University of Oklahoma Athletics

Colorado Sweeps Big 12 Cross Country Titles :: Buffaloes win both team and individual titles.

Colorado Sweeps Big 12 Cross Country Titles :: Buffaloes win both team and individual titles. Colorado Sweeps Big 12 Cross Country Titles

Buffaloes win both team and individual titles.


Oct. 27, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - Jorge Torres and Molly Austin combined to lead the University of Colorado to a pair of team titles in the 2001 Big 12 Cross Country Championship today at the Jimmie Austin/OU Golf Course.

"It was our goal to come back and win the four titles - two team and two individual," said head coach Mark Wetmore. " I was confident the men would cover and run a good race. I was confident in Jorge (Torres). I was a little more nervous about the women's individual but Molly is a very strong runner."

Torres, who finished second as a freshman, defended his title from last year, holding off CU freshman Dathan Ritzehein by nearly 12 seconds to win his second 8,000-meter title. Torres finished with a 23:35.3, beating Ritzenhein's 23:47.1 Edwardo Torres, Jorge's twin brother, took third with a 24:12.7.

The Colorado men took the first three positions and five of the top 14 places in today's race. CU held off Oklahoma State in the team race, scoring 31 to the Cowboys' 93.

"I wasn't paying attention towhat was going on behind me.I was just pulling away. I know I pulled away at the two-mile mark," said Torres

As dominant as the Colorado men were, the CU women were even more impressive. The Buffs took three of the first five spots and five of the top 12. Austin ran a 20:12.5 over the the 6,000-meter course to hold off Oklahoma State's Siri Alfheim who finished with a 20:22.4.

The team race came down to those two teams as well with Colorado scoring 33 points to OSU's 75.

"I was really nervous at first," explained CU winner Molly Austin. "II didn't know how the race was going to develop but I ran at a comfortable pace. I tried to focus on the back stretch, knowing if I could get the lead that it could be substantial.

"The team winning first place was the most exciting part of the race. I'm proud of how well we did."

Colorado kept its string of winning the men's Big 12 title intact at six while the CU women won their fifth title in six years.