Isaiah Givens Breaks Barriers as Colorado Track Opens Indoor Season with Statement at Potts Invitational
BOULDER - The indoor season is officially underway in Boulder, and the Colorado Buffaloes didn’t just show up-they made noise. The Potts Invitational opened with a bang, headlined by a blistering, record-breaking mile from junior Isaiah Givens that set the tone for a day full of standout performances.
With new Athletic Director Fernando Lovo and Chancellor Dr. Justin Swartz watching from the stands, the Buffs delivered in front of their home crowd.
And Givens? He didn’t just run fast-he rewrote the record books.
Clocking a stunning 3:57.52 in the men’s invitational mile, Givens not only shattered the facility record but also laid down the fastest mile ever run on Colorado soil. It was a performance that echoed beyond the track-one of those moments that signals a program trending upward in a big way.
But it wasn’t just Givens making headlines. Colorado flexed its depth in the mile, with Kole Mathison finishing just off the sub-four mark at 4:00.74.
TJ Hansen, in his first collegiate mile, impressed with a 4:01.52, while Lukas Haug (4:02.03) and Grady Rauba (4:03.14) both notched personal bests. That kind of pack performance speaks volumes about the Buffs’ middle-distance group-there’s talent, yes, but there’s also internal competition pushing everyone to another level.
The men’s 600 meters also saw strong efforts, with Jaxson Cook leading the way in 1:17.39 and Drew Costelow close behind at 1:18.13. On the women’s side, Avery Pearson posted a 1:28.79, followed by Riley Burkey at 1:33.77-solid early-season benchmarks as both continue to build toward peak form.
In the men’s 60-meter hurdles, Antonio Votour showed nice progression, improving from 8.13 in the prelims to 8.09 in the final. Teagan Malcom also dropped time, going from 8.40 to 8.37. Every hundredth matters in the hurdles, and both athletes are trending in the right direction.
The sprints brought more solid results. In the 400 meters, Joran Ball dipped under 50 seconds with a 49.99, while Jameson Leigh followed at 50.63. Those two would later team up with Malcom and Gehring in the 4x400 relay, where the Buffs posted a 3:12.84-an encouraging time this early in the season.
The women’s distance crew also had their moment. Freshman Mia Larochelle led the Buffs in the mile with a 4:54.73, followed by Ella Hagen (4:56.62), Linda Weigang (5:09.46), Georgia Bell (5:15.96), and Anna Peters (5:25.08). For a young group, this was a solid outing, and there’s clear room for growth as the season progresses.
One of the most dominant performances of the day came from sophomore Juliette Forstrom in the women’s 3000 meters. She pulled away from the field with authority, finishing in 9:36.59-an eye-catching time that put her a full 17 seconds ahead of the next closest finisher. That’s not just winning a race; that’s making a statement.
The Potts Invitational also welcomed back some familiar faces. Former Olympian and Colorado alum Valerie Constien returned to the track in the women’s invitational mile, running 4:35.03-just 1.74 seconds off the facility record. Meanwhile, Abbey Glynn, another Buff standout and program record-holder, competed in the women’s 600 meters and clocked a strong 1:28.36, showing she’s still got plenty in the tank.
Here’s a look at how the Buffs fared across the board:
Men’s 60m Hurdles
- Antonio Votour: 8.13 (prelims), 8.09 (final)
- Teagan Malcom: 8.40 (prelims), 8.37 (final)
Men’s 60m
- Johnny Homsy: 7.16 (prelims)
Men’s 400m
- Joran Ball: 49.99
- Jameson Leigh: 50.63
Men’s 600m
- Jaxson Cook: 1:17.39
- Drew Costelow: 1:18.13
Women’s 600m
- Avery Pearson: 1:28.79
- Riley Burkey: 1:33.77
Men’s Invitational Mile
- Isaiah Givens: 3:57.52 (facility record, Colorado soil record)
- Kole Mathison: 4:00.74
- TJ Hansen: 4:01.52 (first collegiate mile)
- Lukas Haug: 4:02.03 (personal best)
- Grady Rauba: 4:03.14 (personal best)
Men’s Mile
- Jake Liebert: 4:06.96
- Dean Casey: 4:14.77
- Kimi Bulto: 4:22.94
Women’s Mile
- Mia Larochelle: 4:54.73
- Ella Hagen: 4:56.62
- Linda Weigang: 5:09.46
- Georgia Bell: 5:15.96
- Annastasia Peters: 5:25.08
Women’s 3000m
- Juliette Forstrom: 9:36.59
Men’s 4x400m Relay
- Colorado (Malcom, Gehring, Leigh, Ball): 3:12.84
As the Buffs now turn their attention to the upcoming Colorado Invite on January 23-24, they do so with momentum, confidence, and a roster that’s already showing signs of being something special. If this opener is any indication, the 2026 indoor season in Boulder could be one to remember.