Colorado Buffaloes cross country

Colorado Buffaloes Cross Country represents the University of Colorado and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team was coached by Mark Wetmore for 29 years.

Colorado Buffaloes Cross Country
UniversityColorado
Head coachSean Carlson
ConferenceBig 12
LocationBoulder, CO
NicknameBuffaloes
ColorsSilver, black, and gold[1]
     
Men's national championships
2001, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2014
Women's national championships
2000, 2004, 2018
Men's NCAA appearances
1957, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Women's NCAA appearances
1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Men's conference champions
1962, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Women's conference champions
1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022

Coaches

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Frank Potts 1927-1969

Colorado's outdoor track and field stadium is named after Coach Potts.[2]

Don Meyers 1969-1975

Dean Brittenham 1976-1979

David Troy 1980-1985

Jerry Quiller 1986-1994

Mark Wetmore 1995–2024[3]

Coach Wetmore was the first NCAA division one coach to have won both a men's and women's team national championship along with having a men's and women's individual champion.[2]

Wetmore is known for having the team train on Magnolia Road, otherwise known as Mags. The Road is 13 miles long and the team uses it for their Sunday long runs. Mags has become a tourist attraction for other runners.[4] Wetmore's time as coach was also immortalized in the 2000 book Running With the Buffaloes.

Sean Carlson 2024- [5]


In the media

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Chris Lear published Running with the Buffaloes in June 2000. The book gives an inside look into the 1998 Colorado men's cross country team and gained a cult following within the running community.[6]

In 2014 FloSports running brand, FloTrack, released a Docuseries called The Program: Colorado which followed the men's team on their way to winning the 2014 NCAA Championship.[7]

Notable athletes

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Men's individual national championships
Year Athlete League
1982 Mark Scrutton NCAA
1998 Adam Goucher NCAA
2002 Jorge Torres NCAA
2003 Dathan Ritzenhein NCAA

Men's individual conference champions

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Year Athlete Conference
1964 Dave Wighton Big 8
1967 Craig Runyan Big 8
1968 Craig Runyan Big 8
1976 Kirk Pfeffer Big 8
1977 Mark Spilsbury Big 8
1978 Kirk Pfeffer Big 8
1979 Mark Anderson Big 8
1980 Mark Scrutton Big 8
1981 Mark Scrutton Big 8
1982 Mark Scrutton Big 8
1986 Chuck Truijillo Big 8
1997 Adam Goucher Big 12
1998 Adam Goucher Big 12
1999 Ryan Roybal Big 12
2000 Jorge Torres Big 12
2001 Jorge Torres Big 12
2002 Jorge Torres Big 12
2003 Dathan Ritzenhein Big 12
2007 Brent Vaughn Big 12
2019 Joe Klecker Pac-12
2020 Eduardo Herrera Pac-12
Women's individual national championships
Year Athlete League
1978 Mary Decker AIAW
2000 Kara Grgas-Wheeler NCAA
2018 Dani Jones NCAA
 
Dani Jones at the 2017 Pac-12 Championship.
Women's Individual conference champions
Year Athlete Conference
1992 Brooke Baugh Big 8
1995 Patty Roberts Big 8
1996 Kelly Smith Big 12
1999 Kara Wheeler Big 12
2000 Kara Grgas-Wheeler Big 12
2001 Molly Austin Big 12
2002 Molly Austin Big 12
2003 Natalie Florence Big 12
2004 Renee Metivier Big 12
2005 Christine Bolf Big 12
2009 Jenny Barringer Big 12
2017 Dani Jones Pac-12
2018 Dani Jones Pac-12
2021 Abby Nichols Pac-12
2022 Bailey Hertenstein Pac-12

Men's All-Americans

  • Dave Wrighton 1963, 1964, 1965
  • Craig Runyon 1966, 1967, 1968
  • Rick Truijillo 1967
  • John Lunn 1968
  • John Gregorio 1972, 1973
  • Mike Peterson 1974
  • Mark Spilsbury 1977, 1979
  • John Hunsaker 1978
  • Mark Anderson 1979
  • Michael Buhmann 1979
  • Mark Scrutton 1980, 1981, 1982
  • Sam Reese 1982
  • Dan Reese 1984, 1985
  • Chuck Truijillo 1985, 1986
  • Mike Nahom 1989
  • Shawn Found 1992
  • Alan Culpepper 1993, 1994, 1995
  • Scott Larson 1993
  • Jay Cleckler 1994
  • Jon Cooper 1994, 1995
  • Adam Goucher 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998
  • Clint Wells 1994, 1995
  • Ricky Cron 1996
  • Chris Severy 1996
  • Zeke Tiernan 1996
  • Tom Reese 1997
  • Matt Napier 1997
  • Adam Batliner 1997
  • Mike Friedberg 1998, 1999, 2000
  • Ron Roybal 1998
  • Jorge Torres 2000, 2001, 2002
  • Ed Torres 2000, 2001, 2002
  • Sean Smith 2000
  • Steve Slattery 2000, 2001
  • Dathan Ritzenhein 2001, 2003
  • Billy Nelson 2002, 2003
  • Bret Schoolmeester 2004, 2005
  • Jon Severy 2004
  • Brent Vaughn 2004, 2006, 2007
  • Stephen Pifer 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • James Strang 2005, 2006
  • Erik Heinonen 2006
  • Jordan Kyle 2008
  • Joe Bosshard 2010, 2011
  • Andy Wacker 2010, 2011
  • Richard Medina 2011
  • Jake Hurysz 2012
  • Blake Theroux 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Aric Van Halen 2012
  • Pierce Murphy 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Morgan Pearson 2013, 2015
  • Ben Saarel 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Ammar Moussa 2014
  • Connor Winter 2014, 205
  • John Dressel 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
  • Joe Klecker 2016, 2018, 2019
  • Eduardo Herrera 2017
  • Ryan Forsyth 2018
  • Alec Hornecker 2019
  • Eduardo Herrera 2021
  • Austin Vancil, 2022, 2023

Women's All-Americans

  • Mary Decker (AIAW) 1978
  • Carol McMordie 1986
  • Chris McNamara 1986, 1987
  • Patty Roberts 1994, 1995
  • Heather Burroughs 1994, 1995, 1998
  • Natalie Raveling 1994
  • Colleen Glyde 1995, 1996
  • Kelly Smith 1995, 1997
  • Carrie Messner 1996
  • Kara Grgas-Wheeler 1999, 2000
  • Sara (Gorton) Slattery 2000, 2002, 2004
  • Jodie Hughes 2000
  • Molly Austin 2001, 2002
  • Natalie Florence 2002, 2004
  • Renee Metivier 2003, 2004
  • Kalin Toedebusch 2003
  • Christine Bolf 2004, 2005
  • Liza Pasciuto 2004, 2005, 2006
  • Jenny Barringer 2006, 2007
  • Sara Vaughn 2007
  • Allie McLaughlin 2009
  • Shalaya Kipp 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Laura Tremblay 2010
  • Emma Coburn 2011
  • Erin Clark 2014, 2015
  • Kaitlyn Benner 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Mackenzie Caldwell 2016
  • Sage Hurta 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Dani Jones 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Val Constien 2018
  • Makena Morley 2018
  • Tabor Scholl 2018
  • Tayler Tuttle 2018
  • Abby Nichols 2020, 2021
  • Emily Covert 2021
  • Bailey Hertenstein, 2022
  • Ella Baran, 2022
 
Mary Decker in the 1984 Olympic Games
 
Emma Coburn at the 2016 Olympic games

Olympians[8]

Athlete Olympics Event Place
Mary Decker   1984 3000m DNF
Alan Culpepper   2000 10,000m H2 17th
2004 Marathon 12th
Shayne Culpepper   2000 1500m H3 9th
2004 5000m H1 13th
Adam Goucher   2000 5000m 13th
Dathan Ritzenhein   2004 10,000m DNF
2008 Marathon 9th
2012 10,000m 13th
Jenny Simpson   2008 Steeplechase 9th
2012 1500m SF2 10th
2016 3rd
Kara Goucher   2008 5000m 9th
10,000m 10th
2012 Marathon 11th
Billy Nelson   2008 Steeplechase 29th
Jorge Torres   2008 10,000m 27th
Emma Coburn   2012 Steeplechase 9th
2016 3rd
2020 DNF
Shalaya Kipp   2012 Steeplechase H1 12th
Joe Klecker   2020 10,000m 16th
Valerie Constien   2020 Steeplechase 12th
2024 15th

Year by year results

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Men's Women's
Year Conference Finish Points NCAA Finish Points Conference Finish Points NCAA Finish Points
Big Eight Conference
1950 4th
1951 5th 85
1952 3rd 43
1953 2nd 19
1954 4th 54
1955 3rd 34
1956 2nd 88
1957 2nd 52 8th 198
1958 3rd 98
1959 5th 98
1960 8th 180
1961 2nd 78
1962 1st 60 7th 202
1963 4th 85
1964 3rd 72
1965 4th 76 14th 281
1966 2nd 57 6th 248
1967 2nd 59 3rd 110
1968 2nd 61 5th 241
1969 6th 137
1970 4th 83 15th 450
1971 4th 110 26th 662
1972 2nd 76
1973 2nd 55 T- 6th 217
1974 6th
1975 2nd 73 20th 447
1976 1st 46 20th 471 2nd 59 16th 546
1977 1st 21 10th 303 2nd 62 3rd 164
1978 1st 22 5th 234 2nd 70 4th 147
1979 1st 23 4th 189 5th 108 18th 430
1980 1st 26 13th 369 2nd 75 19th 408
1981 3rd 4th 100 9th 237
1982 1st 35 7th 219 3rd 80
1983 5th 94 5th 123
1984 5th 114 22nd 413 3rd 79
1985 1st 48 3rd 167 5th 106
1986 1st 37 5th 195 3rd 64 6th 186
1987 3rd 92 15th 385 1st 49 12th 249
1988 2nd 71 6th 120
1989 3rd 92 18th 365 5th 135
1990 6th 113 3rd 94
1991 2nd 86 3rd 93
1992 1st 42 11th 320 1st 52 20th 454
1993 2nd 49 4th 181 3rd 78 14th 326
1994 2nd 49 2nd 88 1st 29 4th 126
1995 2nd 53 4th 181 1st 25 2nd 123
1996 1st 66 5th 179 1st 30 4th 145
1997 1st 32 3rd 108 1st 23 3rd 178
1998 1st 31 3rd 158 2nd 99 7th 332
1999 1st 22 7th 307 1st 62 8th 351
2000 1st 16 2nd 94 1st 29 1st 117
2001 1st 31 1st 90 1st 33 8th 240
2002 1st 25 4th 190 1st 34 5th 220
2003 1st 38 5th 259 1st 45 5th 269
2004 1st 48 1st 90 1st 25 1st 63
2005 1st 44 5th 222 1st 38 2nd 181
2006 1st 36 1st 94 1st 45 2nd 223
2007 1st 34 7th 287 1st 59 23rd 479
2008 2nd 66 12th 372 5th 145
2009 2nd 56 6th 315 2nd 52 20th 458
2010 2nd 46 15th 366 2nd 53 6th 314
Pac-12 Conference
2011 1st 46 3rd 144 1st 50 11th 335
2012 1st 49 3rd 158 5th 124 24th 519
2013 1st 28 1st 149 2nd 75 7th 265
2014 1st 30 1st 65 3rd 82 7th 267
2015 1st 46 2nd 91 1st 45 2nd 129
2016 1st 41 6th 223 1st 33 3rd 134
2017 2nd 47 8th 294 1st 53 3rd 139
2018 3rd 82 4th 178 2nd 48 1st 65
2019 1st 41 3rd 164 4th 89 10th 294
2020 2nd 60 14th 398 2nd 50 7th 279
2021 1st 39 8th 249 1st 24 4th 187
2022 2nd 61 8th 281 1st 66 11th 286
2023 4th 81 25th 551 3rd 87 19th 446
Big 12 Conference
2024

[9][10][11][12]

References

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  1. ^ University of Colorado at Boulder NIL Brand Guidelines (PDF). January 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Jamieson, Quinn (July 3, 2020). "A CU Buffs Cross Country Crash Course". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  3. ^ Kuzma, Cindy (June 25, 2024). "Coaches Mark Wetmore and Heather Burroughs Are Out at Colorado". Runner's World. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Shryack, Lincoln (August 27, 2014). "Five Elements of The Wetmore Factor". FloTrack. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ^ https://www.thestridereport.com/post/breaking-colorado-hires-sean-carlson-as-buffaloes-next-director-of-tfxc
  6. ^ Gault, Jonathan (November 27, 2018). "Running With The Buffaloes At 20: Author Chris Lear Reflects On the Running Cult Classic In An In-Depth Interview". LetsRun.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Program: Colorado". FloTrack. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  8. ^ "Olympians" (PDF). CUBuffs.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "Men's Cross Country Big 12 Record Book" (PDF). Big 12. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Women's Cross Country Big 12 Record Book" (PDF). Big 12. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "Conference_History_Page" (PDF). CUBuffs.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "NCAA Championship History" (PDF). CUBuffs.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.