Recently, the University of Utah made quite an unexpected move by announcing that there will no longer be a paid throws coach after the 2015 season. The idea is to build the groundwork for making Utah a sprints and distance focused school, much like USC and Colorado have built their track programs. Although the move shocked many, you can't argue with the logic. Utah, like Colorado, is prime distance training territory for serious competitors.
Sparse oxygen at high altitudes forces the body to increase its number of red blood cells, thus increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to muscles during exercise and improving performance. Countless cross country/distance runners have come to Utah to train, specifically to take advantage of such high elevations.
There's a reason why Nike's Oregon Project holds its altitude training camp in Park City. The 7,000 ft. altitude mark, along with it's Olympic heritage, makes it one of the most desired training spots for elite level country/distance athletes. Among those athletes that come to Utah to train is Galen Rupp, a 6-time USA Outdoor 10,000 meter champion:
Other athletes of note that have taken advantage of Utah's altitude to train are:
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A Weber State alum, Lindsey is a former 2-time All-American in both Cross Country and Track and Field. She placed 3rd overall in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2007 USA Track and Field Championships and 2nd overall a the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. Following the Olympic Trials, Lindsey competed in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as and in two world championships: Osaka, Japan in 2007 and Berlin, Germany in 2009.
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MO FARAH |
Mo is a double Olympic and double World champion and is considered the UK's greatest distance runner of all time. In 2010, he won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the European Track and Field Championships, becoming the first man to ever run a sub 13 minute 5,000m time. Mo also took first in the 5,000m and 2nd in the 10,000m at the World Championships in 2011. In 2012 at the London Olympic Games, her further cemented his reputation as the worlds best distance runner by winning gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. |
ADAM GOUCHER |
While attending the University of Colorado, Adam won two NCAA indoor track titles in the 3,000m, one outdoor title in the 5,000m, and a NCAA Division I Cross Country title. In 2000, he placed first at the US Olympic Trials in the 5,000m and, despite lingering back injuries, placed 13th overall at the Sydney Olympic Games. |
KARA GOUCHER |
If you couldn't tell, Adam and Kara Goucher are married, making them the post powerful couple in all of cross country and distance running. Kara won the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2000 while running for Colorado. In 2007, she won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. While running in the New York City Marathon in 2008, Kara earned 3rd place and became the first American woman to finish in the top three in 14 years. She also placed 3rd in the Boston Marathon in 2009 and won the Chicago Half Marathon later that same year. |
AMY BEGLEY |
Amy is an Arkansas alum and is a three-time NCAA Champion in the 1000m and 5,000m. After her collegiate career, she became a two-time USA Outdoor 10,000m champion. In 2009, she won the USA Indoor 3,000m and was the USA 15 km champion. Amy also placed 3rd in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials. |
TEREN JAMESON |
We had to include the most successful Ute track star of all time on this list. While at Utah, Jameson was a two-time All-American in cross country. In 2003, Teren was selected to represent the U.S. a the World Half Marathon Championships. He also placed 10th at the U.S. 10K Championships and fourth at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships. Teren also won the Columbus Marathon in 2005. |
I could go on and on about others, but I think the point has been made. That list is enough to turn the head of any distance recruit in the nation! "You're telling me that all those guys choose to come to UTAH to train? Sign me up coach!" Coaches wouldn't have to do much more than that. Building a men's distance and cross country program wouldn't be difficult at all because of the allure of running with athletes like this.
So Utah coaches, save this link on your devices and bring it up any time a recruit asks you why they should attend Utah. It's worth mentioning that when McCarthey Track was completed in 2012, many of these athletes chose to come to the University of Utah to workout.
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| Olympians Galen Rupp and Mo Farah workout at Utah's McCarthey Track with coach Alberto Salazar in preparation for the 2011 US/UK Championships. |
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