Wetmore-Wednesday Top Races: Grgas-Wheeler Dominates New Century

BOULDER – The Colorado track and field and cross country program has a special history, one that began to hit full-stride under head coach Mark Wetmore.

CU track and field and cross country will take a look back at every year under Wetmore and recap the best races and teams of every calendar year.

The turn of the century saw the career finale of the first truly dominating CU woman with Kara (Grgas-Wheeler) Goucher earning a triple crown of national titles, joining her future husband Adam as the only Buff to capture three titles in one calendar year. She also led a platoon of women to the top, capturing the first cross country team national championship for Colorado.

GRGAS-WHEELER TRIPLE CROWN
No one could beat Grgas-Wheeler in 2000. She dominated everything from the end of the outdoor track season in 2000 to her cross individual title in November. What she did at the outdoor championship is still the only such outcome in CU history, winning two individual national titles at the same championships.

Action began for Grgas-Wheeler as she entered the championship at Duke University with the top seed in both the 3,000 and 5,000. Thursday night Grgas-Wheeler started things out with a qualifying time in the 3,000 prelims, the final of the event's history as the NCAA switched to the steeplechase the next year. She led the second heat in 9:27.17 to advance.

The next day things got kicked up a notch. Grgas-Wheeler stayed with the pack for the first nine laps of the 5,000 before exploding to an uncontested title in 15:54.30, more than 11 seconds faster than second place. With her first title under her belt, Grgas-Wheeler had already made history as the first CU female track national champion in the NCAA era.

"I wanted to hold back a little and save my legs for the 3,000," said Grga-Wheeler. "I can't describe what it is like when you are winning a race like that. I've never won something this big before."

Things were even harder the next day with Grgas-Wheeler attempting to become just the second-ever double champion in the 3,000 and 5,000. The hardest challenge was that the first person to do so, Villanova's Carrie Tollefson, did it the year before and was in the 3,000 final ready to stop Grgas-Wheeler from going for the feat.

Turned out Grgas-Wheeler wasn't going to let anyone come within her and her second title. The junior seized the 3,000 win by more than eight seconds. Grgas-Wheeler took the lead in the first lap and never felt a threat for the rest of the race.

"I knew that I was really strong and really fit and if I stuck to my race plan, I could win both," said Grgas-Wheeler. "It really hasn't even hit me yet. I was so happy the last lap of the race because I knew I had it won. I can't believe I did it, it definitely doesn't seem real. It's something I've wanted for so long, I've wanted to be national champion for so long. Now that it's here I'm just thankful and excited and happy."

"The women's 3,000 went pretty much as we had planned," said Wetmore. "I had hoped that other people would lead it for awhile, but I wasn't surprised that after 600 Kara had to take it. I think she was more nervous for this than the 5,000 because she was running against her nine-year rival from the eighth grade on, Carrie Tollefson. I think she was tentative about making a big move early, but ultimately attrition took the pack out the back and she pretty much maintained her pace and ran away to a careful but convincing victory."

Her streak of undefeated races extended straight through to the big race on Nov. 20, 2000 in Ames, Iowa. Grgas-Wheeler was the heavy favorite, having won Pre-Nats and the Big 12 Championships. Both CU teams were ranked No.1 going into the championship, looking for the improbable team and individual sweeps.

On a chilly, windy day in Iowa, Grgas-Wheeler toed the line ready to battle with not just all the competitors but also the wind chill of -19 degrees. Following BYU's Erica Palmer, the 1999 NCAA Cross Champion, and teammate Bethany Brewster for the first half, Wheeler took the lead and led the rest of the way to victory.

"Between the weather and the course, the key was to be patient," said Grgas-Wheeler. "I wanted to let the others go out and do the work, and then take the lead at the 3k or 4k mark. With a mile to go, it started to get emotional. I didn't want it to come down to a kick in the final straightaway."

"This is much bigger than the track wins," said Grgas-Wheeler. "This is everybody in one race with speed and endurance. This is the big show. I knew what I had to do, and Palmer was in the way. It wasn't anything personal, but this is what I wanted."

Behind her, the CU women were all doing their parts to take home the crown. Freshman Sara Gorton finished eighth overall while Jodie Hughes placed 30^th, Lesley Higgins 52^nd and Tera Moody 70^th.

"As far as the women's win, it feels very good, but it hasn't sunk in yet," said Wetmore. "It looks like we hit on all five cylinders. Kara ran very well. Sara ran very well. Jodie and Lesley came from behind and did what they needed to do just when they needed to do it. I'm glad to get the first one."

PAST TOP RACES:
1999: JAMES DAVIS 1999 4x400-METER RELAY ALL-AMERICAN
1998: ADAM GOUCHER 1998 CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (VIDEO) (5,000) (3,000)
1997: ADAM GOUCHER INDOOR 3,000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1996: ALAN CULPEPPER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 5,000/ WOMEN'S BIG EIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
(VIDEO)

Wetmore-Wednesday Top Races: Grgas-Wheeler Dominates New Century

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