PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Colorado senior Stephen Pifer ran the fastest 5,000 meters in the nation Friday night to win the event at the Stanford Invitational.

Pifer won in a personal best time of 13 minutes, 40.54 seconds. He won the prestigous race by less than one second.

"I feel pretty good about getting the win," Pifer said. "I was hoping for a faster race. I wanted to run about four seconds faster to get a better time for the (Olympic) Trials."

Pifer, who also owns the best 1,500-meter time in the nation, started Friday's race in the middle of the pack. He made his move in the last stretch of the race and edged Georgetown's Andrew Bumbalough.

"I felt pretty good going into the last mile, so I started to take control and see how low in the 13:40's I could get," Pifer said.

The time qualified Pifer for the NCAA Midwest Regional Meet on May 30-31 in Lincoln, Neb.

CU's Pete Janson also earned a regional mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by finishing in 8:51.64. Janson was seventh overall but the third-best collegiate finisher.

"It went out slower than I would have like and I stayed in the back of the pack," Janson said. "It was the first race of the season for a lot of guys, so we just kind of cruised through nice and easy with everyone getting their splits."

Janson's time ranks fourth overall in the nation and is best in the Big 12.

The Buffs are back in action at the Stanford Invitational today and will be looking for faster times when they return to Stanford for the Cardinal Invitational on May 4.

Stanford Invitational

(Colorado results only)

Men's 5,000 -- 1. Stephen PIfer, 13:40.54.

Men's 3,000 -- 7. Pete Janson, 8:51.64.