Western State College, located in Gunnison, Colorado, sits at 7,723 feet above sea-level in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Western boasts the highest-elevation track in the world, giving the Mountaineers the distinctive edge of training at an intense altitude. What makes Gunnison an ideal training environment is it's location within a high-desert valley, affording athletes the opportunity to train on a multitude of surfaces, from flat dirt roads and trails to intense, alpine hill-climbs.
This advantageous training environment has helped Western State build a Cross Country/Track & Field dynasty over the past 20+ years, collecting numerous National Awards. On the Cross Country side, WSC has had 12 National Championship teams, 7 Individual National Champions and 120+ All-Americans. Likewise, the Western State Track & Field team has produced over 200 All-Americans and dozens of NCAA National Titles.
The Western State legacy, was coined "The Big Red Machine" by legendary coach Duane Vandenbusche, who oversaw the program for 35 years. Vandenbusche is a 2009 inductee into the USTFCCCA after his supreme work as coach and motivator at Western State. Jennifer Michel, a multiple-time National Champion and All-American under Coach Vandenbusche, took over the Cross Country/Distance program in 2007 after 5 years as an assistant for the Mountaineers.
Michel leads the Big Red Machine's powerful XC teams into 2009, coming off a strong National showing in 2008 (Men - 2nd, Women - 3rd). The men's team returns their top-5 in 2009, and the women bring back 5 of their top-7, ensuring that the Mountaineers will once again be in the mix to compete for National Titles on both sides.
The WSC Track & Field programs are headed by new Mountaineer Chris Bradford (formerly of Augustana University in South Dakota). Bradford takes over two deep and talented Track & Field squads, laiden with numerous All-Conference and All-American athletes. The Mountaineers look to compete for Conference Championships on both sides in 2010, as well as send numerous athletes to the National meet.
Be sure to follow the Mountaineers as they compete this Fall/Spring and...
GO BIG RED |
