PITTSBURG, Kan. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs track and field teams put forth a strong effort on the first day of the 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday afternoon as eight student-athletes earned All-America status and five student-athletes advanced through the preliminary rounds of their respective events to earn qualification in final races taking place tomorrow. The Mountain Lions also saw three indoor school records fall, including the program bests for the women's mile, women's distance medley relay, and the men's 200m.
 
INSIDE THE 2023-24 NCAA DIVISION II INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
UCCS Men's Day 1 Score: 1 point (T22^nd)
UCCS Women's Day 1 Score: 6 points (T12^th)
Host School: Pittsburg State University
Location: Robert W. Plaster Center | Pittsburg, Kan.
Track Size: 300m (flat)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountain Lions put together an incredible showing in the women's distance medley relay race as Kate Hedlund, Keyanda Bolton, Ashten Loeks, and Anna Fauske made their way around the track in a program record time of 11:25.13 to earn a third-place finish overall and First Team All-America status. With their school record performance, the group also scored six points for the UCCS women's team.
• UCCS was one of just two institutions to have three student-athletes competing in the men's long jump final on Friday afternoon, and the Mountain Lions saw two of their three competitors bring home All-America honors. Redshirt junior Richard Safoh led the way for UCCS as he posted an eighth-place leap of 7.32m that scored one point for the men's team and earned him First Team All-America distinction. Junior Daryon Wilson unleashed a jump of 7.26m to finish tenth overall and earn Second Team All-America honors, while redshirt senior Peterson Bohannon put up a leap of 7.12m to finish 13^th overall.
• Redshirt senior Anna Holland made her indoor nationals debut and brought home Second Team All-America accolades in the women's weight throw final as she finished tenth overall in the competition with a toss of 18.60m.
• The Mountain Lions had a trio of student-athletes in action in the women's long jump final and saw redshirt sophomore Madissyn Moore earn Second Team All-America honors with a 12^th place mark of 5.59m. Redshirt senior Audrey Bloomquist finished just behind Moore in 13^th place with a leap of 5.57m, while redshirt junior Christine Bailey notched a 16^th place finish at a mark of 5.46m.
• UCCS had a strong duo of student-athletes competing in the preliminary round of the women's mile and it was Hedlund that rose to the occasion with a school record time of 4:46.16 that was good for third overall among the field and earned her qualification to tomorrow's final, which will take place at 4:50 p.m. (MT). Fauske was also in action in the women's mile as she finished in 13^th place overall with a personal best time of 4:49.05.
• Redshirt sophomore Jagger Zlotoff put on a strong showing in the preliminary round of the men's mile race as he finished third overall in the field with a time of 4:11.12 to earn qualification to tomorrow's final race. Zlotoff is set to compete in the final for the event tomorrow at 4:40 p.m. (MT).
• In the preliminary round of the men's 60m dash, redshirt senior Brian Mosley Jr. finished third in his heat and fifth overall in the field with a time of 6.70s to qualify for tomorrow's final in the event. Junior Kymani Sterling was also in competition as he posted a mark of 6.80s to claim 14^th place overall. Mosley Jr. will race in the final for the event tomorrow at 4:20 p.m. (MT).
• Just over two hours later, Sterling returned to the track in the preliminary round of the men's 200m dash and put forth a strong effort as he matched the UCCS indoor school record for the event with a time of 21.31s to finish first in his heat and fourth overall in the field. With his personal best time, Sterling qualified for tomorrow's final in the event, which is set for 5:45 p.m. (MT).
• Making her third consecutive appearance at the indoor national championship meet, senior Melissa Moreni posted the seventh-fastest overall time in the preliminary round of the women's 60m hurdles with a time of 8.55s to qualify for tomorrow's final in the event. Moreni will hit the track tomorrow at 4:10 p.m. (MT).   

BEYOND THE RESULTS

• The UCCS women's indoor record book saw a couple of big updates in the mile with Hedlund posting a new school record for the event and Fauske recording the fifth-fastest time in program history.
• The Mountain Lion's third place time of 11:25.13 in the women's distance medley relay shattered the previous program record in the event by more than six seconds.

UP NEXT

• The 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships will continue tomorrow from the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kan., with Audrey Bloomquist kicking off the action for the Mountain Lions at 2:05 p.m. (MT) in the women's triple jump final.  

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.