Who Belongs in the 2012 Colorado Running Hall of Fame Class?

A few years ago, a co-worker asked if she should nominate me for the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. After all, I was a two-time Colfax Marathon winner she reasoned. I don't belong in the hall, but with nominations for the 2012 class coming due in a few months, here's who does.



First, it's important to point out who's already included.

2007

Ted Castaneda
Colleen De Reuck
Lorraine Moller
Pat Porter
Frank Shorter
Jon Sinclair
Joe Vigil

2008

Steve Jones
Mark Plaatjes
Ellen Hart
Melody Fairchild
Anthony Sandoval
Steve Bosley

2009

Rich Castro
Alan Culpepper
Benji Durden
Kim Jones
Creigh Kelley
Stan Mavis
Maureen Roben

2010

Shayne Culpepper
Elva Dryer
Adam Goucher
Herb Lindsay
Patti Sue Plummer
Dan Reese
Mike Sandrock

2011

Steve Flanagan
Libby Hickman
Parthenia Jones
John Meyer
Bette Poppers

The 2011 class was noticeably smaller than earlier classes, 5 vs. 7, and dare I say it...the weakest class yet. We can correct that by taking a look at the significant omissions.

I don't see any rules for gaining admittance, just that individuals who have achieved "national and international recognition on the long-distance running stage" are sought. Unlike in sports like basketball and football, it appears that current athletes and coaches can be inducted. For instance, Colleen De Reuck was definitely competing in 2007. And I think Alan Culpepper (2009), Shayne Culpepper (2010), and Elva Dryer (2010) were still active when accepted into the hall. Adam Goucher only recently retired, despite being inducted in 2010. Maybe they were thought to be on the tail end of their careers when inducted, but that's not really fair. If active runners can be inducted, it really opens the list of possibilities. Either way, here are my thoughts for this year's class.

Jerry Quiller will be a likely inductee. Just recently passed, he'll be at the top of everyone's mind. A long-time CSU and CU coach, his accomplishments - Big 8 titles, NCAA appearances, a National Coach of the Year award - make him a deserving recipient.

But if Quiller is inducted, shouldn't Mark Wetmore also? Going under the same reasoning that active coaches can be inducted, just like active athletes, no coach has accomplished more than Mark Wetmore.

The hall isn't limited to just runners and coaches. Journalists Mike Sandrock and John Meyer have gained membership. Does that open it up to agents? Brendan Reilly of Boulder Wave has brought scores of international athletes to train and compete in Boulder. Quietly operating behind the scenes, he has a large role in keeping Boulder a well-known distance running destination.

Reilly works with both Olympic gold medallist Constantina Dita and New York Marathon and World Championship winner Edna Kiplagat. While Dita's elite career is ending, Kiplagat's is on the rise, and both of course train in Colorado. Either of those two women have done more on the international stage than almost all of the elite runners currently in the hall.

Another female marathoner that may belong on the list is Lisa Rainsberger. She is currently in Colorado Springs and is the last American female to win the Boston Marathon (1985). She also won Chicago twice. She's in Colorado now, but did she train in Colorado as an elite? That I do not know.

Elite men who are still active are almost too plentiful to list. Dathan Ritzenhein should be a popular selection and if not now, certainly when his career winds down he'll be in the hall. You know what though, he's not in Colorado now, so why not go ahead and induct him? What he does while living in Oregon shouldn't bolster his Colorado resume, or should it? Go ahead and put Brent Vaughn in also for his standout career at CU.

It's hard to believe that no mountain, ultra, or trail runners are currently in the hall. Jon Sinclair is a hall member and a past World Champion, in burro racing, but what about the greatest burro racer to ever haul ass - Tom Sobal? I'm serious, no one will ever match his records. And when it comes to mountain and trail racing, of course Matt Carpenter deserves every award possible.

Flipping to the women's side, Jenny Simpson should get in this year. Sure she's very much still an active runner, but we've settled that logic earlier. Aside from an American record in the 1500m or an Olympic gold, there's little she can accomplish that would top her World Championship win from a year ago.

Those are my thoughts. Who do you think belongs in the hall? Keep an eye out in the coming months for the nomination forms and lets make sure this class is the best yet.