# 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.

## Coaches

Frank Potts 1927-1969
Colorado's outdoor track and field stadium is named after Coach Potts.
Don Meyers 1969-1975
Dean Brittenham 1976-1979
David Troy 1980-1985
Jerry Quiller 1986-1994
Mark Wetmore 1995–2024
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.
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. Wetmore's time as coach was also immortalized in the 2000 book Running With the Buffaloes.
Sean Carlson 2024-

## In the media

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.
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.

## Notable athletes

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

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

## Year by year results

| | Men's | Men's | Men's | Men's | Women's | Women's | Women'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 | | | | | | | | |