Colorado State University Athletics
Track & Field Preview ? Season Preview
1/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Indoor Track & Field
Getting Started: The Colorado State indoor track & field teams begin competition on Friday at the CU Open in Boulder. The Rams will compete in seven regular-season meets before challenging for the Mountain West Conference Championship title on Feb. 26-28 at the Air Force Academy.
Three of Four: Colorado State student-athletes broke four school records last season and three of those return to competition in 2004. Senior Christine Ahn broke her own school record in the pole vault, clearing 12-6.25 at the Air Force Open. Senior Loree Smith broke the CSU record in the weight throw after her toss of 66-2.25 at the Wyoming Open and junior Jacob Benson broke the triple jump record and now holds the record at 51-2.25.
Other Record Returners: Indoor record holders John Woods (60 meters), Dylan Olchin (5000 meters) and Josh Horak (pole vault) also return for the 2004 season after setting records during the 2002 season. Senior Joey Alzola was also a member of the school record setting distance medley team during the 2001 season.
All-Conference: A total of 13 different Colorado State student-athletes were named to the 2003 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field All-Conference team. Of those 13, nine of those return for the 2004 season and are listed below (* indicates champion):
Jacob Benson - High jump, long & triple jump
Jeremy Graff - Shot put
*Becky Hammitt - 800 meters
Justin Hazzard - 60 meter hurdles
Keela Niemeyer - Shot put
*Dylan Olchin - 5000 meters
*Jake Simpson - 60 meters
**Loree Smith - Shot put, weight throw
Katrice Thomas - 200 meters
Mountain West Records: In men?s indoor track & field, Dylan Olchin holds the conference all-time record for the 5000 meters with his time of 14:14.05 and right behind him in second in Austin Vigil with a time of 14:16.87.
