Cortez-native Zander Cruzan (bottom left) celebrates a team national title with the University of Arkansas men’s track and field team after Cruzan and the Razorbacks 4 x 400 relay took third-place at the NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday. (Courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletic Department)
Former Panther sprinter competes on third leg of third-place Arkansas 4 x 400 team
EUGENE, Ore., – From Panther Stadium to Hayward Field, Cortez native Zander Cruzan’s humble beginnings within track and field have taken him to the pinnacle of collegiate athletics.
On Friday night at the mecca of United States track and field competition in Eugene, Cruzan helped add his name to a rich legacy of University of Arkansas track and field, running on the ’Hogs 4 x 400 relay and earning all-American status with a third-place relay finish – capping a team national title in the process.
Twice within a span of three days, Cruzan ran sub-45 second splits in the 4 x 400-meter relay for the Razorbacks, helping them qualify out of the semifinal round on Wednesday night, before taking the team into rare company with a sub-three-minute relay in Friday night’s finals. Cruzan ran the third leg for head coach Doug Case’s team, blistering a 44.79 split to lead the team to a season-best time of 2:59.87, just behind fellow SEC opponents Georgia and LSU.
The relay bronze pushed the Razorbacks to 56 team points, edging second-place Georgia (49 points) to earn the program their first national title in men’s outdoor track and field since 2003.
Cruzan joined the Razorbacks after a stellar career at M-CHS, winning the state title in the 400 and 200 meters his senior season. He then raised his sprinting prowess another notch during his first year at the University of Northern Colorado, earning all-Big Sky accolades before transferring to the Fayetteville, AR-based track powerhouse.
Another Southwest Colorado athlete had a part to play in the Razorbacks’ title, as De Beque high jumper and Colorado state record holder Scottie Vines cleared 7’ 4 ½” to take runner-up in the event.
Cruzan also qualified for the West region competition in the open 400, and narrowly missed out on advancing individually to the quarterfinals. He owns an open 400 personal best of 45.61, and his relay splits have consistently put him in the low 45s. He saved some of his best for last, as the Razorbacks will raise another banner, with Cruzan bringing a piece of M-CHS track and field to the national stage.
