STOCKHOLM, Sweden –University of Colorado ace Jenny Barringer showed the world she is ready to make her mark on the international race circuit even though she has one semester remaining at CU as she placed first in the 5,000-meter run at the DN Galan Super Grand Prix on Friday.

“It was a prestigious win for Jenny,” assistant coach Heather Burroughs said. “This is a Super Grand Prix meet, one of the highest level of competition that Jenny has ever competed at in a Colorado uniform. She is still a collegian and raced against a lot of excellent international runners as well as some of the top Americans today.”

Barringer recorded a mark of 15 minutes, 5.25 seconds to win her first international race of the season.  Russia’s Natalya Popkova was second, finishing right behind Barringer in 15:05.95. Former Buff standout Renee Metivier Baillie placed seventh overall in the same race (15:26.49).

“The front of the race didn’t go out as I expected with more people leading and helping to get the race going,” Barringer said. “I expected it to go out a little faster but I’m proud of how I responded to the rabbit being slow and the best runners not going to the front.

“I’m really happy with my race. At the end of the day I have an outdoor PR and I’m excited about this being a really, really good rust-buster for me. The meet has been really fun and exciting and it’s special to be running against the best people. It’s an honor to be part of this meet.”

Barringer’s time is a school record, breaking her previous best of 15:07.64, which she set on May 2 in Palo Alto. The time of 15:07.64 is the NCAA outdoor 5k record and had been the top time by an American this season prior to her race on Friday. Barringer now owns the two marks by an American as Jennifer Rhines, who finished fourth, finished in 15:07.78, just off her time from May 2.

Barringer took the lead right from the start of the race and looked steady and very in control The front pack was close with the top eight racers separated by about 10 meters. Barringer lost the lead at 3,800-meters as a trio of athletes passed her. It was an unfamiliar position for her as she was now chasing the leaders instead of being the leader herself. Barringer dropped back to fifth but surged ahead and back into fourth at the 4200 mark with just two laps to go.

Entering the bell lap she had fallen back to sixth but still had plenty of gas left in the tank. With 300 meters remaining, she retook the lead and didn’t look back. Her kick, which has propelled her to some amazing finishes this season, including a 3.59.90 second-place finish in the 1500-meter run at Prefontaine Classic, didn’t fail her and she held off Popkova at the finish by .70 seconds. Barringer finished her final lap in 62.7 seconds and ran the final kilometer in 2:51.

This is the third consecutive summer Barringer is competing in Europe. She will compete at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, August 15-23. Barringer will compete in the steeplechase and is the American record holder at 9:22.26. She has one final tune-up before the world championships. Barringer will run the 800-meters in Cottbus, Germany on August 8.