Pueblo, CO – The Cougars opened up the outdoor season this weekend, the heat beating down in the desert of Pueblo. Despite the heat, several women broke outdoor records, a small glimpse into the season the Cougars have ahead of them.

The outdoor season was kicked off with the performance of none other than Janelle DeBoer, coming off of a historic indoor season, holding the school indoor 200 record, along with top-5 records in the 60 and 400 meter. Stepping onto the favorable outdoor track, DeBoer's first 200 did not fail to impress. Competing amongst the fastest heat, DeBoer came flying around the bend, neck and neck with two UCCS runners. Churning the legs, DeBoer would close extremely well, managing a 4^th place heat finish and running a mind-boggling 24.82. This would stand as 5^th place among the 40 competitors, and a personal best for DeBoer.

DeBoer's 24.82 shatters the CCU school and overall 200 record of 25.11, managed in DeBoer's first outdoor 200. This leaves DeBoer 6^th on the current RMAC list as Janelle continues to turn heads amongst the conference. DeBoer wasn't finished either, competing in the long jump, managing a 16'5.25" Long Jump, which currently stands as the 4^th best jump in Cougar history. Already one of the Cougars most talented sprinters, DeBoer looks forward to the rest of the outdoor season to continue to push the standard of CCU Sprints and Jumps.

DeBoer wouldn't be the only one to shatter another school record. Similarly coming off of a historic season, freshman jumper Ella Brinkman took her shot this weekend, jumping in the Long and Triple Jump. On her second attempt, Brinkman would jump 17'9.5", destroying the school record by 9.5 inches. Excitingly enough, having jumped almost a foot further in indoor, Brinkman is only bound to get better with time and continue to push her own school record. In similar fashion, Brinkman would jump 38'0.25" in the triple jump, not a PR, but the second best jump in outdoor school history. Eyes set ahead, Brinkman will continue to push to break the outdoor Triple Jump school record, only an inch away.

This leaves Brinkman 4^th on the RMAC list in the Long Jump, and 2^nd in the triple jump. Brinkman will continue to improve and prepare for RMAC Championships, as she looks to leave her mark in the RMAC as one of the best jumpers in the conference.

Laken Meier would close out the weekend for the sprinters, etching her name into the record-books on her own accord. Meier would be the only Cougar to run the short burst of the 100m, running a 12.76. Not only a new personal best, the is the third fastest 100m in CCU history, under Goerge and Smoker, both legendary sprinters for the Cougars. Meier would race the 200 as well, coming across the line in 26.28, the fourth fastest 200 in Cougar history. Also an extremely talented jumper, Meier looks to build on the momentum of an excellent season opener.

On the distance side, the majority of the Cougars raced the 1500m, led the way by Kate Miller with a 4:47. Several strong performances and personal bests point to an electric outdoor season to come for the middle distance runners. The highlight would come from Alysia Wagner, running the grueling 10k. Her first race further than 6k, Wagner, alongside Daugherty, Bell, and Bookout had a large task with the sun beating down on the track. Unphased, Wagner went out conservative and relaxed, cruising through the first four miles at a 6:11 pace, sitting in the middle pack. Looking strong, Wagner would start to pick up the pace with 8 laps to go, slowly and slowly building up. The last two laps would see Wagner turn the burners, passing two girls and closing the last lap in 84 seconds, a more than impressive feat 6 miles in. Wagner would come across the line in 38:38, the 5^th fastest 10k in school history. An extremely calm, collected, and controlled race from Wagner points to an even faster race in the future.

Daugherty would come across the line behind Wagner with a 38:52, also serving as a new PR for Daugherty. Wagner and Daugherty sit 5^th & 6^th on the RMAC 10k list, as both continue to prove some of the most consistent distance runners the Cougars have seen.

With so many strong performances from the Cougars on day one, CCU eagerly anticipates their next meet, set for April 2^nd & 3^rd at Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, CO. Live stats will be available to follow the Cougars as they look to break more records and turn heads amidst the latter half of the track season.