, and Cara Woolnough.

Utah's primary events will be the 800-meter and mile run. The Utes will have four runners compete in the 800-meter race and will enter 10 athletes in the mile run. Sophomore Tank will make her track and field season debut this weekend. This will be the first race Tank has competed in since the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships that took place in May of 2018.

Last time out the Utes earned several new personal records and moved four more athletes into the all-time top-10 list at Utah. Sophomore Jackie Martin highlighted the meet for Utah as she recorded a new personal-best time of 55.82 in the 400-meter race. This time moved Martin into sixth place all-time at Utah. Freshman Taylor Watson and senior Raynee Helm-Wheelock both had strong performances in the 200-meter race where they both recorded new personal-best times. Watson recorded a time of 24.98 while Wheelock finished in a time of 25.58. With these times, both moved into the top-10 list at Utah placing third and 10th, respectively.

Sophomore Whitney Hessler had a great day as she recorded a new lifetime best in the 800-meter run. Hessler finished the race in a time of 2:10.16 and moved herself into eighth place all-time in the 800. The 4x400-meter relay team that included freshmen Lauren O'Banion, Maya Lebar, senior Mesa Weidle, and J. Martin, ran a season best time of 3:47.10 and brought home a third-place finish.

"We got some really nice results and it was primarily our sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers down there," Kepler said. "Coach Colwell has those guys prepared, ready to go and overall I thought it was a great experience for them and a great opportunity that I felt they took advantage of."

Fans can follow the Utah track program on Twitter (@Utah_trackfield), Facebook (UtahTrackXC) and on Instagram (@UtahTrackXC).

Click below to listen to head coach Kyle Kepler in his weekly Track Chat podcast. In this edition, coach Kepler gives a preview of the Colorado Invitational, along with a recap of the New Mexico Team Invite.