Charlie
Gruber

Olympian 2004

Athlete Bio#

Height

6'0"

Age

Hometown

Golden, CO

Education

Mullen Prep (Denver, Colo.,) '97 University of Kansas, '02 & '04

Quick Facts

Gruber became the first University of Kansas track and field athlete to compete at the Olympic Games since pole vaulter Scott Huffman and sprinter Pierre Lisk showcased their skills at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Gruber was the first Track and Field athlete under coach Doug Clark’s tutelage at Kansas to earn a spot on Team USA. By making the Team USA roster for the 2004 Olympics, Gruber joined other all-time great KU and American 1500 meter stars including Olympic silver medal winners Jim Ryun (Mexico City 1968) and Glenn Cunningham (Berlin 1936).

Career Highlights

2nd in 1500 meter at 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Secured his spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team by running a personal best 3:34.71 at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Gruber’s time easily surpassed the Olympic A standard of 3:36.20 and placed him 10th in a race won by world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj.
2004 U.S. 4 km cross country champion
2004 Prefontaine Classic 1500 meter champion
5-time NCAA All-American (1999: outdoor 1500 meter, 2000: indoor mile, 2001: indoor mile, 2001: indoor DMR, 2002: outdoor 1500 meter)
5-time Big 12 Conference Champion (1999: indoor 1000 meter, 1999: outdoor 1500 meter, 2000: indoor mile, outdoor 1500 meter, 2001: indoor DMR)
Five-time All-American at KU, Gruber won the 1999 and 2000 Big 12 Conference Outdoor 1500 meter titles.
2003: 5th at USA Outdoors (3:45.29). Ranked #6 in US at 1,500 meters. Bests of 3:39.74 and 4:01.81.
2003 NCAA National Championship, 5th
2002 NCAA National Championship, 8th in heats
2002: 7th at Big 12 Outdoor, 7th in opening round at NCAA Outdoors, 10th in opening round at USA Outdoors. Bests of 3:41.20 and 4:06.28.
2001 NCAA National Championship, 11th
2001: 11th at USA Outdoors (3:46.40. Bests of 3:41.30 and 3:58.47
2000 NCAA National Championship, 5th (800 meter), 10th (1500 meter)
2000: 1st at Big 12 Outdoors, 7th in opening round at NCAA Outdoors, 10th in opening round at Olympic Trial. Bests of 3:41.20 and 4:01.81
1999: 1st at Big 12 Outdoors, 11th at NCAA Outdoors. Best of 3:43.45