Grand Junction / Fort Collins, CO – A small group of Cougars took on last chance meets, splitting the weekend at Colorado Mesa and Colorado State. The weekend saw strong runs across the board, another national qualifier, and several PR's.

Matthew Storer kicked things off in the 10k, looking to improve on an already strong run from the Bryan Clay invitational. Sean McCauley and Sam Schwarting would tow the line with Storer, lined up in a small group of only 6 racers. Storer jumped out to second place off the line, trailing Adam's State Rosales. Schwarting and McCauley would trail behind running at their own respective pace. Storer strategically sat just behind Rosales at a 4:50 pace for the first 5 ½ miles, making his move and pulling away for the victory. Storer crossed the line in a blazing 30:00.44 final time, a converted 29:09 at altitude. Schwarting and McCauley would follow behind, running 31:20 and 31:54 respectively.

Storer now sits 9^th on the national list, this race serving as a national qualifier for Storer's final career race in Emporia, KS. McCauley draws his running career to a close, one of the grittiest runners up to date that the Cougars will miss dearly.

Nico Ramirez took on the 5k in a small field, looking to spin the legs one last time this outdoor season. Ramirez sprang off the line, running smooth 75 second laps the majority of the race. Ramirez would hang on for a final time of 15:46, a 15:30 converted at altitude. A solid performance for Ramirez, he will look to take the summer to continue to make strides his final year of eligibility.

Janelle DeBoer, the solo female racing in Fort Collins continued to improve, breaking her own 400m record yet again. Towing the line with all D1 competitors, DeBoer got off the line quick, going through her first 200 very strong. DeBoer hung on for a whopping time of 55.25 seconds, garnering a second place finish amongst the D1 field for the new 400m record. Just shy of the national list, DeBoer's season officially draws to a close. DeBoer walks away the most decorated sprinter in Cougar history, holding records that will likely stand the test of time.

Mateo Luna jumped back into the 800 before his outdoor nationals debut, similarly racing against a field full of D1 opponents. Getting out near the back, Luna went out hard with pack, coming through 400 in a 53.99. The final 300m would dictate the entire race, and Luna wouldn't disappoint. Kicking hard, Luna slowly but surely moved up, making his final surge in the last 100 meters. A final kick would push Luna to an incredible 3^rd place finish and mind-blowing time of 1:49.38. Converted at altitude, Luna breaks the 1:49 barrier for a final time of 1:48.74.

This mark leaves Luna 5^th on the RMAC list, and 16^th on the national list. Luna now has the option to race both the 1500 and 800m at nationals in Emporia, Kansas, with one more week left for the final lists to shake out. Either way, Luna will tow the line at nationals with more All-American honors set in his sights.

Zach Vance would close out the day in style, throwing down an incredible race himself. Racing the 1500 in Fort Collins, Vance got off the line conservative in the back, knowing the high caliber of racers around him. Vance settled in for the first two laps, the race running out perfectly ahead of him. With 700 to go, the pack would break, leaving Vance to make a gutsy decision. Boldly going with the front pack, Vance fastest lap would come in his third lap, running a 59 second lap to maintain speed wit the top racers. Holding on the last 400m, Vance would close in a 61, racing a throttling 3:48.15. At altitude, this converts to a 3:42.99, the fastest 1500 converted or raw this season, serving as a national qualifier.

Vance jumps up to 17^th on the national list with his 3:42, also running the 5^th fastest 1500 in the RMAC, just above teammate Mateo Luna. As Vance continues to push to new heights, Cougar fans alike will eagerly await to see what the likes of both Vance and Luna can do in the national 1500 meter race.

The Cougars will race a small crew back in California this upcoming week before preparing for nationals, set for May 21^st - May 23^rd.