Aug 17, 2009 4:54 pm US/Mountain
CU's Barringer Sets American Record At Worlds
BERLIN (CBS4) ―
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Jenny Barringer
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
If there is one thing to learn in the last three days from University of Colorado star Jenny Barringer, it's that a race is never over until it's over. Barringer set the American record and recorded a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after looking like she might not finish in the top 10 at the IAAF World Championship in Athletics on Monday.
"They went out so fast and I have so much respect for those women," Barringer said. "It was a blistering pace. I thought that maybe I was being too timid but it was under what I normally go out at. I think I ran a smart race. I ran a 10 second PR and it's another American record. I know that I ran hard."
Barringer ran a time of 9 minutes, 12.50 seconds in the finals to surpass her previous American, CU and personal record by 9.76 seconds. The time is the seventh best recorded this year and also makes her the eighth best performer all-time in the event.
For the first time in a race this season, Barringer never had a lead and even fell to the back of the pack. With three laps remaining, she had fallen back to 11th out of 15.
But Barringer, a two-time USA Track & Field and four-time NCAA Champion, didn't give up and wasn't going to let down. With two laps to go she started to move back up and was eighth heading into the final lap. The gap between her and the top seven was about 25 meters and although it might have been too much to get back into medal contention, there was plenty of opportunity to move up a few positions.
"She was pretty far back but she is smart and was on splits that were good for her, and she trusted that there would be victims of the early pace which there were," Colorado Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Mark Wetmore said. "She closed hard and it's a style that she really enjoys. Her last kilometer was about 3:01, which is really fast. She PRed by 10 seconds and we are thrilled."
"It's tempting to just go with the leaders, but you have to be smart and to go out and know what your body is capable of. I know where my fitness is," Barringer said. "My actually finish down the straight away is something I'm proud of; that kick isn't going anywhere."
In the final 300 meters, Barringer fought her way past Gladys Jerotich Kipkemoi (9:14.62, eighth) and then Ruth Bisibori Nyanqau (9:13.16, seventh), both representing Kenya, and was able to out lunge Tunisia's Habiba Ghribi (sixth) at the line for the fifth position by .02 seconds. Barringer was just 1.41 seconds behind Russia's Gulnara Galkina (9:11.09), the 2008 Gold medalist and the world record holder. Spain's Marta Dominguez won the race in 9:07.32, which is the best time recorded this season.
The Oviedo, Fla., native has been steadily improving over the last three years on the world stage in the steeplechase. In 2007 she competed at the world championships in Osaka, Japan and did not advance to the finals after a disappointing prelim where she placed 22nd overall. Barringer improved to ninth in the world at the 2008 Olympics and was the top American finisher.
The almost 10 second PR isn't much of a surprise considering some of the times the two-time CU Athlete of the Year has clocked this season. She improved her time in the 1500-meter run this past June by just over eight seconds and her outdoor 5k by over 40 seconds. The same is to be said for her indoor races as she improved her mile, 3k and 5k times by huge margins as well. Barringer's mile time of 4:25.91 is the fastest recorded this year.
It has been a long season for the Buff, but is sure to be one she will remember for the rest of her life.
"She started racing in February and has had a race every month," Wetmore said. "(Assistant coach) Heather Burroughs, Jenny and I all knew it was a big task to have the goals she did for indoors and outdoors; and the trial round (on Saturday) was not easy for her and so there was a certain amount of apprehension that we tried to go too far this season. But her workouts have gone well and she remained confident and calm through this whole experience."
"This year I have exceeded all of my goals and all of my expectations," she said. "That's a once in a lifetime thing. I'm going to cherish this whole year. At the beginning of the year I held up the collegiate records and said, 'This is what I'm aiming for,' but I didn't know that I would have them all at the end. I made a long term commitment and listened to my coaches. I had a great season and I'm super stoked to be here."
This was Barringer's final race as a member of the CU Track & Field team but her career with the Buffs is still going. She will return to campus this week to start training for the upcoming cross country season before graduating in December.
"This is officially the start of cross country season for me," Barringer said. "I can't wait. I'm coming back and I'm so excited to see my teammates."
Barringer no doubt will go down as one of the best athletes at CU. Besides the four NCAA titles (three in the steeplechase), Barringer owns six collegiate records, seven school records, three Big 12 individual titles, a pair of Big 12 records and much more.
Former CU standout Dathan Ritzenhein placed sixth in the 10,000-meter run, which immediately followed the women's steeplechase finals. He finished in 27:22.28 and was the top American in the race and earned a season-best performance.
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