Mitchem, O’Gailin break school records in the mile at Colorado In

* University of Wyoming Athletics media relations release

BOULDER, Colo., -- The University of Wyoming Track & Field distance runners competed at the Colorado Invitational on Saturday Jan. 29 where a pair of Pokes, Katelyn Mitchem and Oisin O’Gailin broke school records in the Mile run.

Mitchem ran a time of 4:39.38 for a second place finish while O’Gailin ran a 4:00.41 to finish fourth. Mitchem took down Molly Mouton’s record that had stood alone at the top in the Wyoming record books since 1998 with O’Gailin breaking Mike Cherono’s record that held the top stop on the men’s side since 1978.

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From UW assistant coach Scot Dahlberg: “It was a lot of fun today. The crew took advantage of the opportunities, competed great and ran some fast times. Oisín started the day off with a big performance in breaking the school record with a converted time of 4:00.41. Katelyn followed that up in the next race with a massive personal best and another school record of a converted 4:39.46. They both ran amazing races and showed a lot of poise and toughness. In the same women’s race Kaylee Kearse ran the No. 7 time all-time. This all really set the tone for the day with a lot more great races and personal bests.

“In the men’s 3k, Seth stuck himself with a group running a hot pace and gritted his way to what ended up being 0.28 seconds off the school record. This was a good breakthrough race for him. In the same race Mason pushed hard to run what would’ve been No. 10 all-time at the beginning of the day (now No. 11). In the ladies 3k, Kylie made a big jump and fueled off the competition to run the No. 9 time in school history. She showed a lot of toughness that was fun to watch. We are really proud of the whole group. It was a fun day.”

Other notable finishes from the men’s side on Saturday include Joseph Rodgers taking third place in the 800M with a time of 1:53.55. Albert Steiner ran a 4:07.69 in the men’s mile for a fifth place effort and Seth Bruxvoort took seventh in the 3000M going 8:05.99. Bruxvoort’s time is now second all-time at UW, just behind Chris Henry’s all-time best.

For the Cowgirls, Kaylee Kearse ran a 4:54.93 in the women’s seeded mile to take eighth place. Kylie Simshauser paced the Cowgirls with a time of 9:50.77, good for a 16th place finish in the 3000M and No. 9 all-time in school history. Kearse’s time in the mile now sits at No. 7 in the record books.

All times were converted for altitude.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls will be back at the Track on Friday Feb. 4 in Colorado Springs, Colo., hosted by the United States Air Force Academy at the Invitational at the Peak.

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