{"id":24002,"date":"2025-01-16T16:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T23:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/former-cortez-runner-zander-cruzan-makes-his-mark-at-collegiate-level\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:46:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:46:04","slug":"former-cortez-runner-zander-cruzan-makes-his-mark-at-collegiate-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/former-cortez-runner-zander-cruzan-makes-his-mark-at-collegiate-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Cortez runner Zander Cruzan makes his mark at collegiate level"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"After
After a meet this past weekend, Zander Cruzan is the fourth fastest runner of the winter season. Cruzan runs for the University of Northern Colorado. (Zander Cruzan\/Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Montezuma-Cortez High School track alumnus Zander Cruzan is making his mark on the collegiate running world, clocking the fastest collegiate time in the nation this season at a meet in December.<\/p>\n

After a meet this past weekend, he is now the fourth<\/a> fastest collegiate runner in the nation, but fastest freshman. The No. 1 spot is now held by Texas A&M senior Antonie Nortje, who ran a time of 46.12 at the McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n

\"As
As of Jan. 16, Zander Cruzan was the fourth-fastest collegiate runner in the nation and the fastest freshman. (athletic.net)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Though now he\u2019s making waves at a national level, Cruzan didn\u2019t start running in track until his sophomore year at MCHS, where he also played football. At first, running collegiately wasn\u2019t on Cruzan\u2019s radar.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never really liked running, to be honest,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cI didn\u2019t enjoy running, but the people that I had in my corner, supporting me was really one of the reasons I stuck with it. I saw track and field as my ticket out of here and to open more doors for me later down the road. It was an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruzan signed with the University of Northern Colorado, where he runs the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and the 4\u00d7400-meter relay during the indoor season. In the outdoor season, he runs the 100, 200, 400, the 4\u00d7100-meter relay and the 4\u00d7400-meter relay.<\/p>\n

\"Zander
Zander Cruzan is a freshman running for the University of Northern Colorado. (Zander Cruzan\/Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Along with training with his college team, the freshman is studying communications with a minor in philosophy.<\/p>\n

When asked about clocking the fastest 400-meter time while racing at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Dec. 7, Cruzan emphasized the effectiveness of his preseason training.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy coach really emphasized building a base really early in the season, not necessarily speed right off the bat,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cSpeed comes with the competition. We really wanted to emphasize being strong and that carrying us through the race, rather than having only the speed aspect down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading up to the race, Cruzan shared that he felt much more confident than nervous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that everything that I worked for during my preseason was leading up to this point, and I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to run,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cI wanted to meet not just my own expectations, but my coach\u2019s as well. I was aiming for the school record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruzan placed first, running a time of 46.73. This time broke the school record, which was set in 2018. The time to beat was 47.13.<\/p>\n

After racing, Cruzan said he didn\u2019t quite grasp how well he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going through the motions after the race; I wasn\u2019t feeling too well,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cOnce I figured it out, I was pretty stoked. Me and my teammates were pretty surprised. I didn\u2019t really realize how good of a race I ran until later on that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

On UNC\u2019s website, the school wrote about Cruzan\u2019s accomplishment, saying, \u201cCurrently ranked first in the nation and in the BSC for his 400-meter performance at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, recording a personal best time of 46.73.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he acknowledged that he has goals for his running career, he also wants to prioritize his studies, first and foremost.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really really understand how important my academics and my education are, along with being an athlete. I know a lot of students don\u2019t prioritize the student before the athlete, and that\u2019s one of the things I want to be more aware of,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cIn terms of track and field, I really want to set realistic expectations for myself and meet my coach\u2019s expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also has time goals he hopes to hit in upcoming meets, as well as set the stage for pursuing a professional running career.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, I\u2019m focused on qualifying for conference and doing well at conference to get into the NCAA first rounds, the second rounds, championships and so on. I don\u2019t like looking too far into the future. I like taking it one meet at a time, because anything can happen,\u201d Cruzan said.<\/p>\n

While in Cortez during his winter break, Cruzan spent time with track athletes at MCHS.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to be there to encourage them in person, if possible,\u201d Cruzan said. I want to be encouraging and an old example to these athletes. I think every athlete deserves a good role model. That\u2019s exactly what I had in high school, and it helped me excel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruzan added that being able to spend time with his former track coaches Bob Archibeque and Jeremy Yarbrough was nostalgic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss being a high school athlete,\u201d Cruzan said. \u201cI\u2019m definitely incredibly blessed and grateful that I have the opportunity to even be around these great people. They didn\u2019t just teach me how to be a good athlete, but to be a good human as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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