Ashley Birger

ClassSo.
PositionSteeplechase
Height5-6
HometownColorado Springs, Colo.
Prev. SchoolAir Academy HS

Notes:



2006-07: Cross Country: Named All-RMAC after finishing ninth at the RMAC championship meet in Pueblo ... Named academic All-RMAC ... Finished eighth at the Wyoming Invitational on Sept. 1 ... Placed 13th at the Lobo Invitational on Sept. 9 ... Finished 3rd at the Colorado College Invitational on Sept. 23 ... Finished 20th at the Rocky Mountain Shootout on Sept. 30 ... Placed ninth at the RMAC Conference Championship Meet on Oct. 21 ... Finished 11th at the North Central Regional Meet on Nov. 4 ... Finished 33rd at the NCAA Division II Championship Meet in Pensacola, Fla. on Nov. 18, where she recorded her personal best time for a 6k, 21:28.4.

2005-06: Cross Country: Finished 14th at the Wyoming Invitational with a time of 15:54 ... Finished 29th at the Woody Greeno Invitational ... Finished fifth at the Colorado College XC Invitational on Sept. 12 ... Finished 15th at the Boulder Shootout ... Finished 17th at the RMAC Cross Country Championships on Oct. 22 ... Finished 20th at the North Cental Region Championships on Nov. 5. Track: Named first-team All-RMAC in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and second team All-RMAC in the 1,500-meter run ... Also excelled in the classroom, earning academic All-RMAC honors ... Finished 12th out of 29 competitors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. Sac Relays on Apr. 15 ... Placed 12th in the mile at the CSM All-Comers on Feb. 11 ... Finished second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Potts Invitational on Mar. 18 ... Set school record for the 1,500-meter run at the Trojan Invitational on Mar. 25 with a time of 4:42.58 ... Finished second in the 800-meter dash at the Colorado College Invitational on Apr. 8 with a time of 2:25.91 ... Finished seventh in the 1,500-meter run at the Jack Christiansen Invitational on Apr. 22.

2004-05: Cross Country: Was awarded academic All-RMAC. Track: Took 35th in the 5,000-meter run at the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 14 ... Took 12th in the 3,000-meter run at the RMAC Indoor Championships ... Placed 11th in the 1,500-meter run at the RMAC Outdoor Championships on May 7.

2003-04: Cross Country: Placed 12th at the Wyoming Open on Sept. 5 ... Finished 26th with a time of 22:54 at the Rocky Mountain Shootout Oct. 4 ... Placed 10th and was one of five UCCS runners to place in the top ten at the Dan Libera Meet on Oct. 11 ... Finished 23rd with a time of 22:36 at the RMAC Championships on Oct. 25 ... Placed 40th at Regionals on Nov. 8. Track: Qualified for nationals in the steeplechase ... Named All-RMAC ... Placed 26th in the 3,000-meter run at the Joe Davies Meet on Jan. 31 ... Placed 12th in the 3,000-meter run at the RMAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 27 .... Placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Northern Colorado Stampede on Mar. 13 ... Took 11th in the 1,500-meter run at the RMAC Outdoor Championships on May 8.

2002-03: Cross Country: Finished 29th in the Wyoming Invitational on Sept. 6 ... Placed 20th at the Colorado College Invitational on Sept. 14. Track: Was on the President's List for both the spring and fall semesters ... Named Most Improved Athlete ... Named All-RMAC for the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 1,500-meter run ... Was a National Qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Pre UCCS Notes:

Before UCCS: Gatorade Will to Win Athlete in 2001 ... Named most improved runner while at Air Academy High School ... Lettered five times ... Placed in state for the 4x800 in 2002 ... Received the English Department Award ... Named to the Best & Brightest list in 2002 ... Helped the Kadets qualify for state in both cross country and track.

Personal Notes:

Personal: Majoring in Biology ... Enjoys mountain biking and skiing ... Has one brother, Will, and one sister, Stephanie ... Parents are Judy and Chuck Birger ... Born Jan. 5, 1984.

Stories featuring Ashley Birger

July 31, 2009UCCS Alum Megan Lund Qualifiesfor U.S. Mountain Running TeamMegan Lund continued her post-UCCS running career in style last weekend, qualifying for the U.S. Mountain running team to compete at the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy next month.
May 28, 2008Former UCCS star takes 10th place at the Bolder BoulderFormer University of Colorado at Colorado Springs athlete Sarah Shepard took 10th place among amateurs at Sunday's Bolder Boulder.
September 6, 2007Cross Country Season PreviewYou've got a freshman-laden roster, a new coach and your best runner just had knee surgery. Sounds like the makings of a rebuilding year for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs cross country team, doesn't it?
April 30, 2007UCCS Has 10 Women's Track Members Named Academic All-RMACTen members of the UCCS women's track and field team were named to the 2006-07 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's outdoor track and field all-academic team.
November 18, 2006UCCS Takes Seventh at NationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team earned the highest national finish in school history by capturing seventh place at the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships Saturday.
November 17, 2006XC Nationals Preview: Getting There Not Fun Whoever said "getting there is half the fun" never traveled with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team.
November 4, 2006UCCS Women Qualify for NationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team finished third at the North Central Region Cross Country Meet Saturday at Wayne, Neb. The performance earned the Mountain Lions a berth at the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championship Meet on Nov. 18 at Wayne, Neb.
October 21, 2006Women Grab Third at RMAC ChampionshipIn the parlance of most sports, the term "uphill" indicates facing adversity, as in an "uphill battle." For the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team, "uphill" is all about opportunity.
September 30, 2006Boulder Finish Shows UCCS Closing on Big TwoLed by three runners in the top 10, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs took third place among non-Division I teams Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder.
September 23, 2006UCCS Women Dominate at Colorado College InvitationalUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs women swept the first four places as the Mountain Lions scored a dominating win Saturday morning at the Colorado College Invitational.
September 14, 2006Feature: Payne has Things Timed Just RightTiming is everything. Just ask University of Colorado at Colorado Springs All-American runner Shannon Payne. It seems she has timed things just right.
September 9, 2006Mountain Lions Place Third at Lobo InvitationalShannon Payne finished fourth behind three Division I runners in the Lobo Invitational in the Women's 6k on Saturday. Payne's finish helped the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions finish third as a team.
September 1, 2006Payne Sets Course Record in WyomingShannon Payne of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs set a new course record in winning the Wyoming Open cross country meet Friday at Laramie, Wyo.
August 30, 2006Women's Cross Country PreviewUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs cross country coach Graeme Badger is not one who drifts towards hyperbole. That's why what he says about the 2006 Mountain Lions women's cross county team should send a tingle down the spine of fans.
July 19, 2006The Mountain Lions Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Teams were named to the 2006 USTFCCCA.The Mountain Lions Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Teams were named 2006 Division II All-Academic teams by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) the University learned Wednesday.
May 27, 2006UCCS earns team points at nationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs earned team points Saturday in the women's standings at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
May 25, 2006Winn, Birger Advance to FinalsUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs runners Brad Winn and Ashley Birger both qualified for the finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Thursday at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Emporia, Kan.
May 16, 2006UCCS trio heading to nationalsUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs runners Shannon Payne, Ashley Birger and Brad Winn are headed to nationals
May 15, 2006Personal Best Not Enough to Earn Trip to NationalsJenna Dorsey-Spitz finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Emporia State Twilight Meet on Saturday, setting a new personal best time and putting her on the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs all-time performance list.
May 9, 2006UCCS Notches Best Ever RMAC Tournament ResultShannon Payne, Lisa Short and Sarah Shepard combined for 10 points in the 3,000-meter run Tuesday to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to a sixth-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Gunnison, Colo.
May 8, 2006Birger Leads UCCS to Sixth Place After First Day of RMAC ChampionshipsAshley Birger and Jenna Dorsey-Spitz finished second and fifth respectively in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Monday to provide the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's track team with 12 team points and help lift the Mountain Lions into sixth place after the first day of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
April 23, 2006Women Compete at Jack Christiansen InvitationalThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs competed in the Jack Christiansen Invitational in Fort Collins on Saturday.
April 14, 2006Two Mountain Lions Compete at Mt. SacAshley Birger finished 12th out of 29 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif. Birger beat 10 Division I runners with a time of 11 minutes, 5.86 seconds.
April 8, 2006Mountain Lions Get First at CC InviteThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs captured a first-place finish in the Colorado College Invitational Saturday. The Mountain Lions are now going to have to vist the record books to make some changes.
March 25, 2006Birger, Payne shine at Trojan InviteAshley Birger and Shannon Payne's performances at the Trojan Inviational at the University of Southern California Saturday, rewrote the record book.
March 18, 2006Mountain Lions Kick Off Outdoor SeasonAfter completing the first week of the outdoor season in Boulder, Colo., the Mountain Lions have a lot of corrections to make- to the record books that is.
February 25, 2006RMAC Indoor Championships ConcludeThe 3,000-meter run featured 30 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference runners. However, Shannon Payne and Sarah Shepard outpaced and outran the rest of the field en route to fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively.
February 24, 2006Lund Finishes Seventh at RMAC Indoor ChampionshipsSenior Megan Lund competed with the best the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference had to offer Friday in Chadron, Neb., and the junior from Basalt, Colo., shined.
November 5, 2005Women's Cross Country Comes Up Short in National BidA promising season came to a disappointing end for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team Saturday at Hays, Kan.
October 22, 2005UCCS Women Take Fourth at RMAC ChampionshipsShannon Payne finished fourth to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to a fourth-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Championships Saturday at Chatfield State Park in Denver.
October 1, 2005UCCS Scores Rare Win Over Western StateThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs scored a first in four years by defeating Western State en route to a second-place finish in the non-Division I portion of the University of Colorado Rocky Mountain Shootout Saturday in Boulder.
September 24, 2005Women Dominate CC InvitationalThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team scored the minimum points possible in dominating the Colorado College Invitational on Saturday at Monument Valley Park.
September 17, 2005UCCS Women Take Third at Woody Greeno MeetBuoyed by a second-place individual finish by sophomore Shannon Payne, the Mountain Lions took third place at the Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, defeating six NCAA Division I programs in the process.
September 8, 2005Payne Named Cross Country Athlete of the WeekShannon Payne was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's women's cross country runner of the week, the conference announced Thursday.
September 2, 2005Payne Leades UCCS Past Division I SchoolsShannon Payne took first place individually to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women’s cross country team past three Division I schools and into second place at the Wyoming Invitational in Laramie, Wyo.
May 28, 2005Tum Wins 1500 at NationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs track team put the finishing touches on a fabulous weekend Saturday evening in Abilene, Texas.
May 27, 2005Tum ready for double dip on SaturdayMoses Tum will be very busy tomorrow.
May 26, 2005Track Shines Bright at Day 1 of NationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs track team sent a school record seven athletes to the 2005 NCAA Div II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Abilene, Texas. All seven of the Mountain Lions competed well on Thursday.
May 17, 2005Seven Mountain Lions Qualify for NationalsA school-record seven University of Colorado at Colorado Springs athletes qualified to compete at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The final entry list was released by the NCAA on Tuesday.
May 10, 2005Outdoor RMAC Day 2University of Colorado at Colorado Springs wrapped up its final day at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Championships with even more fine performances.
April 15, 2005Shepard, Gray Shine at Mt. SacSarah Shepard and Tina Gray were the top Division II finishers in the 3000-meter steeplechase Friday as a handful of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs athletes competed at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif.
April 9, 2005Women's Track Goes Extra Mile at CCUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs runners claimed four of the top six spots in the mile run as the Mountain Lions competed at the Colorado College Invitational on Saturday.
March 25, 2005Shepard, Burger earn provisional timesSpring Break is normally reserved for relaxing and having fun. Not so for two women from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs track team. Sara Shepard and Ashley Birger went down to the University of California-San Diego for a nice warm track meet. While that sounds like a blast, these two women weren’t there for just the sun and the sand.
March 12, 2005Outdoor season starts with photo finishNothing like a photo finish to jazz up the start of the outdoor track season.
February 27, 2005Payne Takes Third at RMAC ChampionshipsShannon Payne took third place in the women's 5,000-meter run this past weekend at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, the best finish by a Mountain Lion runner at the meet.
February 20, 2005Women Edit Track Record BookUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs track coach Graeme Badger needed a big eraser when he edited the school's record book following Friday's Don Barrett/Air Force Open.
January 29, 2005Team Effort Leads UCCS to Fourth at Davies InvitationalEvery member of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's track team that competed at the Joe Davies Invitational in Golden, Colo., Saturday scored at least one team point.
January 22, 2005Payne Earnes Provisional TimeShannon Payne earned a provisional qualifying time for nationals and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs sprinters made a good showing at the Air Force Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
November 23, 2004Women's Cross Country Takes 16th at NationalsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team finished 16th at nationals Saturday. Considering what they went through to get there, the Mountain Lions' season was nothing short of amazing.
June 4, 2004Birger named Academic All-AmericanCross country/track athlete Ashley Birger was named second team academic All-American, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs announced Friday.
May 27, 2004Gray advances to finals at national championshipsTina Gray qualified for the finals in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday by finishing ninth in the preliminaries.
May 18, 2004Five Lions qualify for nationalsThree Colorado Springs natives were among the school-record five athletes that earned the right to represent the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held from May 27-29 at Walnut, Calif.
May 9, 2004Women's track beats the heatThe CU-Colorado Springs Men's and Women's Track teams are accustomed to racing in tough conditions, but the RMAC Championships took it to a new level.
April 24, 2004Final tuneup successful for women's trackSaturday, April 24, Colorado State University hosted the Jack Christiansen Invitational where the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's track team competed in their last outdoor meet of the regular season.
April 16, 2004Women go 3-for-3 at Mt. SacThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's track team went 3-for-3 Friday at the Mt. Sac Relays at Walnut, Calif. Sophomore Ashley Birger, freshman Sarah Shepard and junior Tina Gray all ran the 3,000-meter steeplechase for the Mountain Lions, and all three earned provisional qualifying times for nationals.
April 10, 2004Snow doesn't deter women's trackThe University of Colorado Springs' Women's track and field team, had heavy competition this Saturday, but it was of a different nature - literally.
April 3, 2004Smith posts nation's third-fastest timeThe 2004 Tom Benich Classic was held Saturday, April 3rd at University of Northern Colorado's Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado. With nationals about one month away, it would prove to be a definitive point in the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's outdoor track season.
February 28, 2004Women's team has solid performance at RMAC ChampionshipsThe Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) held its indoor conference track meet last weekend at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. With a limited track and field program, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions look towards individual performances for distinction rather than overall team scores.
January 24, 2004Gray shines amid officials' confusionThere was considerable confusion after the women's 5,000 meters at the Air Force Open Saturday. That Colorado State's Colleen Blair had won was beyond dispute. What was a problem, though, was the lap count for the rest of the field.
January 17, 2004Mountain Lions up to speed in warm-up meetAt the Air Force Academy's All Comers Track meet on Saturday, only a few of the CU Colorado Springs women's track team competed in the first unofficial meet of the season.
November 8, 2003Nationally-Ranked Women's Team Beaten at RegionalsRanked in the Top-10 throughout the season, the women's cross country team at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs won't even have the chance to validate that ranking. That's because they won't be competing at the national meet.
October 25, 2003Women's Team Takes Third at RMAC ChampionshipsThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team, currently ranked number seven in the nation, fought for a convincing third place finish at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday morning at Cattails Golf Course.
October 14, 2003UCCS Women Win the Dan Libera MeetThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women’s cross country team claimed first place, taking five out of the top ten spots, at the Dan Libera Memorial Invitational, which was hosted by the University of Northern Colorado. The Mountain Lions finished with 26 points Senior Kelly Smith led the team by placing second overall. Tina Gray, Megan Lund, Sarah Shepard, and Ashley Birger rounded out the top five for the Mountain Lions.
September 13, 2003Mountain Lions Impressive at CCThe University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women's cross country team received exciting news this past week when they discovered that they were ranked eighth nationally. Saturday at the Colorado College Invitational, they proved that the ranking was no fluke.
September 13, 2003Second place for both teams at Colorado College InvitationalAt Sunday morning’s practice, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs cross country coach Graeme Badger started passing out note cards and pens to many of hie team's runners. The cards were personal time goals for the season each athlete had written three weeks ago. When goals are met or surpassed, new goals are written. The day after the second race of the season, the Colorado College Invitational, it was time for new goals.
May 29, 20032003 track warp-upFor the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' 2003 track team, the outdoor season was filled with high expectations. And as they see it, the Mountain Lions turned most of those expectations into reality.
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