Prime Era Debuts 

Colorado football opened the 2023 season — the “Coach Prime” era — with unprecedented national attention and an undefeated nonconference schedule. Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was named head football coach on Dec. 3, 2022. 

CU opened on the road Sept. 2 at No. 17-ranked TCU. The Buffaloes defeated the Horned Frogs, last year’s national runner-up and a 21-point favorite, 45-42. Colorado went on to beat Nebraska 36-14 Sept. 9 in Boulder before a double-overtime 43-35 victory over Colorado State Sept. 16 at Folsom Field. 

“We did some things that showed we were resilient. We showed that we would fight, we showed that we had no surrender or give up in us,” Coach Prime said after the thriller over CSU. 

Colorado finished its non conference schedule ranked No. 19 in the nation. All three nonconference games were televised nationally, with Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show on campus Sept. 9 and ESPN’s College GameDay on campus Sept. 16. 

Buffs Bits 

On July 27, the CU Board of Regents unanimously approved CU Boulder’s move to the Big 12 Conference effective for the 2024-25 school year. … Four women’s track standouts earned All-American honors at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships; Abbey Glynn (LeadCommEngmt, Psych’24) raced a school record 55.94 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles semifinals on her way to a First Team All American finish. Avery McMullen (IntPhys, Psych’24) earned Second Team in the heptathlon, and Ella Baran (MEnv’24) and India Johnson (MTechMedSoc’24) earned honorable mention in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters respectively. … Women’s soccer closed out its non conference schedule at 8-1 and ranked No. 22 in the nation. Shyra James (MediaSt’24) led the Buffs with seven goals in nine games, and goalkeeper Jordan Nytes (Soc’26) was named National Player of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer on Aug. 29. 

Coach Talk 

“We have a lot of competitors here. There are a lot of people still fighting for spots, fighting for minutes and fighting for roles.” 

— Women’s soccer head coach Danny Sanchez after the start of the season. The Buffs’ overhauled roster has 14 newcomers joining 14 returning players. 

Digits

1

Match play hole difference that eliminated men’s golf’s Dylan McDermott (Mktg’25) at the 123rd U.S. Amateur 

5

Volleyball consecutive wins without dropping a set, Aug. 26–Sept. 2, a streak the Buffs hadn’t accomplished since 1993

1����–4�ٳ�

Women’s cross-country individual places at Sept. 1 kick-off races in Boulder 

100th

Season at Folsom Field began when CU kicked off against Nebraska Sept. 9

3.154

Spring 2023 GPA of CU’s 369 student-athletes, the highest term GPA ever recorded

510

School record passing yards for football’s Shedeur Sanders (Soc’25) in debut win at No. 17 TCU 

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Dramé Apparel

Jaida Drame (IntPhys, Soc’22), a track-and-field walk-on who didn’t run in high school, is departing CU as a world-recognized sprinter — and entrepreneur.

Drame tried out for track her sophomore year. She practiced 200- and 400-meters, trained solo and set personal records. She made the team in fall 2019, but then the pandemic struck. Eager to challenge herself and also bored during quarantine, she began altering and then designing clothes.

“My mom had bought me a sewing machine. I alter my clothes — I have long legs,” said Drame.

Drame modified athleisure styles before shifting to performance wear. She named her operation . Then, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) changes in 2021 allowed her to become a profiting business owner.

“Before NIL, it was Dramé Apparel or track. No crossover,” said Drame. “Now, I can push my own company.”

Drame will be in Boulder next year training with her running coach.

“I’m running for Senegal professionally,” said Drame. “And I hope to be wearing my uniforms.”

Buffs Bits

Jana Weinberger (IntlAf’06) was named CU’s director of skiing and Ian Lochhead as head alpine coach. … After women’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, Quay Miller (Soc’23) and Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’22, MSOL’23) announced they will return for their fifth and final seasons of eligibility. Head coach JR Payne signed a contract extension through 2028. … Lacrosse (11-8, 7-3 Pac-12) concluded 2023 with a run in the Pac-12 Tournament, ultimately falling 12-6 to USC in the championship on May 6. Charlie Rudy (StComm’22, MBus’23) and Sam McGee (MSOL’23) were named First Team All-Conference. … Buffs tennis (12-12, 3-9 Pac-12) advanced to the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament and earned a trip to the inaugural National Invitational Championship (NIT). … In April CU began a $12.3 million Athletics improvement project. The upgrades include lighting for soccer night games, a new training center for the ski team and track-and-field updates before CU hosts the 2024 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships.

Coach Talk

"We’ve got an extremely resilient group who genuinely love one another. It’s really gratifying to see them enjoy the fruits of their labor. This group does the work.”

— Tennis head coach Anthony Pham after CU defeated Oregon on April 26 to win its first Pac-12 Tournament Match in program history.

Digits

1

Filip Forejtek (CompSci’22, MDataSci’23) won the men’s giant slalom Individual National Championship on March 8 at the NCAA Ski Championships in Lake Placid, New York.

4

Buffs from the 2022 football team signed free agent contracts after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft in April.

16

Washington tennis’ national ranking when the Buffs came back from down 3-0 to win 4-3 on April 9.

57

CU student-athletes received their degrees following the spring 2023 semester.

47,277

Sold-out attendance at CU football’s Black & Gold Day Spring Game on April 22.

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Adam Peterman (EnvSt, Geol’18), Allie McLaughlin (Comm, Psych’13) and Joe DeMoor (Anth, Engl’12) closed out 2022 by winning gold medals at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the Skyrunning World Championships in Italy’s Ossola Valley.

Peterman, who only began trail racing in 2019, won the long trail race at Chiang Mai, running 48.4 miles with 16,000 feet of vertical gain in 7:15:53. 

“It was incredible to represent Team USA,” he said. “The course was unlike anything I’ve experienced. The route traveled on dirt roads that connect remote villages.”

The world championship capped Peterman’s dominant 2022: first place at the Chuckanut 50K, Canyons Endurance Run 100K and Western States 100-miler.

“Last year, I won all my ultras, but I’ll get knocked down eventually,” said Peterman. “These races can be gnarly.”

McLaughlin — or “Allie Mac” — has been trail racing for a decade. 

“The biggest challenge after college was learning to train the body and mind for intense downhill,” she said. “And the length of ultras.”

 She won the 5.5-mile, 4,400-foot elevation gain Vertical Mountain Race in Chiang Mai and finished third in the Classic Mountain Race. Additional 2022 victories included Alaska’s Mount Marathon, the Broken Arrow Skyrace Vertical Kilometer and two Golden Trail Series stages. She’s also completed over 300 skydives and recently began paragliding and BASE jumping.

“I hope to fly and jump in the beautiful places I’ll be racing,” she said.

DeMoor earned gold in the Skyrunning World Championships Vertical — 3.1 miles with 3,000 feet of elevation gain, a staggering scramble he calls the “fun side of running.”

He credits living in Colorado for his training gains. He spends weekends running up mountains and completing fastest-known times (FKTs) for ascents. He has summited the state’s top 100 peaks and set FKTs for over 20 routes in the last two years.

“I love chasing down summits. It’s equal parts route knowledge and fitness,” he said. “I feel like a student of the mountains.” 

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Track and field’s (IntPhys, Psych’24) is an All-American in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon. The Tennessee native discusses her shift to track, CU’s tight community of multi-event athletes and staying focused when competing in up to seven events in a meet. 

When people say ‘combined events’ or ‘multi-events,’ what does that include? 

The indoor pentathlon is the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and then the 800 meters. With the outdoor heptathlon, on day one it’s the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and then the 200 meters.Then, the second day is long jump, javelin and the 800 meters. Always in those orders.

There’s a lot of specialization in athletics, whether that’s playing only one sport or choosing distance over sprinting. When did you know that you wanted to compete across multiple track and field events? 

I played soccer growing up, and I only started doing track in high school. My club coach saw me at a meet, and he focused on the heptathlon and pentathlon. Most states don’t have combined events in high school, but Tennessee has it at our state meet. So, I did it throughout high school. Many people come into college not knowing that they’ll do the multi, but I’ve always done it.

Why did you decide to come to Colorado?

I went on visits for soccer my sophomore year. But then I decided to continue with track instead of soccer, and I was looking at mostly smaller schools in the South. One of my teammates from high school was coming here, and I was actually on vacation a mile from campus. I emailed CU, and Coach [Lindsey] Malone emailed me back five minutes later. She took my family on a campus tour that day. I went on my official visit that October. Coach Malone focused on multis and always has a big group. Most schools only have one or two multis, and they’ll send you off to different coaches. Here, you’re with one coach. 

Can you tell us about your training and how you find time to practice each event? 

We never do only one thing at practice. It’s a field event and running, or lifting and running or all three. We do each event at least once a week, but you’ve got to focus because we might not do it again for a week. We do sprint workouts but not a lot of distance. 

Do you prefer the pentathlon or heptathlon?

Most people prefer outdoor track, but I like indoor. I don’t like the cold or wind. The pentathlon makes it level for everyone, and I can do all the events in one day.

Do you sometimes compete in individual events outside of the multi?

You can’t do the multi every weekend. Most people do it two to four times per season. Competing in individual events gets you more practice when you’re not doing a multi. It’s hard to get PRs [personal records] in a multi.

Among all the combined events, do you have favorites?

High jump, long jump and hurdles. Even if I’m not doing a multi, I always ask to do those ones.

An event like the 800 requires different strengths than shot put or high jump. How do you maximize your performance across events?

I go all out in every single event. But it is daunting when you’re standing on the line for an 800, and you’re like, ‘I can’t feel my legs, but I’m going to have to run this.’ The 800 is always last. That’s the one I struggle with the most.

Are you competing in each event alongside everyone else or just those doing multis?

Just with the multis. We do every event together. You become good friends with your competitors. I know most of the multis in the Pac-12 because we spend entire days together.

Can you share some advice you’ve received from your CU coaches?

Relax and have fun. When you aren’t putting all that pressure on yourself, you end up doing much better. It’s important to not look at what everyone else is doing because everyone has strengths and weaknesses in the multi. Coach always says to forget about the event you just did, whether it went well or badly. With 20 minutes to the next event, you don’t want to be extra hyped or mad.

Do you have a special memory of a meet?

At Spokane last year, I did a multi and got a 300-point PR. That’s where I got my mark to qualify for Nationals. I was so happy that it all came together because it’s hard not to walk away from a multi thinking I could have done better in an event. Also Indoor Nationals in Birmingham. It’s two hours from Nashville. My whole extended family came, so I had over 50 people watching. We do multis during the day before the other events start. No one was there other than this giant section of my family.

If you have a break from track, what do you like to do?

Track fills up my life, but I do love to go hiking. [Visiting] Rocky Mountain National Park. Seeing mountain towns.

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Sanders Named Football Coach

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was announced as Colorado’s 28th full-time head football coach on Dec. 3.

“Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character,” said athletic director Rick George.

Sanders comes to CU after three seasons as head coach at Jackson State University, where his teams went a combined 27-6 and earned consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships (2021 and 2022).

Before coaching, Sanders was a two-sport athlete. Twice named a first-team All-American defensive back at Florida State, he went on to play in the NFL (14 years) and MLB (9 years). In the NFL, he was the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Super Bowl champion and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee.

Sanders takes over a 1-11 football program that saw head coach Karl Dorrell dismissed in October. Sanders pledged: “This is my job and my occupation and my business and my dream to bring you back to where you know you should belong.”

Buffs Bits

Women’s cross-country won its second consecutive Pac-12 Championship on Oct. 28. Bailey Hertenstein (MIntPhys’24) won the individual championship. The women went on to place 11th at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19, with Hertenstein and Ella Baran (MEnvEng’24) racing to All-American finishes. … Men’s cross-country placed second overall at the Pac-12 Championship and then finished eighth overall at NCAAs. … For the first time since 2018, women’s volleyball reached the NCAA tournament. The Buffaloes (20-11, 12-8 Pac-12) were eliminated by No. 20 Rice in a first-round match on Dec. 1. Middle blocker Meegan Hart (Soc’21; MSOL’23) was named All-Pac-12 First Team. … Women’s soccer finished the 2022 season 8-7-5 (2-6-3 Pac-12) after a 5-0-2 start had the Buffaloes ranked No. 19 nationally. … Ambassador David Bolen (Mktg, MBA’50), CU’s first Olympian, died on Dec. 10, 2022. Bolen placed second in the 440 yards at the 1947 NCAA Championships and fourth in the 400 meters at the 1948 London Olympics. He went on to a distinguished career in the foreign service, including appointments as U.S. Ambassador.

Coach Talk

“Change is evident. It’s going to happen. … Whenever you dominate a space, there’s elevation.”

— Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders in the .

Stats

77-67

Score after women’s basketball beat the previously undefeated and No. 8-ranked Utah Utes on Jan. 6 in Boulder.

19.56

Distance, in meters, of indoor track and field’s Gya’ni Sami’s (EthSt, Soc’23) weight throw, a new CU record by over a foot, at the Air Force Holiday Open on Dec. 2.

96%

CU student-athlete Graduation Success Rate announced by the NCAA in November, an all-time high for the university.

262nd

career win for men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle when the Buffs beat Southern Utah 86-78 at home on Dec. 21, making him the winningest head coach in program history.

1st

Offensive tackle Tommy Brown (MSOL’24) signed with Boulder-based Shinesty to become the first-ever college football NIL underwear model.

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Fifteen Lacrosse Seniors Graduate

Eleven seniors and four super-seniors played their last game for Colorado lacrosse on May 4. While the Buffs (11-6, 5-5 Pac-12) were upset 14-10 by Oregon in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Tempe, Arizona, the 2022 season was a historic one. The Buffs entered the national rankings twice, reaching No. 19 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine poll. They beat three Top-25 teams, including a 12-10 victory at No. 10 Denver on April 27.

“This group is really important to me and our program,” said head coach Ann Elliot Whidden. “Our fifth-year players came in and dealt with the death of Julia Sarcona (StComm’18). Then they went through Aine Williams (PolSci’22) getting really sick. Then COVID-19 and the challenges of the last couple of years. … This team is a close team that cares about each other and plays for each other.”

The Buffs earned three 2022 Pac-12 All-Conference selections. Kate Burnside (StComm’22) was First Team, and Sadie Grozier (Mktg’21) and Charlie Rudy (StComm’22) made Second Team. Rudy was named USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I Women’s Player of the Week in early March. 

Buffs Bits

Micaela DeGenero (MTechCyb’22) won the mile run at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in March. DeGenero moved from last to first in the final quarter-mile of the race to win the women’s national title. … Magdalena Luczak (Bus’26) won the women’s individual national championship in giant slalom at the 2022 NCAA Ski Championships on March 10 in Utah. Filip Forejtek (CompSci’22) followed to win the men’s individual giant slalom national championship. Forejtek was subsequently named National Men’s Alpine Skier of the Year by the U.S. Collegiate Ski Coaches Association in April. … Golf’s Justin Biwer (Bus’25) was named to both the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. … Ben Bettin (Phys’23) won two national titles at the 2022 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships April 1–2 in Lake Lanier, Georgia: the Draft-Legal sprint-distance race and the Olympic-distance Collegiate Championship. … “Buffalo” Bill Harris (A&S’64) died April 5 at the age of 79. Harris, a star running back at Colorado in the early 60s, became director of CU’s Alumni C Club in 2001 and went on to serve nine years as its leader.

Coach Talk

“It’s about as much fun as I’ve had coaching football in quite some time.”

— Mike Sanford, CU football’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach told BuffZone in April. He was hired in December.

Stats

3

Buffs named women’s tennis All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention: Megan Forster (�ʲ��⳦��’22), Antoni Balzert (Psych, RealEst’23) and Caroline Pozo (�ѳ��ٰ�dz���’22)

15:15.95

Eighth-best time in NCAA history in the women’s 5,000 meters by Abby Nichols (MSOL’22) at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, on April 15

5/6

Date men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle was named Head Coach of USA Basketball’s Men’s U18 National Team

27

Jaylyn Sherrod’s (Soc’22) career-high points in women’s basketball’s season-ending loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

21

ESPN’s national ranking of CU football’s 2023 recruiting class, as of May 9

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All-American and 2021 Pac-12 Cross Country Athlete of the Year Eduardo (Lalo) Herrera (Soc’21; MA&S’23) has hit his stride in his fifth and sixth year at CU. The 2020 Pac-12 cross-country champion reflects on running 90-mile weeks, seeking out local trails and stepping up with an eye to his future. 

When did you start running competitively?

Freshman year of high school. I was a soccer player growing up. Back home in Madera, California, the coaches get single-sport athletes to go out for cross-country to get in shape for soccer. I started with my brother telling me to try out for the team just to stay in shape.

What was it about CU that made you want to run here?

When I came out here for my visit, it was snowing. I fell in love with Boulder. The resources in Athletics, the past championships, knowing that the team was really good. And running on soft surfaces was a priority. I was running 85 to 90 miles a week — and in the summers 100 — on asphalt and concrete. It’s hard on the body. Coming here, I knew trails could save me from injury. Altitude was an-other factor. It gives me a benefit going down to sea level when racing. I knew I would have everything I need to be successful in this program.

You’re in your sixth year running at CU. How has your role on the cross-country and track teams changed over time?

The first three years I was here, I wasn’t really that guy people look up to. I would follow everyone else. Workouts were crazy. Everybody was constantly going hard. After my junior year, I started to become a leader. We switched up the whole team dynamic, the team culture. We wanted to set this foundation that everyone here is important. The younger guys are the future of CU. 

Which teammates have helped mentor you? 

When I came here on my recruiting visit, I met Morgan Pearson (Econ, Math’16) and Pierce Murphy (FilmSt’16). And those guys kept in touch with me even after they graduated. It’s nice to have that type of friendship with those older guys.

Can you describe a typical week of training?

I’ve always been a high-mileage person. If I can be running 90 to 95 miles a week, it makes me feel strong when I approach a race. It also depends on where I'm at with the season. After a break, it’s normal to progress slowly. But I get impatient. I want to be out there and on top of my game.

Why do you think you've had so much success in the last year?

I want a professional running career. I started training differently when I wrote down the things that I wanted to accomplish post-college. Being determined and wanting to be the better version of myself. That's what changed.

What is something you've learned from head coach Mark Wetmore?

He’s not going to tell you that you need to get your nine hours of sleep every day. He's Not going to tell you that you need to eat healthier. You need to know that. It Comes down to the individual whether or not they want to be successful.

Do you have a favorite trail in Boulder?

LoBo Trail, heading out towards Coot Lake. Aquarius Trailhead is really nice. I go to Davidson Mesa a lot for the views. It’s beautiful.

During cross-country, you run 8K all seasons and then move up to 10K for regionals and nationals. How is it running longer distances on these big stages?

As a newcomer, like freshmen or sophomores, it’s a big change. In high school, all you’re doing is 5K. For me, it’s not much of a difference because I put in a lot of miles, so to move up two kilometers in a race isn't terrible. 

How do you prioritize not burning out too early while also making sure you don’t leave anything in the tank by race’s end?

Sometimes it comes down to being willing to put your nose in it. You’re going to finish pretty much on empty. At the NCAAs, I was feeling confident with my fitness. I knew I could compete. For some reason, I got fatigued at six kilometers and started to tense up. I tried to maintain my position. If you’re racing against really good people, you’re pushing the limit.

What advice would you give your 2016 self for when you were starting to run for the Buffaloes?

Be patient and trust the process. People get caught up with what others are doing. You need to do your own journey. If you're patient and doing the right things, your time will come. 

If you have time away from school and training, what are you doing? 

Outdoor activities. When I’m not doing that, I love playing FIFA. I also love to go explore. Go out to parks and relax, throw frisbees — that good stuff.

Interview condensed and edited. 

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Stats

1st

Time a goalkeeper won lacrosse Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year when Julia Lisella (SLHSci’21) took home the award May 5.

1,2,3,4,5,6

Singles positions played and won during the 2021 season by tennis’ Maria Campos (IntlAf’23), the first Buff to win at every singles position in one season.

Third

Men’s golf overall finish at April’s Wyoming Cowboy Classic, the team’s best performance of the season.

3:38.09

Eduardo Herrera’s (Soc’21) time when he broke the school record in the 1,500-meter run at the April 30 West Coast Relays in Fresno, CA.

9/3

Football opens the 2021 season against Northern Colorado at Folsom Field.

197th

Overall pick used by the New England Patriots to select Buffs offensive tackle William Sherman (Comm’21) in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Baker Named Associate Athletic Director 

DaWon Baker began work as Colorado’s first associate athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion in May 2021. A past participant in CU’s Inclusive Sports Summit, Baker is charged with aligning CU Athletics with ongoing inclusivity efforts. Athletic Director Rick George said Baker will be “present at our practices, games and in our facilities” as an accessible and welcoming leader. 

A St. Louis native, Baker believes the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson was a turning point in his career.

“I saw how the tragic event of Michael’s death affected the world and my own campus,” he said.“For the first time, I saw that there was a strategy to creating inclusive cultures, and that drove me to learn about diversity and inclusion in sport.” 

Buffs Bits

Two-time Olympian and long-distance runner Kara Goucher (Psych’01) [pictured above] was named to the NBC Olympics broadcasting team in May for the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

���쾱���Բ�’s Cassidy Gray (IntPhys’24) won the 2021 individual NCAA Championship in the women’s giant slalom. Gray was joined on the podium by Stef Fleckenstein (Comm’22), who finished second at March’s championships in New Hampshire. 

Mya Hollingshed (Comm’22) was selected honorable mention All America by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association April 3. Hollingshed will return for a fifth season in 2021–22.

Buffs soccer (9-6-2) reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season before being eliminated 1-0 by South Alabama in an April 27 first-round match. 

Despite a career-high six goals from Sadie Grozier (Mktg’21), CU lacrosse (8-7) lost to No.13 Stanford 17-10 in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game May 8.

Skier Magnus Boee (CivEngr’23), football’s Jerek Broussard (Ethn’23) and basketball’s McKinley Wright IV (Ethn’21) tied for male athlete of the year, while track and field’s Sage Hurta (ChemBioEngr’21) unanimously won female athlete of the year at the 21st annual CU Sports Performers of the Year (CUSPY) Awards in May. 

Coach Talk

 

I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and to raise the level of college ski racing to heights never seen before.”

 

 — Head ski coach Andy LeRoy (Fin’03), who previously led the University of Denver to six NCAA championships over 15 seasons.

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Sage Hurta (ChemBioEngr’21) is the NCAA women’s indoor track champion in the mile. The self-described perfectionist reveals how embracing failure and a short-term memory are propelling her success.

How did you get started running? 

My parents were part of a local cross-country running team. As soon as I was able to, I wanted to start competing as well. Once I got into middle school, I joined the high school team. 

You won New York’s state cross-country title the first time as a 7th grader? 

Kind of crazy. I was in a small school group, so it wasn’t quite as competitive as with the big schools. I just had a really good race that day. 

What were your biggest challenges when transitioning to a Division-1 program?

It was a jump in intensity. I remember one of my first weeks, I was so exhausted. I thought: ’How am I going to do four years of this?’ But you get used to it pretty quickly. Running is a lot more fun — and you see more gains and fitness —when you’re all pushing each other. 

How have your roles on the cross-country and track teams changed? 

Freshman year, I was pretty timid. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, especially when I was gunning for one of the top spots. But you build those relationships, and it becomes a lot more comfortable. I can be myself and lead through example. 

You were dealing with injuries in 2020. What did you do for rehab?

With bone injuries, unfortunately, it’s mostly rest. I focused on strengthening and stability because I was having the same injury again and again. I needed to fix some things with my foot and hip strength. I had to become more conscious in my training and learn to stop pushing when I’m tired. 

Once sports shut down due to the pandemic, how long did you go between official practices? 

We didn’t get going until the end of August, so six months. Even from August to January, we had false starts and breaks where we couldn’t meet as a team.

What did you do to train when you couldn’t be with your team?

I do everything [my coaches] say... and then five percent more. I always think about those big race opportunities that I’m building towards. Unfortunately, my past injuries coincide with times that we’ve been [training] on our own because I’ll do more than I should. I have a hard time pulling back. 

You had months away from the team, you were rehabbing, and then the 2021 in-door season started. Two months later [in March] you were the National Champion in the mile. How did that happen?

My most recent injury was in November [2020]. When I opened the season at Arkansas in January, I’d only been running for seven weeks. I would go into workouts and think, “I don’t know if I can do that. I haven’t run that fast in a year and a half.” But, by the time February rolled around, I felt more comfortable and started gaining momentum. 

With a prolonged off-season, how did you keep tabs on rivals?

The track community, the distance side especially, is super connected. There aren’t huge surprises. People who were good in 2019 are generally still good. 

What is something you’ve learned from Coach Mark Wetmore and Coach Heather Burroughs?

I tend to be a perfectionist, and it can hold me back sometimes. I’m learning not to fear failure. If you’re afraid of failure, you’re more likely to hold yourself back and it’s harder to recover from a disappointing race. The thing they always say is to have short-term memory, whether you have a good day or bad day. 

Do your study habits inform your approach to running?

I’m super meticulous. I like to check all the boxes with my schoolwork. I’m not someone who’s ever going to cut a corner. I have this saying,“In order to be ahead, you have to get ahead.” And I’m that way in my training. You have to be disciplined. 

What’s the plan for after graduation?

I am planning on running professionally right out of school. There’s this period between the NCAA meet and the Olympic trials when I have to get everything in order with an agent. I hope to run for as long as possible. As of now, I want to be a doctor in the long term. 

If you’re away from school and training, what are you doing? 

Whenever I’m home over break, I go crazy baking cakes and croissants. My favorite thing to do is tackle a big baking project or read and hang out with my dogs. 

Interview condensed and edited for clarity. 

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Stats

Two

twins born in May to CU lacrosse head coach Ann Elliot Whidden

3.491

average Spring 2020 GPA for all 338 student-athletes, a new single-semester high

Four

returning senior men's golfers for 2020-21 who had their original final season cut short last year

500+

CU student-athletes, staff and community participants in June's Buffs March to protest racial injustice

909

days from when Andre Roberson (Comm ex'14) ruptured his left patellar tendon and returned to play for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder this July

Buffs Bits

Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Ceal Barry retired July 1 after 43 years in college athletics. At CU, she coached women’s basketball for 22 years before serving in administration the last 15 years. ... Richard Rokos, head ski coach for the past 30 seasons, announced 2021 will be his last year. Since his hiring, the Buffs have qualified for every NCAA championship and won eight of them. ... Track stars Dani Jones (Psych, SLHSci’20), Joe Klecker (BioChem’20) and Makena Morley (Anth, Engl’20) announced they are forgoing remaining seasons of eligibility to pursue pro careers. ... With the departure of John Graves (�Ѳ�����’09), Taylor Stratton (EBio, EnvSt, Geog’13) was named manager of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program. She served as assistant coach for the last four years. ... Senior women’s golfer Kirsty Hodgkins (MechEngr’21) reached the Round of 64 at the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur in August. ... CU men’s basketball star point guard McKinley Wright IV (Ethn’21) will return to play with the Buffs for the 2021 season. ... The Pac-12 announced Aug. 11 that no fall sports would be played in 2020. In late September, however, the conference released a shortened football schedule with games beginning Nov. 7. ... On Sept. 16, the NCAA granted a Nov. 25 start date for men’s and women’s basketball. 

Betty Hoover of the "CU Twins" dies at 95

The Buffs lost legendary fan Betty Fitzgerald Hoover (A&S’46), twin sister to Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom (A&S’46), to pancreatic cancer Aug. 5, 2020. As CU athletic director Rick George said, “If you know CU Athletics you know Betty and Peggy.” Hoover held season tickets for football since 1958 and basketball since 1979 when the CU Events Center opened. The “CU Twins” grew up on Colorado’s eastern plains before moving to Longmont in 1939 and then to Boulder a year later. Attendance at Boulder High and CU followed, as did husbands and seven children between their two families. For the last 30 years, Betty and Peggy were inseparable. They garnered national attention and local affection for their matching outfits, pompoms and enthusiasm. Women’s basketball head coach JR Payne said, “Betty and Peggy have blessed so many with their unwavering spirit and love for everyone.” Hoover connected with numerous student-athletes as well: Men’s basketball’s Evan Battey (Jour’22) wrote of Hoover, “Thank you for giving me a shoulder to lean on.” 

Photo courtesy CU Althetics

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