Colorado Track & Field Heads East with Momentum and Rankings on the Rise
BOULDER - The Colorado track and field team is heading back to Boston this weekend, and they’re bringing some serious firepower with them. The Buffaloes will compete in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University’s Track and Tennis Center, with the men’s squad hitting the track Friday and the women’s team following on Saturday.
Let’s break down what to watch for as Colorado continues to build on an already impressive indoor season.
Event Preview: Who’s Competing and When
Friday, Feb. 13 (Men’s Events)
- 60m Hurdles: Antonio Votour
- 5,000m: Jake Liebert
- Weight Throw: Lucas Williams
Saturday, Feb. 14 (Women’s Events)
- 800m: Avery Pearson
- Weight Throw: Amanda Opp
Events begin bright and early at 7:00 a.m. MT on Friday and resume at 3:45 p.m.
MT on Saturday. Fans can catch the action live on FloTrack, with real-time results available through Colorado’s official athletics website.
Buffs Climbing the Ranks
The Colorado men’s team is turning heads nationally - and for good reason. They currently sit at No. 24 in the NCAA Division I rankings, and they’re not just scraping by.
The Buffs are dominating the distance events, leading the nation in the men’s mile with a jaw-dropping average time of 3:53.82. That’s not just fast - that’s elite territory.
They’re also ranked No. 3 in the men’s 3,000m with an average of 7:51.43.
Here’s a look at the names behind those numbers:
Men’s Mile Squad
- Isaiah Givens - 3:51.73 (converted)
- Justine Kipkoech - 3:53.02 (converted)
- Kole Mathison - 3:54.87 (converted)
- TJ Hansen - 3:55.63 (converted)
Givens currently holds the top spot in the nation in the mile, while Kipkoech sits at No. 5. That’s two Buffs in the national top five - a clear sign that this group is not just deep, but dangerous.
Men’s 3,000m Squad
- Dominic Serem - 7:45.61
- Tanner Newkirk - 7:52.57
- Isaiah Givens - 7:53.07
- Kole Mathison - 7:54.48
Serem leads the way here, ranked No. 12 nationally, but the depth behind him is just as impressive. With four runners clocking under 7:55, Colorado’s 3k squad is built for postseason success.
Recapping the Momentum: Last Time Out
The Buffs are coming off a strong showing at home during their third meet of the season, held February 6-7. It was a weekend full of milestones and top-10 program marks.
- Antonio Votour started things off by advancing to the finals in the men’s 60m hurdles and clocking a 7.94 - the third-fastest time in CU history.
- Ernest Campbell, making his Colorado debut, wasted no time etching his name into the record books with a 6.76 in the men’s 60m finals, good for ninth all-time at CU.
- Justine Kipkoech continued his stellar season with a converted 3:53.05 mile, moving him to No. 2 on Colorado’s all-time list and No. 5 in the country.
- Danny Tragarz made a big leap in the men’s 400m, jumping from eighth to second on the CU top-10 list with a time of 46.69.
- And in the men’s 800m, Ty Cook broke the school record with a time of 1:47.68, topping the mark set just a week earlier by Drew Costello.
It’s not just that Colorado is running fast - they’re rewriting the program’s history books in the process.
What’s Next
After this weekend in Boston, the Buffaloes return home for one final tune-up: the Colorado Last Chance meet on Friday, Feb. 20.
That meet will also serve as Senior Day, a chance to honor the athletes who’ve helped elevate the program. Then, it’s on to the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas, on February 27-28 - where the stakes get higher and the spotlight gets brighter.
Bottom Line: Colorado isn’t just showing up this season - they’re making statements. Whether it’s the nation-leading mile squad, record-breaking performances, or rising national rankings, this team is putting together a campaign worth watching. And with championship season just around the corner, the Buffs are heating up at exactly the right time.