CU to Honor Olympians Emma Coburn & Jenny Simpson On Oct. 1
September 26, 2016 | Cross Country, Track and Field, Alumni C Club, Olympians
BOULDER — University of Colorado will honor its two Olympic Bronze Medalists, Emma Coburn and Jenny Simpson, on Saturday, October 1 at a variety of events.
The day will start off for the former Buffs at the 31st Annual Rocky Mountain Shootout, CU's only home cross country meet, at Buffalo Ranch on CU's South Campus. They will serve as the official starters of the meet, which includes two races – the men will run an 8k race at 9 a.m. and the women will race a 5.8k run at 9:45 a.m.
After the cross country meet, Coburn and Simpson will head to Folsom Field for the CU football game against Oregon State, which is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start. They will spend time with the Alumni Association and Alumni C-Club at their tailgates before heading inside the stadium. The duo will be honored during the break between the first and second quarters.
Coburn and Simpson, former NCAA Champions and All-Americans for the CU track and field and cross country teams, made CU proud when they became the first American females to medal in their respective events this past August at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Coburn, who raced first, set an American record (9:07.63) when she finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Simpson ran a very gutsy 1,500 and closed very fast in the final 800-meters for her third place finish.
Both athletes are coached by Colorado coaches Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs. Coburn and Simpson are the fifth and sixth CU athletes to ever medal at an Olympic Games.
The day will start off for the former Buffs at the 31st Annual Rocky Mountain Shootout, CU's only home cross country meet, at Buffalo Ranch on CU's South Campus. They will serve as the official starters of the meet, which includes two races – the men will run an 8k race at 9 a.m. and the women will race a 5.8k run at 9:45 a.m.
After the cross country meet, Coburn and Simpson will head to Folsom Field for the CU football game against Oregon State, which is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start. They will spend time with the Alumni Association and Alumni C-Club at their tailgates before heading inside the stadium. The duo will be honored during the break between the first and second quarters.
Coburn and Simpson, former NCAA Champions and All-Americans for the CU track and field and cross country teams, made CU proud when they became the first American females to medal in their respective events this past August at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Coburn, who raced first, set an American record (9:07.63) when she finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Simpson ran a very gutsy 1,500 and closed very fast in the final 800-meters for her third place finish.
Both athletes are coached by Colorado coaches Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs. Coburn and Simpson are the fifth and sixth CU athletes to ever medal at an Olympic Games.