Colorado’s Drew Costelow Breaks 800m School Record as Buffs Shine at Terrier Classic
BOSTON - It’s only January, but Colorado junior Drew Costelow just set the tone for what could be a special season.
Competing in his first 800-meter race of the year, Costelow didn’t just shake off the rust - he rewrote the record books. His time of 1:48.50 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Saturday now stands as the fastest in program history, eclipsing a mark that had stood since 1976. That’s nearly five decades of CU history rewritten in under two minutes.
“We had a few top-10 all-time CU marks today, and that is always a good sign,” said head coach Sean Carlson. “Drew running a school record in his first 800 of the season is a great start for him and coach Ellen Hengst.”
Costelow’s performance was part of a strong showing from the Buffaloes at Boston University, where several athletes delivered personal bests and climbed the program’s all-time lists.
Costelow’s Statement Race
The 800m Invite kicked off the day for the Buffs, and Costelow wasted no time making headlines. Running in the second of three heats, he finished fifth in his section but placed third overall among collegiate competitors.
The time? A blistering 1:48.50 - enough to bump Rick Musgrave’s 1976 record of 1:49.30 from the top spot in CU’s history books.
Right behind him in terms of CU history was junior transfer Ty Cook, who made his debut in black and gold. Cook clocked a 1:50.49 in the third heat, good enough to land him seventh on Colorado’s all-time list. For a first outing in a new program, that’s a strong way to introduce yourself.
Distance Group Delivers in 5000m
The Buffs’ distance crew also made noise in the 5000m Invite, where sophomore Jake Liebert led a trio of CU runners with a personal best 13:32.99 - the second-fastest time in program history. Liebert’s closing kick was especially impressive, with a final-lap split of 26.69 that helped him finish as the fourth collegiate runner overall.
Not far behind was James Overberg, who crossed the line in 13:36.65, posting his best split (31.08) on the final lap and finishing fifth among NCAA competitors. Dean Casey rounded out the group with a solid 13:51.61, placing seventh among collegiate runners.
“Jake Liebert continues to take the steps necessary to become one of our top guys and leaders of the future,” Carlson said. “Some of our men left wanting more, and that’s a good thing - our standard is continuing to grow.”
Givens Goes Sub-8 in 3000m Invite
Isaiah Givens stepped into a deep 3000m Invite field and more than held his own. The sophomore turned in a time of 7:58.25, making him the second-fastest collegiate runner in the race. His fifth-lap split dipped under 30 seconds, showing off the kind of mid-race pace change that separates contenders from the pack.
Open 3000m Sees Depth on Display
The Buffs closed out the day with a strong contingent in the 3000m Open, where six athletes took the line. Tanner Newkirk led the way with a 7:52.57 in the second heat, followed closely by Kole Mathison (7:54.48) and TJ Hansen (7:56.82).
Grady Rauba also broke the 8-minute mark with a 7:59.65. Lukas Haug finished in 8:13.91, while Charles Robertson did not finish.
It was a deep group effort that showcased Colorado’s developing depth in the distance events - a key ingredient for postseason success come March.
What’s Next
The Buffs won’t have to travel far for their next test. They return home to Boulder for the Colorado Classic, a two-day meet set for February 6-7 at the Ford Practice Facility.
If this weekend in Boston was any indication, the Buffs are just getting started.