Jenny Barringer is one of the top collegiate runners in the nation, with the 2006 NCAA steeplechase title to her credit as well as a second-place finish at the NCAA cross country championships last fall.

However, the sophomore has yet to grab a Big 12 title, in cross country, indoor or outdoor track. That could change this weekend, when Barringer and her University of Colorado teammates compete in the 2007 Big 12 Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Neb.

Barringer is scheduled to run the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the event in which she set the school record of 9 minutes, 53 seconds last year. In Big 12 competition and on the national level, Barringer has finished second to Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech several times in track and cross country.

Kipyego, a native of Kenya, is doubling in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and will not race Barringer in the steeple.

"I'm feeling good and am looking to win," Barringer said Tuesday morning at CU's Potts Field outdoor track, where the Buffs were putting in their final pre-Big 12 workout. "But I haven't run a steeple yet this season."

Barringer is one of several Buffs looking for wins this weekend. Tonight, senior Payton Batliner will be in the 10,000 meters. Earlier this season, Batliner clocked an outstanding time of 29 minutes in the 10,000, one of the top three Big 12 times this year.

Another senior, javelin thrower Hannah Warfield-Ruffatto, has the second-longest throw in the nation and is progressing nicely this season, said headcoach Mark Wetmore. "Hannah has stayed focused and trains hard. I'd like to see her do well in the Big 12, advance through regionals, and make the finals of NCAAs."

That is the goal of several of the Buffs. One surprise for CU fans could be junior Sara Ensrud in the 1,500 meters. Ensrud's early-season clocking of 4:19.7 is second-fastest in the conference.

CU should pick up points in the men's 1,500 meters as well, as NCAA second-place finisher Stephen Pifer and Brent Vaughn are both entered. Vaughn is the defending conference 10,000-meter champ, but is running the 1,500 meters in order to hone his speed for later in the season.

In the 1,500 meters at the 2006 Big 12 meet, Vaughn did not advance out of his qualifying round. His goal Saturday, he said, "is to make the finals."

In the throws, Zach Hazen and Ryan Willis are expected to score points, and Kevin Fasing could reach the top eight in the javelin. Sprinters looking to score include 100-meter men Ryan Campbell and Jeremy Dodson; both have run faster than 10.5 seconds this season, while quarter-milers George Pincock and Chris Abuan will compete in the open races and relays.

In the men's steeplechase, senior Billy Nelson has the fastest time in the conference this season, while Liza Pascuito would be favored in the 5,000 meters if she were not going up against Kipyego.

One runner who could turn in a surprise Saturday is Anthony Chiuli in the 800 meters. During a workout last month the day after the CU Potts meet was snowed out, Chiulii and fellow miler Pifer ran 1 minute, 50 seconds for 800 meters.

"I'm not sure what time I can run," Chiulii said after finishing a 54-second 400-meters during his Tuesday workout. "My goal is to make the finals."

Several of the Buffs' distance runners will double back in the 5,000 meters after their first events in order to score extra points for the team. CU will likely score well in the 5,000, as Pifer, Vaughn, Nelson and sophomore Kenyon Neuman all have run fast times this season.

Wetmore said his men's and women's squads have different goals this weekend. The men, fourth last year to Texas, "just keep getting better" and could finish in the top four once again.

Added Wetmore, "The women (10th in 2006) are still in the building stage, and will have individual goals (this weekend)."