Brent Vaughn (photo courtesy Drake University)

The University of Colorado will host the 2008 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday through Sunday, May 16-18. The championship will be held at Potts Field, off of 30th Street and Colorado Avenue.

Some of the nation's top collegians will compete in this prestigious event. Several CU athletes will look to defend their individual conference titles and others will look for their first titles. The men's team is currently ranked 12th in the nation according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Asociation (USTFCCCA) and will be in the hunt for the team title as well.

The Buffs have several Olympic hopefuls on the team, but two in particular stand out. Brent Vaughn has won two of the last three 5,000-meter titles. He currently owns the fourth best time in the world after setting a CU record of 13:18.46. Vaughn should be one of the favorites to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association title. He should advance to the U.S. Olympic Trials and have a chance to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Jenny Barringer returns on the women's side and will defend her 3,000-meter steeplechase title. Barringer won the NCAA title in 2006 and the USA Track & Field Championship last June. She earned the right to compete at the International Associatin Athletics Federations World Championship in Osaka, Japan. Barringer finished 22nd overall. She also won the steeplechase in a school record time of 9:33.95 in Paris at the DecaNation Championship. Barringer should also have a chance to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

CU will put other defending champions on the track. Billy Nelson won the steeplechase in 2007. Pete Janson won the steeplechase in 2006 and Stephen Pifer took top honors in the 1,500-meter run, also in 2006.

The Buffs have also put together a good a solid group of sprinters on the men's side. Jeremy Dodson has recorded regional qualifying marks in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Ryan Campbell has also qualified in the 200-meter dash.

Jenny Barringer (photo courtesy Sean Hartnett)

James Begley ranks third in the men's discus and will look to earn his first all-conference honor. Kevin Fasing, who placed fifth last season in the javelin, will look to place even higher. Both have already earned regional marks.

The men's team is currently ranked 19th in the country and looks to make a run at the conference championship in front of their hometown fans.

The championship will kick off on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. with the 100-meter hurdles in the women's heptathlon. The first men's event is the 100-meter run in the men's decathlon. Tickets are $10 and include all three days of events. For tickets and more information visit the CU Buffs website.