Zak Wood / Colorado Daily

Members of the University of Colorado men's track & field team celebrate their Big 12 Championship on Sunday. CU head coach Mark Wetmore has extended his thanks to all who helped make the weekend a special one.

T o the CU and Boulder Communities,

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As I said to some reporters after Sunday's amazing day, I fear I may have used up my good luck for the rest of my life.

But I certainly couldn't have meant that it was just good luck that made this Big 12 Championship so special.

Ceal Barry, our senior woman administrator, was marshalling athletes around the track. "Giant" George Hypolite was carrying clothing baskets from the start line to the finish. The Vice Chancellor was right behind him.

My compatriot head coaches were moving hurdles, running with starting blocks. Rich Castro had a hundred Boulder Road Runners swarming like bright blue ants. Pasta Jay must have closed his restaurant for three days to produce all the food in the hospitality tent.

Over a hundred alumni stood on the fence. The CU athletic fields and grounds managers had been working overtime for a year. Mike Bohn had been writing checks for a year.

And nearly six thousand fans turned out to rock the temporary bleachers, more than have ever assembled for a Big 12. And I was told this morning our website, CUBuffs.com, had over 14,000 visitors and 128,000 page views on Sunday alone, showing interest went beyond those who could attend in person.

So many people contributed to the success of this event that I can't possibly shake all their hands too many to ever list.

But three must not go without mentioning.

Brenda and Paul Lilly, long friends of our program, made many of the facility necessities possible. Without them this dream would have been still born.

Rich Cardillo, who hired me here at CU, came out of peaceful, golf-playing retirement to serve as the volunteer Meet Director of this historic event. He worked well more than full-time, for nearly two years, sometimes against towering resistance from people who were convinced CU could not manage this prestigious competition. He's a dyed-in-the-fur Buffalo, but also part Mongoose.

So the good luck that I mentioned was not meant to be the fortune of team points falling our way, but my good fortune for working in this department, at this university, and in this community, among so many friends.

Thank you, sincerely, all.

C. Mark Wetmore

Head Cross Country & Track & Field Coach

University of Colorado