Colorado Wraps Up Indoor Season At NCAA Championships

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  — Colorado track and field closed out the 2023 indoor track and field season here Friday at the NCAA Indoor National Championships with two women earning All-American honors. 
 
Avery McMullen got the day started in the pentathlon where she finished 12^th overall for a Second Team All-American honor. McMullen scored 4,149 points, placing highest in the hurdles where she was fifth in 8.33 seconds. McMullen followed it up with a seventh-place finish in the high jump at 1.75 meters (5-8.75), then 15^th in the shot put at 11.30m (37-1).
 
McMullen was seventh heading into the final event after finishing ninth in the long jump at 5.95 meters (19-6.25). She finished 13^th in the 800 in 2:27.17 for her final 12^th position.
 
Graduate transfer Ella Baran was next on the track for the Buffs. She finished 15^th overall in the 5,000-meter run in 16:48.53 to earn a Second Team All-American honor.
 
Baran fell into 11^th overall off the start as everyone bunched up. She dropped to the back of the pack through the first 1,000 meters as the race started out slow with the first 1,600 meters in 5:22 with all the women three wide across two lanes. Baran came through the 2K mark at 6:48, just a second and a half off the lead. The leaders changed to pick up the pace with 11 laps to go as the pace dropped from 41-43 seconds a lap to 39s. Baran moved up to 12^th with eight laps remaining, then started to move up positions with 800 remaining to 10^th. She fell to 15^th in the final four laps as her pace fell off the 39 second laps.
 
True freshman Isaiah Givens was unable to compete in the men’s mile due to an illness.
 
The Buffs finish up the indoor season and transition to the outdoor season next weekend with a few athletes heading to Eugene to compete at Hayward Field.
 
RESULTS:
Women’s Pentathlon: 1. Jadin O’Brien (ND) 4,512; 12. Avery McMullen (COLO) 4,149
Pentathlon Events
60 Hurdles:  1. Beatrice Juskeviciute (VAN) 8.23; 5. Avery McMullen (COLO) 8.33
High Jump: 1. Charity Griffith (BALL) 1.81m (5-11.25); T7. Avery McMullen (COLO) 1.75m (5-8.75)
Shot Put: 1. Ida Eikeng (UW) 14.03m (46-0.5); 15. Avery McMullen (COLO) 11.30m (37-1)
Long Jump: 1. Allie Jones (USC) 6.20m (20-4.25); 9. Avery McMullen (COLO) 5.95m (19-6.25)
800: 1. Kristine Blazevica (UT) 2:12.79; 13. Avery McMullen (COLO) 2:27.17
 
Women’s…