Whenever I run past Varsity Townhouses just west of campus, an image of Tim Cronin and Jerry Quiller flashes to mind. Cronin, a state champ in the 800 meters, was ready to quit the Colorado track team before the start of the 1972 season.
Quiller, the late CU head track and field coach, found out and tracked Cronin down, finding the talented sophomore sitting at the edge of the apartment complex pool, feet dangling in the water. Quiller approached and sat down.
“Want a beer?” Cronin asked his coach.
“Sure.”
The two sat and talked. Quiller convinced Cronin to return to the team, leading to a long career in the running industry — from becoming a top-ranked U.S. miler to recovering from a severe skiing accident to becoming the first president of Frank Shorter Sports.
That is one of the many stories gleaned from the long annals of the Colorado track and field program, and there are sure to be many more to come this weekend at a reunion held in conjunction with the three-day 2024 Pac 12 Track and Field Championships set for Potts Field on the school’s east campus (cubuffs.com/tickets or 303-492-8337).
Over the decades, CU has produced many NCAA champions. What is most noticeable in talking to the alums, however, is their focus on memories, reflections and experience built up through their undergraduate years of shared workouts, classes and travel. Times and places are rarely mentioned. Teammates are what counts.
The Buffs are hosting a historic meet this weekend, with this being the final Pac 12 conference championship in any sport. The member schools are scattering in the fall, so this is likely your only chance to see track powerhouses such as Stanford, Oregon and Washington compete in Boulder. Track alums and fans are coming in from around the country to watch and reminisce, including North Carolina resident Cronin.
Those of you wanting to be close to the action are invited to volunteer for a variety of tasks. Colorado Track and Field director of operations Karen Lechman will be speaking at the Boulder Road Runners free monthly social tonight at Upslope Brewery starting at 6 p.m. She will be soliciting volunteers and explaining the expected duties. A pre-party fun run is set for 5 p.m. leaving from Upslope and heading east along the Boulder Creek Path.
“Extra help is always needed,” said Lechman. Technical skills are not necessary, she added, as CU has roughly 50 certified officials, but you will be on your feet for a couple of hours.
“All are welcome,” Chris McDonald, a 1992 CU track and cross country alum and head of the Boulder Road Runners, said. “Excited to be hosting the Pac 12 championships. Disappointed it is the end of the conference. Only the SEC could rival the Pac 12 in track.”
That means there likely will be great competitions from the field events through the finals in all events, according to former CU women’s coach Rich Castro. “The Pac 12 should have some outstanding performances. Watching the prelims and seeing second-tier guys compete for the teams, trying to scratch out a point or two reminds me of my collegiate days.”
“The sprints could offer some great match-ups, and I am interested to see how the Stanford guys do at altitude.”
Ah, yes, the altitude. Fans will be sure to remind the visiting flatland collegians of the mile-high elevation and their dearth of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Many of the Boulder Road Runners and others will remember the 2008 Big 12 championships, the last time Colorado hosted its conference meet, when the Buffs pulled off a stunning upset to win the team title over perennial powers such as Texas A&M, Nebraska, Baylor and Texas.
Those who saw it won’t forget CU’s stirring Stephen Pifer’s 1500 meter race on the final day, when he led future Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzanes from the start into a stiff wind. The packed stands erupted, and a courageous Pifer battled Manzanes to the tape, earning valuable points that helped CU win the conference title.
Stay tuned for more excitement this weekend.
Follow Sandrock on Instagram: @MikeSandrock.
