Courtesy: Linda Poncin, Assistant SID

Release: 02/14/2009

 

See the full race here

See the post race interview here

SEATTLE, Wash. — For the second time in as many races, the University of Colorado’s Jenny Barringer recorded a school record as she ran the 5,000-meter run in 15 minutes, 1.70 seconds at the Husky Classic on Saturday night.

 

Barringer’s time is the second fastest ever run by an American. This was the first 5k race of her indoor career. Barringer crushed the former CU record of 15:39.25, which was held by Sara (Gorton) Slattery for the last six years.

 

“Jenny’s time of 15:01 was not incomprehensible,” head track and field coach Mark Wetmore said. “To put it in perspective, eight days ago it would have been the American record. Shalane Flanagan ran the American record (14:47.52, at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games) last Saturday. This is still the second fastest time run by American and the third fastest in the world this season.”

 

And just like two weeks ago, it was all Barringer as she finished the race over a full minute ahead of the runner-up. Penn State’s Bridget Franek took second in 16:03.40.

 

“We had discussed going 15:20 and hopefully being able to kick hard to 15:14 to challenge the collegiate record,” Barringer explained. “It was fun and exciting to do and took me overruling some of the splits. It was for the best since I was able to hang on and run a good time. This was a mark we would have had our eyes on in a few years and to get it now says a lot about the decision to sit out and redshirt the cross country season. I really needed some time to put in some miles and we’re seeing the pay off now.”

 

The Dempsey Indoor Stadium already has Barringer’s name in the record book for her 3k performance two weeks ago, but now it adds her name to the 5k record book. Both performances involved solo performances from the CU distance ace. Barringer said she used knowledge from her 3k race to help her to the NCAA record breaking performance.

 

“Mark, Heather (Burroughs) and I talked specifically about the first lap being the most important lap because I went out really fast and was excited in my first race two weeks ago,” Barringer said. “So I decided to slow it down to run at a reasonable pace. After that, I knew I wanted to be at about 56 seconds a lap and I just stayed on it. I don’t know at what point I started to lap some women but that helped to pull me along mentally to see other racers ahead of me

 

“With two laps to go, I knew this is when it really counted. I lost track of the time and I heard Heather yelling, so I knew I was close to a record and wanted to pour it on. I was really tired and happy with the effort.”

 

The record Barringer was chasing was the NCAA record. She demolished it by 12 seconds. Kim Smith (Providence) had previously held the record at 15:14.18 in 2004.

 

This is Barringer’s second NCAA Record. She also owns the record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 9:29.20 which she ran last June en route to winning her second NCAA steeplechase title.

 

            Barringer’s time, the top in the collegiate ranks, is over 52 seconds faster than the previous top NCAA Division I mark of 15:54.36, ironically held by Barringer’s arch-rival Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech).

 

            “This race didn’t have a rabbit. I didn’t have anyone to run with and once again it was a solo effort,” Barringer said. “And as I was lapping other women, I was running in lane two for part of the way. For me, the ability to run well by myself in those conditions is really incredible. I believe that I can run with the top distance runners which include Sally.”

 

            Barringer has now automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs and will probably have to choose which event to run at nationals as most distance runners chose to focus on one event late in the season.

 

“The decision will be difficult to make given the way I’ve performed,” Barringer said. “I have the top time in the 5k and the second best in the 3k. As the competition winds down, Mark, Heather and I will sit down and figure out which event I will perform the strongest at. It will be a very difficult decision.”

 

            Barringer was not the only Buffalo to earn a trip to the NCAA Championship. Kenyon Neuman took fourth overall in the top seed of the men’s 5k. He clocked an automatic qualifying time of 13:41.66. To add to the impressive run, the time is the third fastest in school history. Adam Goucher owns the top mark (13:38.23) and Brent Vaughn is second (13:38.30).

 

            “Kenyon’s 13:41 was a great race for him and surpassed his outdoor pr by four seconds,” Wetmore said. “It was a really good race and we always knew he had it in him. I’m glad he finally got it.”

 

            Neuman was the third best collegiate performer in the section and was only five seconds behind Alabama’s Tyson David, who won the race in 13:36.76/

 

            Jordan Kyle placed 23^rd in the same section of the 5k. He ran a time of 14:20.62. Andy Wacker, although running in a different section, finished less than a second off Kyle’s time at 14:21.16.

 

            Emma Coburn made her collegiate debut in the mile and took fifth in the third section. Coburn clocked a time of 4:53.27, the fastest time by a Buff this indoor season.

 

            Wetmore was very pleased all around with performances by CU.

 

            “We come here because it’s a fast venue with great competition and true to form we are leaving with a lot of good performances,” he said.

 

            The Buffs will have one more tune up prior to the Big 12 Championship on Feb. 27-28. The final meet before conference is the Colorado School of Mines Twilight Open on Friday, Feb. 20.

 

 

 

HUSKY CLASSIC

University of Washington (Dempsey Indoor Stadium)

Men’s Field Events (CU Athletes Only)—

Weight Throw: 14. Chase Dukes, 54-06.50

 

Women’s Field Events (CU Athletes Only)—

Shot Put: 20. Kaity Kark, 38-08.75

Weight Throw: 30. Kaity Kark, 43-03.25

 

Men’s Track Events (CU Athletes Only)—

Mile Run (section 2): 3. Dan Edwards, 4:13.56; 6. Jonny Stevens, 4:17.21

3000-Meters (section 1): 3. Aric Van Halen, 8:26.37

3000-Meters (section 2): 1. Joe Bosshard, 8:17.98

3000-Meters (section 3): 9. Christian Thompson, 8:14.55

5000-Meters (section 1): 6. Martin Medina, 14:38.53

5000-Meters (section 2): 9. Andy Wacker, 14:21.16

5000-Meters (section 4): 4. Kenyon Neuman, 13:41.66 NA; 23. Jordan Kyle, 14:20.62

 

Women’s Track Events (CU Athletes Only)

Mile Run (section 2): 11. Emily Hanenburg, 5:05.05

Mile Run (section 3): 5. Emma Coburn, 4:53.27

3000-Meters (section 1): 5. Kaylen Slack, 9:58.07; 10. Katie Cumming, 10:01.76

3000-Meters (section 2): 9. Allison Sawyer, 9:59.29; 12. Rachel Gioscia, 10:08.09

5000-Meters (section 2): 1. Jenny Barringer, 15:01.70 SR/NCAA/NA

 

 

SR – School Record

NA – NCAA Automatic qualifying time/mark

NP – NCAA Provisional qualifying Time/mark

NCAA – NCAA Record