LOS ANGELES – University of Colorado Colorado Springs senior Sam Bauer opened the 2016 outdoor season for the Mountain Lion women's track and field team with 18 minutes, 45.45 seconds in the 5,000-meter run in the Occidental Distance Classic tonight. It was her fastest outdoor 5,000-meter time in her career by nearly 25 seconds based on her adjusted times for altitude.

Bauer finished No. 21 in heat of 39 runners and No. 57 overall among 119 runners. 

UCCS will compete again next week at the Jerry Quiller Classic at the University of Colorado Boulder. Action will take place at Potts Field on March 19.