University of Colorado distance running star Jenny Barringer is the only college athlete nominated for USA Track and Field’s Jesse Owens athlete of the year award, the organization announced Wednesday.
Barringer set six NCAA records in 2009, as well as seven school records, and won NCAA titles in the indoor mile and steeplechase. The other four women nominated are Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter, Brittany Reese and Sanya Richards. Barringer is the only distance runner in the final five. Three are sprinters, and one is a jumper.
The Jesse Owens award is selected by a vote of the media, although this year 10 percent of the vote will be fan voting conducted online at , which lasts through Tuesday. The award will be presented in Indianapolis on Dec. 5.
AFA hires new tennis coach.
Air Force hired Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous as the Falcons’ men’s tennis coach, athletic director Hans Mueh said. Oosterhous replaces Rich Gugat, who is retiring after 36 years heading the program.
“Coach Gugat not only put Air Force tennis on the map, he built the program into one of the best in the country,” said Oosterhous, who played under Gugat at the academy until 1993.
Oosterhous was last an officer at Scott Air Base in Illinois, on active duty. While a cadet and tennis player for the Falcons, he won 56 matches at No. 1 singles, the fifth-most in academy history. He led AFA to a 25-2 dual-match record in 1993.
CSU, AFA at bottom of MWC.
Mountain West Conference men’s and women’s basketball coaches picked Colorado State and Air Force to finish eighth and ninth, respectively, in both preseason polls. Wyoming was picked fifth among the women, sixth in the men.
Adams State runners fall from No. 1.
The Adams State women’s cross country team fell from the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Division II coaches poll for the first time since before the 2007 season. The Grizzlies, six-time national champions, were ranked atop the nation for 23 consecutive polls before a sixth-place finish at the Willamette Invitational last week bumped them down to No. 4. Chico State took over the top spot.
Missouri downs CU in volleyball.
The University of Colorado volleyball team is still searching for its first Big 12 win after losing 3-1 (25-15, 25-14, 25-27, 25-18) to host Missouri.
Becah Fogle had 10 kills and 11 digs for the Buffs. CU is 5-11 overall, 0-7 in the Big 12. Missouri is 11-6, 3-3.
