Athletics

CU Volleyball’s Ana Burilović Aims to Attack Everything

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:21:49 +0000

CU Volleyball’s Ana Burilović Aims to Attack Everything Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:21

Andrew Daigle

All-American pin attacker Ana Burilović (Psych’27) helped lead CU volleyball to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. As she heads into her senior season, she reflects on high expectations, love for her teammates and relentlessly attacking the ball.

What are you most excited about as you head into your senior year?

This has been on my mind a lot. I lived with two seniors this spring, and I saw what they went through as they figured out how to move on. I want to enjoy every remaining moment on and off the court with my friends and teammates. We have big expectations for this season. We’ll need to stay on the same page and work hard.

What did it mean to you to be named All-America last year?

I’m honestly still surprised by it. All-America was my goal for the season, but I didn’t share that with anyone because I thought it was too ambitious. I found a new level of love for volleyball and matured so much.

What was it like playing volleyball in your hometown of Split, Croatia?

I started playing for Volleyball Club Split when I was 11 or 12, and I stayed in the club until I went away for college. That experience is rare. The team felt like a family. All of the girls in the club went to the same high school, and most of us played for the national team. The coaches really saw us grow up.

How did you hear about CU, and what drew you to come here?

An older Croatian player I knew went to UC Berkeley and was coached by our associate head coach, Lee Maes. She was still in touch with Lee and had so much respect for him. I wanted to play college volleyball in the States — I thought it would be a great way to get my degree and play at a high level. I sent Lee one of my matches, and he loved it. We got on a Zoom call with the coaching staff, and I fell in love with the Colorado program. I pretty much committed on the spot.

What is a favorite memory of yours from playing for the Buffaloes?

It may sound strange, but sometimes before games we’ll hang out in the locker room, play the video game Just Dance and all dance together. That gives us so much energy and so much hype. We go out and kill it every time.

As a pin attacker, you’ve had as many as 32 kills in a match. How do you avoid blockers and know where to hit the ball?

There’s so much to think about when attacking. It’s being able to adapt to any ball, being ready for everything and always being aggressive. Every time I go up, I want to score the ball, and I’m going to find a way to do it. I don’t worry if it wasn’t a perfect ball. After each point, I settle myself and make sure I’m ready for the next one.

Can you share an important lesson you’ve learned from head coach Jesse Mahoney?

He’s taught me to be mindful and anticipate the play. I’m always thinking a couple steps ahead about how to create options and make it easier for our team.

How have you navigated balancing academics and athletics at CU?

It’s very hard, especially in season. But we have a team culture that’s very proud of our GPAs, so we motivate each other. And our professors are flexible and help keep us on track. The most important thing is finding a time of day when you can relax and reset.

What is something you like to do in your free time?

We have a bunch of puzzles in our house. We’ll take a 1,000-piece puzzle and all do it on the kitchen table together. Spending time with my roommates and talking — that’s what recharges my batteries.

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Photos courtesy of CU Athletics

Ana Burilović helped lead CU volleyball to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

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Buffs Briefs Summer 2026

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:20:44 +0000

Buffs Briefs Summer 2026 Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:20

Track and field’s Abbey Nechanicky

Andrew Daigle

Track and field’s Abbey Nechanicky

Buﬀ Bits

Lacrosse (16-4; 4-1 Big 12) won the Big 12 Tournament on May 2. The Buffs, led by four All-Americans, then advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament for the first time in program history before losing to No. 1 seed Northwestern 13-12 in double overtime on May 14. ⏺ In women’s track and field, Abbey Nechanicky (IntPhys’27) set the CU record in the 10,000m (32:23.93), while Avery Pearson (Soc’27) ran CU’s all-time second-fastest 800m (2:00.91). For the men, Kole Mathison (IntPhys’27) ran CU’s third-fastest 3,000m steeplechase (8:32.42). ⏺ Quarterback Dominiq Ponder (MediaSt’26), who died March 1 in a single-car accident, was awarded a posthumous degree on May 3. Football’s 2026 jerseys will feature a “DP 7” in his honor. ⏺ Tennis’s Aya El Sayed (Fin’24; MBusAna’25) was named second-team All-Big 12 on April 30. She is the sixth Buff to earn all-conference in three different seasons. ⏺ Men’s and women’s golf earned trips to NCAA Regionals. The men’s team reached regionals for the third time in four years, while the women made their first appearance in eight years.

Scores

→ Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week honors for Elena Oh (MechEng’27) in 2026. Oh also earned Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year.

→ Podiums, most all-time for a CU men’s alpine skier, after six-time All-American Filip Wahlqvist (Fin’26) completed his CU career at NCAAs.

17th

→ NCAA Tournament appearance for women’s basketball when they earned a 10-seed before falling to Illinois in a first- round matchup.

→ Spring 2026 student-athlete graduates.

50 yrs

→ After being drafted in the NFL’s first round by the New England Patriots, Pete Brock (Bio ex’76; DistSt’26) received his degree at the spring commencement.

Coach Talk

We want to see guys fight for what they want in life. Everything is earned.

— Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders in the final week of spring practices. Colorado football opens the 2026 season Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech.

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Photos courtesy CU Athletics

Also, Soccer, Basketball and more

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Buffs finished runner-up in the NCAA Skiing Championships

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:19:30 +0000

Buffs finished runner-up in the NCAA Skiing Championships Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:19

Andrew Daigle

Alpine skier Louison Accambray joined CU in 2024 from Europe.

After a dominant 2026 season, All-American alpine skier Louison Accambray (PolSci’26) knows “it’s all for the team.”

The 2026 NCAA Skiing Championships came down to the final lap of the final race as Colorado chased rival Utah. The Buffs needed to overcome a 7.5-point deficit in the men’s 20K freestyle Nordic race, but the Utes ultimately pulled away.

“We all went down to the track to cheer for the last race. It was sad to lose, but we win together and lose together. We all fought for it,” said Accambray.

Accambray finished 2026 with 15 podiums, a single-season all-time best for Colorado’s ski program. The only race she didn’t podium was the one she didn’t finish.

After skiing professionally in Europe and on the French National Team, Accambray joined CU in 2024. She was looking for a team atmosphere.

“In Europe, when you win, it means the other skiers on your team didn’t. There isn’t much celebrating together,” said Accambray. “At Colorado, we compete as a team. It’s more fun.”

Fittingly, Accambray’s favorite memory from 2026 recalls her teammates.

“At RMISA Championships, as soon as I crossed the finish line in giant slalom, my teammates were all around me. We didn’t know my result [first place] yet, but everyone was already hugging each other and so happy.”

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Photos courtesy CU Athletics

The 2026 NCAA Skiing Championships came down to the final lap of the final race as Colorado chased rival Utah.

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CU Athletics Receives $6 Million to Elevate Student Experience, Campus Excellence

Anna Tolette — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:08:12 +0000

CU Athletics Receives $6 Million to Elevate Student Experience, Campus Excellence Anna Tolette Mon, 07/20/2026 - 13:08

Emily Wirtz

A major philanthropic investment from longtime donors Jeff Crawford (DistSt’90) and his wife, Orsi Crawford, is set to strengthen CU �ֲ��ý’s athletics program and amplify its impact across the university.

“A strong, visible athletics program enhances our ability to attract talented students, elevate our national profile and strengthen the overall vitality of our campus,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “This investment in CU Athletics reflects a broader commitment to excellence across CU �ֲ��ý.”

Half of the Crawford Family Foundation’s $6 million gift will go toward the Crawford Family WHOLE Student-Athlete Program, which was launched in 2021 to support student-athletes’ physical, psychological, academic, leadership and career well-being. The remainder will provide flexible support for CU Athletics through the George Family Athletic Director’s Fund, renamed to honor the legacy of Athletic Director Emeritus Rick George.

“My hope is that this gift inspires others to give,” said Jeff Crawford. “In this new era, we need a village to compete, and that will take donations from many CU supporters at all levels.”

Read the full story

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A major philanthropic investment is set to strengthen CU �ֲ��ý’s athletics program and amplify its impact across the university.

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Early Women’s Sports at CU �ֲ��ý

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:34:30 +0000

Early Women’s Sports at CU �ֲ��ý Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:34

Christie Sounart

In 1905, CU women’s field hockey made university history as the first women’s team to play on Gamble Field, an outdoor sports stadium on campus. The team was organized by the student-run Women’s Athletic Association (WAA), which began the same year and aimed to cultivate more competitive women’s sports at the university. Prior to the WAA’s efforts, women’s basketball was the sole organized female sport at CU.

By 1908, CU women had their own athletic field, a rarity in the western United States at a time when most women’s teams did not compete publicly. The WAA encouraged participation in women’s athletics through a points system that rewarded athletes with pins, letters and sweaters.

Despite this momentum, a university policy that prevented women’s teams from traveling for competition slowed the development of women’s intercollegiate play for decades. Meaningful change came with the passage of Title IX in 1972, which transformed women’s sports both at CU �ֲ��ý and nationwide. In the mid-1970s, the university officially rebuilt its women’s athletics program, hiring Jane Wahl as the first coordinator of women’s sports and, later, women’s athletic director.

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Photo from 1907 Coloradan yearbook

In 1905, CU women’s field hockey made university history as the first women’s team to play on Gamble Field.

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Q&A with Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:32:47 +0000

Q&A with Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:32

Julia MacLean

Cory Sandhagen defeated Marlon Vera in bantamweight on UFC fight night in San Antonio in March 2023.

One of the most powerful strikers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Cory Sandhagen (Psych’14) forged his status as a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) contender through years of discipline and self-discovery. The work has paid off with big recognition — including serving as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience.

At CU �ֲ��ý, were you already MMA training?

As a student, I wasn’t a professional, but I was competing as often as I could. I wasn’t doing as much MMA at the time, but a lot of jiu-jitsu tournaments and stuff like that. I trained at a few gyms — Easton Training Center in �ֲ��ý, Grudge in Wheat Ridge and High Altitude in Aurora. I was bouncing around all the time; my college experience was just planning classes around when I could train.

When did you know you wanted to do MMA professionally?

I was a big sports kid growing up. When I was in high school, I wanted to play basketball in college, but I wasn’t big enough or good enough to play at a school that I wanted to go to. I started doing martial arts because I saw it on TV and thought it was a cool-looking sport. It consumed my life not long after. I poured all of my former basketball energy into fighting.

People don’t realize it, but Colorado has always been a giant hub for MMA. When I was first getting into it, I realized all these professionals were training right down the street from me. I think that’s a big piece of why I’ve gone as far as I have.

What does a typical day look like for you?

It’s usually two practices a day, three when we’re lifting. So six days a week, I can have a practice at 9 a.m., a practice around noon and then a lift around 4 or 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are a little slower because we don’t push as hard towards the end of the week. Our bodies are pretty banged up by then. But it’s fun. I wake up, hang out with my friends and train all day.

In October, you fought in UFC 320, one of the biggest events on the circuit. What was that like?

It was pretty much as big a fight as it gets for me. I think losing in fighting is a lot more devastating than a lot of other sports, because you don’t get to play again next week. There’s a downswing after you lose, especially when it’s a big opportunity like that one, but you take some time off, start feeling normal again and then get right back to it. I’m grateful I got the opportunity to challenge myself against the best guy, and I did fairly well.

You’re well-known for your fighting style. What’s the strategy behind it?

Success in this sport requires creativity. You have to be able to think outside the box. My early style, I feel, was very creative. There’s a lot of, “Oh, I like this here, I don’t like this here.” At this point in my career, now that I’m past a lot of those learning steps, it’s way more militant. Now I know that if I do all of these certain things at the right time, then I’ll get the outcome that I want.

What are your goals for the future?

I’m 33, and I don’t really want to fight too far past 36 or 37, so I think I’ve got around six to eight more fights left in me before I call it quits. I have a lot of plans, though. I’m starting my own gym here in Centennial. It’ll be a normal martial arts gym where you come in, sign up and take classes. I’m going to teach the classes in the beginning to get it going, and of course, we’re going to have a fight team that I can hopefully train with.

What are your hobbies outside of fighting?

I’ve been doing a lot of creative things in my free time. Right now, I'm getting a couple of comic books that I wrote illustrated. They’re not superhero-type comic books — more like graphic novels about cosmic, existential things. Think Black Mirror, but an animated version for adults.

Who has influenced you in your life?

Most of my coaches growing up were all inspiring guys. I looked up to a lot of them. I’ve had some really good ones. I also look up to my parents, too. The only reason I am half of what I am is because they were good too.

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Photos courtesy Cory Sandhagen

As one of the most powerful strikers in the UFC, Sandhagen, forged his status as a world-class MMA contender through years of discipline and self-discovery.

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Rise of the BOLDER�ֲ��ý

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:29:05 +0000

Rise of the BOLDER�ֲ��ý Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:29

Olympian Frank Shorter winning the 1981 BOLDER�ֲ��ý.

Julia MacLean

Olympian Frank Shorter winning the 1981 BOLDER�ֲ��ý.

When the BOLDER�ֲ��ý race debuted in May 1979 with 2,200 finishers, it was already one of the largest 10Ks in the Rocky Mountain Region. Within a year, participation more than doubled. Impressed by the race’s momentum, then-CU System president Arnold Weber and then-CU �ֲ��ý athletic director Eddie Crowder invited race founder Steve Bosley (RelEst’68) to bring the finish line to campus.

In 1981, over 8,500 runners charged towards the finish at Folsom Field. In the decades since, over 1.5 million racers have crossed the finish line on Memorial Day at the iconic CU �ֲ��ý stadium.

While the race course has changed frequently, with a dozen differing routes since 1979, every version has weaved through �ֲ��ý’s neighborhoods, business districts and the CU campus.

The BOLDER�ֲ��ý stands out not just for its size but also for its lively bystanders. From the race’s early years, local residents have lined the streets with sprinklers and speakers, adding encouragement and fun through public Slip ’N Slides, backyard BBQs and costumed characters.

Even with the entertainment, though, the race is a serious competition — at altitude — and its International Team Challenge attracts top athletes from around the world.

“We coined the phrase ‘Sea Level is for Slackers,’” said current race director Cliff Bosley.

Over 105 Olympians have competed over the years, including race co-founder Frank Shorter. In 2010, Runner’s World named the race “America’s All-Time Best 10K.”

In 2025, over 46,000 people participated in the race, ranging in age from 5 to 98, making it the third-largest road race in the nation.

Did you race in the BOLDER�ֲ��ý while you were at CU? We want to hear your memories! Email us at editor@colorado.edu.

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Photos courtesy BOLDER�ֲ��ý

When the race debuted in May 1979 with 2,200 finishers, it was already one of the largest 10Ks in the Rocky Mountain Region.

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Kara Goucher Is Running at Life

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:17:56 +0000

Kara Goucher Is Running at Life Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:17

Tori Peglar

During the most thrilling three minutes of the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBC Sports broadcaster Kara Goucher (Psych’01) called the race.

It was the much-hyped men’s 1500-meter event, and reigning Olympic gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway seized the lead, followed closely by Kenya’s Timothy Cheriot and Great Britain’s John Kerr. For the first three laps, all eyes followed these three men, each of whom medaled in the event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

But earlier in the race, Goucher speculated that if American Cole Hocker jockeyed into a better position, he could upend the outcome. It seemed unlikely. Yet during the fourth and final lap, Hocker’s legs flew into overdrive, his orange shoes a blur as he overtook the leaders, clinching gold. American Yared Nuguse finished close behind for bronze.

This moment marked the first time in 112 years that two Americans shared the Olympic podium for the 1500. Goucher drew on her experience as a two-time Olympian and world-class marathoner to make the history-defying call.

“I really understand runners’ strengths and weaknesses, like who needs the race to go out quickly from the gun and who can wait and have an incredible sprint finish,” she said. “I can see things that other people can’t see.”

Since 2021, Goucher has used this superpower as an NBC Sports distance running commentator. She also co-hosts the wildly popular running podcast Nobody Asked Us with former Olympian Des Linden. She began running at an early age, developing a passion for the sport that led to an incredibly successful career both on and off the track. Along the way, she’s learned invaluable lessons about the power of tenacity and integrity to overcome the hurdles she’s faced.

The Road to Running

When Goucher was 4 years old, a drunk driver killed her father as he headed to work in New York City. Afterward, she and her family moved to Duluth, Minnesota, to live near her grandparents. It was her grandpa, a lifelong runner, who introduced her to the sport. As he used to tell it, Goucher fell near the start of their first race together, but she eagerly stood up, and they finished together.

“Running was so freeing,” said Goucher, who is arrestingly humble and kind. “I didn’t have to think about what came next.”

In high school, she dominated races, and at the 1993 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego, she met her future husband, Adam Goucher (Comm’98). Coincidentally, they both ran for CU under coach Mark Wetmore, sweeping NCAA titles. In 2001, they married.

Soon after, Nike invited them to join a new team of professional runners — the Oregon Project — coached by famed marathoner Alberto Salazar. They leapt at the opportunity.

What followed was an astonishing streak of victories that transformed Goucher into one of the world’s best and most recognizable runners. Nike plastered promotional ads of her everywhere.

“There’s a picture of me standing next to a cardboard cutout of Kara when I was a junior or senior at a high school national meet,” remembered pro runner and Olympian Emma Coburn (Mktg’13). “I was so proud just to stand next to her, because Kara was a Nike athlete.”

When Goucher finished third in the 10,000-meter race at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, she became the first American woman to medal in an international distance track event in 14 years. A month later, she ran the fastest half marathon by an American woman at the Great North Run in England, beating Paula Radcliffe, the world’s best marathoner at the time.

Afterward, Goucher had a realization. If she could beat Radcliffe at the half marathon, what would happen if she ran a marathon? Five weeks later, she rode on the press truck at the 2007 New York City Marathon as Radcliffe ran the event.

“Watching Paula made me afraid of how much it would hurt, and I wanted to know if I could be that tough,” said Goucher.

Radcliffe mentored her for the 2008 New York City Marathon, where Goucher proudly finished third.

“I was a marathoner,” she said. “I was stronger than I knew.”

But there was something else. The race course winds through all five boroughs of New York, including Queens, where Goucher was born and lived before her dad died.

“In reflection, I felt closer to my dad,” she said. “I never really knew him, but to run through the streets where he lived was a very healing experience.”

Leaving the Oregon Project

As she launched into the world of elite marathoners, there was another item on her bucket list — parenthood. She and Salazar plotted the timing of her pregnancy around races, yet Nike suspended her pay when she was six months pregnant.

“It broke my heart,” said Goucher, who ran the 2011 Boston Marathon with a newborn on the sidelines and without Nike pay. “I truly considered Nike a family.”

Other things at the Oregon Project didn’t feel right, either — syringes in a training condo refrigerator; topical testosterone medicine; Salazar’s unwanted sexual advances and comments.

For a long time, she dismissed them as one-offs. However, a trip to South Korea for the 2011 World Championships marked a final straw. Goucher said it started with Salazar propositioning her on the plane ride and continued with her throwing out blue pills he dispensed to her and her teammates. Salazar said they were B12 vitamins, but she couldn’t be sure. After finishing a disappointing 13th in the 10,000, Goucher and her husband headed to the airport, sharing the same thought.

It was time to leave the Oregon Project.

Kara’s Milestones

1984: Runs her first race, a one-mile course in Minnesota.

2000: Receives the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s best female collegiate cross-country runner.

2000: Becomes the NCAA outdoor champion in the 3000m and 5000m, the NCAA cross-country champion and a 5000m Olympic trials finalist.

2001: Graduates from CU �ֲ��ý and marries Olympian and Buff Adam Goucher.

2004: Joins The Oregon Project, a Nike-sponsored elite running group.

2007: Clinches a silver medal in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Japan.

2008: Places third in the New York City Marathon as the fastest American woman to run the race.

2009: Becomes the first American woman in 16 years to podium at the Boston Marathon.

2010: Gives birth to her son Colton Mirko Goucher.

2012: Takes 11th place in the marathon at the London Summer Olympics.

2021: Travels to the Tokyo Summer Olympics as an NBC Sports commentator, calling distance races.

2023: Launches her running podcast Nobody Asked Us with runner Des Linden.

2023: Book The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team reaches No. 4 on the The New York Times Best Seller list.

2024: Returns to the Summer Olympics in Paris to call distance races for NBC Sports.

Back to �ֲ��ý

After placing 11th in the marathon during the 2012 London Olympics, Goucher returned to CU �ֲ��ý to finish her racing career where it began — with Buffs coaches Wetmore and Heather Burroughs (Bio’99).

“It was the happiest time in my career,” said Goucher, who trained with Jenny Simpson (PolSci’09), Shalaya Kipp (IntPhys’14; MS’17) and Coburn. “Everyone wanted me to do well.”

Even with the Oregon Project behind them, the Gouchers felt they should share with authorities their suspicion that Salazar was promoting doping.

Goucher was worried about repercussions. But she decided to speak up, especially about Salazar’s sexual assaults.

“What I kept thinking about were my nieces who were being raised how I was — to treat people with kindness — and it was the same kind of thing that could happen to them,” Goucher said.

The Gouchers joined former athletes and coaches in testifying against Salazar in a trial that resulted in a four-year ban from athletics. Shortly after, he received an effective life ban from coaching after a SafeSport investigation found him guilty of four violations involving emotional and sexual abuse.

“People say I’m brave,” Goucher said. “I’m not. I hate fighting. At the end of the day, I’m just telling the truth.”

After Salazar’s widely publicized sanctions, Goucher wanted to address misinformation about her in the media. She shared her story in the book The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team. Released in 2023 and co-authored by Mary Pilon, it made The New York Times Best Seller list.

These days, Goucher runs daily, although it’s more arduous since she was diagnosed with focal dystonia. A neurological condition, it causes involuntary muscle contractions, which means her left leg, in particular, doesn’t always move as it should.

Her persistence to push through it has inspired her husband, Adam, to slowly get back to running.

“Besides being the most amazing, thoughtful, caring woman, mother and wife, she’s a warrior,” Adam Goucher said. “It amazes me what she does despite all that ails her. She’s like, ‘I’m going to do it.’”

Goucher approaches her condition with the same tenacity and grace she has used to overcome all other adversity in her life, and she’s modeling that to her son, Colt, already a standout high school runner.

“My grandpa taught me to not be afraid of pain and hard work, but to always have integrity,” she said. “Because what’s the point of victory if you don’t have integrity?”

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

Kara Goucher overcame numerous hurdles to become a two-time Olympian, NBC Sports broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author.

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Celebrating 150 Years of CU People

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:16:07 +0000

Celebrating 150 Years of CU People Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:16

Julia MacLean

Over 150 years, CU �ֲ��ý has been shaped by the vision, courage and tenacity of many students, faculty, staff and alumni. These Buffs have spurred change for the university and left an imprint on the legacy that propels it forward.

Joseph Sewall

1877 — Became CU’s first president

A 19th-century American physician, scientist and educator, Joseph Sewall served as CU �ֲ��ý’s first president from 1877 to 1887. Before he arrived in Colorado, he trained in medicine and natural science and taught as a professor of chemistry at Illinois State Normal University. When CU opened on Sept. 5, 1877, there was only a single building — Old Main — which contained classrooms, a library, a chapel and the living quarters for the Sewall family.

Today, Sewall is remembered as the man “in at the birth” of CU, who directed its first steps and helped lay the foundation for what the university would become. In 1935, the university built Sewall Hall in his honor, which is the oldest continuously used residence hall on campus.

Mary Rippon in 1882.

Mary Rippon

1878 — Appointed CU’s first female professor

Mary Rippon’s distinguished career at CU �ֲ��ý spanned over 30 years. Besides making history as the first female professor at CU, she is also believed to be one of the first women in the United States to teach at a state university. Beloved by students, Rippon taught language and literature, eventually earning a position as head of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature. She is honored today by the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre on CU’s campus. Rippon also lived a fascinating hidden life — in 1888, she secretly married a CU student, Will Housel, and gave birth to their daughter, Miriam Housel. She concealed this truth for decades to retain her position and support her family.

Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones (Ger’1918)

1918 — Graduated from CU

Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones was an educator and the first known Black woman to graduate from CU �ֲ��ý. Born to parents who had been enslaved, she grew up in the Barnum subdivision of Denver, where her family became the area’s first Black property owners. Before attending CU, she broke barriers by becoming the first Black graduate to earn a two-year teaching degree from what is now the University of Northern Colorado. In 1918, she earned a bachelor’s degree in German from CU — however, due to racial prejudice, she was not allowed to walk across the stage at commencement or appear in the yearbook. Her diploma was handed to her off-stage, an act that led her to vow that she would never return to campus. Nearly 100 years after her graduation, CU formally recognized Buchanan’s achievement, and during the 2018 commencement ceremony, a diploma was symbolically accepted on her behalf by CMDI associate professor Polly McLean.

George Norlin

1919 — Appointed president of CU

George Norlin joined CU as a classics professor in 1899, became acting president in 1917 and began serving as permanent president in 1919, where he remained until 1939. Under his transformative leadership, CU underwent a dramatic period of expansion, despite the Great Depression: the student body more than tripled, several university buildings were constructed and architect Charles Klauder redesigned the campus in the Tuscan vernacular style. Norlin left a lasting moral and cultural legacy at the university. He is famous for resisting pressure from the legislature (influenced by the Ku Klux Klan), refusing to dismiss all Catholic and Jewish faculty. He also wrote The Norlin Charge, first read at the 1935 commencement ceremony, which remains a part of CU tradition today.

Byron White (Econ’38)

1935 — Earned the Buffaloes national attention

Byron “Whizzer” White is among the most celebrated student-athletes in the history of Colorado Buffaloes football. His senior year, he led the Buffaloes through a successful season, earning national attention and helping elevate the profile of the program. He was later inducted into the Buffaloes’ Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his elite play and impact on CU athletics. After his athletic career, White distinguished himself in public service, eventually serving as a justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Peggy Coppom (A&S ex’46) and Betty Hoover (A&S ex’46)

1940 — Began cheering on the Buffs

The “CU Twins” earned legendary status on campus through decades of unwavering devotion to CU athletics. The sisters first began cheering for the Buffs as �ֲ��ý High School students. They were loyal season ticket holders for CU football (beginning in the late 1950s) and basketball (late 1970s). Wearing matching goldenrod CU sweatshirts and waving pom-poms, Peggy and Betty became a fixture in the stands and remain one of the most iconic fan duos in school history. After Betty’s death in 2020, Peggy’s dedication to CU has remained as strong as ever. In recognition of her lifelong commitment, Peggy was honored with the 2025 Chancellor’s Impact Award.

David Bolen (Mktg; MBA’50)

1948 — Competed in the Olympic Games

After David Bolen served in the Army Air Force for two years during World War II, CU �ֲ��ý track and field coach Frank Potts recruited him to the university. He then earned All-America honors. At 25, Bolen became the first CU student to qualify for the 1948 U.S. Olympic Team, where he placed fourth in the 400m race at the London games. After graduating, Bolen began a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland beginning in 1974, and to East Germany beginning in 1977. He also was the first Black ambassador to a nation behind the Iron Curtain.

Billy Kidd

1964 — Won an Olympic alpine skiing medal

In February 1964, at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Billy Kidd became the first U.S. man to win an Olympic alpine skiing medal, a silver in the slalom. Over the next several years, he captured gold in the combined event at the 1970 World Championships in Val Gardena and became the first American man to win a world alpine title. He then went professional, claiming the pro world championship that same year. After graduating from CU, Kidd remained in Colorado and became the long-time director of skiing at Steamboat Ski Resort in 1970. Beyond instruction, he helped initiate ski-based outreach and inclusion efforts, supporting Special Olympics athletes, wounded veterans and Native American youth through ski camps and mentorship programs.

“Ralph”

1966 — Folsom Field debut

The first official Ralphie mascot, “Ralph” was the live buffalo that launched one of the most beloved traditions at the CU �ֲ��ý. In 1965, CU freshman Bill Lowery was determined to bring a live buffalo to Buffs football games instead of a costumed mascot. With the help of his rancher father, he successfully brought a buffalo calf from northeastern Colorado to �ֲ��ý. Ralph made her debut at Folsom Field on Oct. 1, 1966, charging onto the field with Lowery and a few of his fellow students flailing alongside her in cowboy boots.

Juan Espinosa (Jour’74)

1972 — Launched the newspaper El Diario de la Gente

As a CU �ֲ��ý student, Espinosa launched the bilingual newspaper El Diario de la Gente in 1972 as a member of the United Mexican American Students, a campus group aimed at bringing cultural awareness to �ֲ��ý’s Chicano community. The Vietnam War veteran later moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where he co-founded the alternative community newspaper La Cucaracha and worked for 22 years at The Pueblo Chieftain.

Tom Cech

1989 — Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

A distinguished professor of chemistry at CU �ֲ��ý, Thomas Cech is a renowned biochemist whose work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of molecular biology. After earning his doctorate degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975 and completing postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty of CU �ֲ��ý in 1978. In 1982, he and his research group made a groundbreaking discovery that RNA molecules, specifically from the pond organism Tetrahymena thermophila, could splice themselves, acting as enzymes in cellular reactions without proteins. In recognition of this paradigm-shifting work, Cech was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989. Cech continues to lead research and education at CU �ֲ��ý as the founding director of the BioFrontiers Institute.

Ceal Barry

2018 — Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

As head coach for over 22 seasons, Ceal Barry left an undeniable mark on CU �ֲ��ý’s women’s basketball. In her time as coach, she accumulated a record of 427-242, the most wins by any head coach in CU sports history. Under her leadership, the program flourished. She had 13 seasons with 20 or more wins, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition of her impact and achievements. After stepping down as coach, Barry served for 15 years in CU Athletics administration, including a year as interim athletic director in 2013. The university unveiled Ceal Barry Plaza in her honor in January 2026.

Joe Neguse (Econ, PolSci’05; Law’09)

2018 — Elected to Congress

At CU �ֲ��ý Joe Neguse was involved in student government, served as co-student body president under the “tri-executive” system and worked on issues like diversity, affordability and higher-education finance. After graduating, he went on to serve on the CU Board of Regents, co-founded a nonprofit aimed at youth civic engagement and worked in Colorado politics. In 2018, Neguse was elected to represent Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Black Coloradan elected to Congress. During his time in office, he has focused on priorities like public-lands protection, affordable higher education, consumer protection and government accountability.

Wei Wu (MMus’13)

2019 — Awarded a Grammy Award

A bass singer from Beijing, Wei Wu has built a remarkable career in opera, earning international acclaim. Upon arriving in the U.S. in 2007, he auditioned for graduate work at CU �ֲ��ý’s College of Music, officially enrolling in 2008. During his time at CU, he honed and perfected the vocal technique, diction and stage presence that became instrumental to his professional success. Wu received his big break after performing the role of Kôbun Chino Otogawa in the world premiere of “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” at Santa Fe Opera. The recording won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.

David Ellsworth (Art’71; MFA’73)

2021 — Honored with the Smithsonian Visionary Award

David Ellsworth helped elevate wood turning from a utilitarian craft to fine art. While studying sculpture at CU �ֲ��ý, he developed his signature approach, “blind turning,” a method using a set of bent tools that enables woodturners to hollow out wood into elegant, thin-walled vessels. Ellsworth taught his strategies at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Anderson Ranch Arts Center, going on to found his own Ellsworth School of Woodturning. In 2021, he was honored with the Smithsonian Visionary Award by the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his “ground-breaking, innovative and transformative career in wood art.”

Sarah Gillis (AeroEngr’17)

2024 — Played the violin in space

Sarah Gillis made history on Sept. 13, 2024 when she became the first person to play the violin in space, performing “Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars: The Force Awakens aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft more than 870 miles above Earth. Her crewmates captured her performance, which took place in zero gravity conditions during the Polaris Dawn mission, and sent to Earth via Starlink. Gillis first developed an interest in space in high school and went on to study aerospace engineering at CU �ֲ��ý. After internships and work at SpaceX, she joined the Polaris Dawn crew as a mission specialist, where she became the youngest astronaut to participate in a spacewalk.

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Photo credits: In order of appearance: Courtesy Carnegie Library for Local History/Museum of �ֲ��ý Collection (Mary Rippon); CU Heritage Center (Joseph Sewall); CU Heritage Center (George Norlin); Glenn Asakawa (Peggy Coppom and Betty Hoover); Courtesy the Buchanan Archives (Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones); Courtesy Tom Cech; Glenn Asakawa (Tom Cech); Polaris Dawn crew (Sarah Gillis); Soloman Howard (Wei Wu); Courtesy Juan Espinosa; CU Heritage Center (David Bolen); CU Heritage Center (Byron White); CU Athletics (Ceal Barry); Courtesy Joe Neguse; Roshni Gorur/Courtesy of Anderson Ranch (David Ellsworth); Courtesy Billy Kidd; Coloradan archives (Ralphie)

CU �ֲ��ý has been shaped by the vision, courage and tenacity of many students, faculty, staff and alumni since 1876.

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Spring 2026

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Q&A with Dominic Serem, CU's Top Cross-Country Runner

Anna Tolette — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:15:06 +0000

Q&A with Dominic Serem, CU's Top Cross-Country Runner Anna Tolette Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:15

Andrew Daigle

After transferring from Toledo University, Dominic Serem (Anth’28) of Kapsabet, Kenya, quickly established himself as the CU men’s cross-country’s top runner of 2025, posting two top-5 finishes and leading the resurgent Buffs to 10th place at November’s NCAAs.

What made you start running seriously?

I started running in 5th grade. Kenya is a country of athletes. I grew up seeing people running at altitude. It’s serious work that leads to other successes. I wanted to join a school in America because of everything happening now in the NCAA. College athletes are treated like professionals.

What about CU �ֲ��ý made you want to come here after previously running for Oklahoma and Toledo?

Colorado lets me train at altitude like I did in Kenya. CU has the indoor track facility, great support from staff and coaches and competitive teammates.

Which teammates have helped push you to succeed?

Everyone on the team is so strong. Isaiah Givens (EnvSt’26), James Overberg (MechEng’25) and me — we run the same paces, stay in the same shape. They’re pushing me throughout training. And it’s more than the three of us. We need that whole team effort, everyone being competitive, especially when we make it to Nationals.

What’s a typical week of training like for you?

My mileage has gone up since I joined CU. I usually run 90 to 100 miles each week. It’s working really well. It’s part of the spirit of the team, and it’s not a crazy workload — it’s a training plan we can handle. Even the week before races, we’re still doing at least 80 miles. We go down a little in mileage before the race and then treat the race as a workout.

Is there a race from this year that stands out?

Two races went really well. I ran the courses like I had planned with Coach. The first was Gans Creek at Columbia, Missouri. I got fifth. I was hoping for top 10. The other was the Nuttycombe Invitational at Madison, Wisconsin, where I got fourth. We were racing against New Mexico, one of the top teams. Our plan was to go out and compete, and we met that challenge. Madison was the Nationals course in 2024, and I didn’t run that well there, so getting fourth place there this year meant a lot.

What have you learned from second-year head coach Sean Carlson?

I see Coach Carlson as a father, brother and a leader to each of us. He’s there for everyone on the team, everyone on staff. I like that he means what he says. It’s not just talk. I’ve seen a lot of improvement in one season under him. I still have a long way to go.

What does it mean to be part of a historic program that is ascendant again?

Coach Carlson has had a hugely positive impact on the team. It’s a winning culture. I’m able to contribute something positive to the program. It’s an incredible feeling to be part of a young team that is improving.

How do you mentally prepare for big races?

Every race is a workout. I focus on improvement, on reaching my goals. Coach prepares us to think of each new race as another step in our training — a part of what we’re already doing. It keeps it simple.

How does pacing yourself work?

Going into a race, we know who we’re trying to keep pace with. I like to start fast to be in a very good position, making sure I’m staying there and no one is going to push away. They push it, I’m still there. And the last kick is doing what it takes to hit my goals and support the team.

Do you have a favorite distance between cross-country and indoor and outdoor track?

The 3K in indoor and 5K in outdoor.

If you have time away from running, what are you doing?

I like watching movies and making sure I get all my assignments done before Friday, so I can focus on racing and my long runs. By Sunday afternoon, I’m getting all my stuff ready for the next week of school and running.

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Photos courtesy CU Athletics

After transferring from Toledo University, Dominic Serem of Kenya quickly established himself as the CU men’s cross-country’s best runner of 2025

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Spring 2026

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CU Volleyball’s Ana Burilović Aims to Attack Everything

What are you most excited about as you head into your senior year?

What did it mean to you to be named All-America last year?

What was it like playing volleyball in your hometown of Split, Croatia?

How did you hear about CU, and what drew you to come here?

What is a favorite memory of yours from playing for the Buffaloes?

As a pin attacker, you’ve had as many as 32 kills in a match. How do you avoid blockers and know where to hit the ball?

Can you share an important lesson you’ve learned from head coach Jesse Mahoney?

How have you navigated balancing academics and athletics at CU?

What is something you like to do in your free time?

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Buffs Briefs Summer 2026

Buﬀ Bits

Scores

Coach Talk

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Buffs finished runner-up in the NCAA Skiing Championships

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CU Athletics Receives $6 Million to Elevate Student Experience, Campus Excellence

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Early Women’s Sports at CU �ֲ���ý

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Q&A with Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter

At CU �ֲ���ý, were you already MMA training?

When did you know you wanted to do MMA professionally?

What does a typical day look like for you?

In October, you fought in UFC 320, one of the biggest events on the circuit. What was that like?

You’re well-known for your fighting style. What’s the strategy behind it?

What are your goals for the future?

What are your hobbies outside of fighting?

Who has influenced you in your life?

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Rise of the BOLDER�ֲ���ý

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Kara Goucher Is Running at Life

The Road to Running

Leaving the Oregon Project

Back to �ֲ���ý

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Celebrating 150 Years of CU People

Joseph Sewall

Mary Rippon

Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones (Ger’1918)

George Norlin

Byron White (Econ’38)

Peggy Coppom (A&S ex’46) and Betty Hoover (A&S ex’46)

David Bolen (Mktg; MBA’50)

Billy Kidd

“Ralph”

Juan Espinosa (Jour’74)

Tom Cech

Ceal Barry

Joe Neguse (Econ, PolSci’05; Law’09)

Wei Wu (MMus’13)

David Ellsworth (Art’71; MFA’73)

Sarah Gillis (AeroEngr’17)

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Q&A with Dominic Serem, CU's Top Cross-Country Runner

What made you start running seriously?

What about CU �ֲ���ý made you want to come here after previously running for Oklahoma and Toledo?

Which teammates have helped push you to succeed?

What’s a typical week of training like for you?

Is there a race from this year that stands out?

What have you learned from second-year head coach Sean Carlson?

What does it mean to be part of a historic program that is ascendant again?

How do you mentally prepare for big races?

How does pacing yourself work?

Do you have a favorite distance between cross-country and indoor and outdoor track?

If you have time away from running, what are you doing?

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Early Women’s Sports at CU �ֲ��ý

At CU �ֲ��ý, were you already MMA training?

Rise of the BOLDER�ֲ��ý

Back to �ֲ��ý

What about CU �ֲ��ý made you want to come here after previously running for Oklahoma and Toledo?