USTFCCCA Names Klecker Division I Athlete of the Week

Senior Joe Klecker has been named the USTFCCCA DI Men's Athlete of the Week

Photo by: athleticsPix

USTFCCCA Names Klecker Division I Athlete of the Week

November 04, 2019 | Cross Country

By: Linda Sprouse, Associate SID

NEW ORLEANS — On November 1, University of Colorado senior Joe Klecker became the first Buffalo to win a men's individual Pac-12 Conference cross country title. Now, just a few days later, he is the first CU male to be named the USTFCCCA Division I National Athlete of the Week for that performance.

Klecker won the conference title and led Colorado to its seventh Pac-12 team title in nine years, it's first since 2016. He finished the 8-kilometer race in 23 minutes, 2.7 seconds, edging out Oregon's Cooper Teare by three seconds (23:05.7).

He is the first individual men's conference winner for the Buffs since Brent Vaughn won the 2007 Big 12 crown.

The Hopkins, Minn., native ran a very smart race. He ran with the lead pack and about halfway through, decided it was time to take control. There were a few times it looked like he would be caught, but he hung on for the win and helped CU defeat Oregon, 41-57.