Buffs Close Home Competition Friday

BOULDER — The University of Colorado track and field program competes in the final home meet of the 2023 season this Friday at the Colorado Invitational.
 
The meet will begin at 10 a.m. with the vertical and horizontal jumps, followed by the throws beginning at 12 p.m. Running events begin at 4 p.m. and run with the normal meet schedule until the conclusion of the 4×400-meter relays when Colorado will host an elite 3,000-meter run, Masters Mile and finish the meet with an elite mile.
 
The Buffaloes will also honor 15 student-athletes competing in their final home meet in a CU uniform beginning around 3:30 p.m.
 
The one day meet begins with the field events where Noah Bouchard will lead five Buffs in the high jump. Troy Colleran and Jackson Meyers compete on the men’s side while Riley Burkey and Allie Routledge will jump for the women.
 
Troy will double back in the pole vault alongside Nick Bianco who is the lone 60 hurdler for the men. Meyers will join Aidan Christiansen in the long jump, while Burkey will join Kara Lucyk in the women’s long jump.
 
The throws will be contested in the midfield all afternoon with Lars Atkinson and Isaiah Bouchard doubling in both the shot and weight for the men while Jane Powers and Obi Osafo-Mensah will double for the women. Tyler Sconce and Matt Ward will contest the weight while Henry Carlson will throw the shot. For the women, Meghan and Lauren Whyrick will compete in the shot with school record holder Gya’ni Sami leading the way in the women’s weight throw.
 
Track events will begin at 4 p.m. with the 60-meter races. The women will compete seven in the hurdles led by Avery McMullen. Luc Andrada and Colleran will race the sprint along with Eva Bruce for the women.
 
The men’s 400 will be a loaded event with Luke Dry, Bianco, Cole Romig, James Milholen and Nick Nuhfer all competing. Andrada will double back in the 200 along with Garrett Nelson and Ian Gilmore. Emma Pollak leads five women in the 200 while Grace Jenkins and Joy Moorer are the lone quarter-milers.
 
The distance events start later with CU focusing mainly on the 3,000-meter run. The men will compete seven in the 3,000, including NCAA Cross Championships participants Hunter Appleton, Brendan Fraser, James Overberg and Seth Hirsch. The women will have Emily Covert lead the 3,000 race while Ella…