Olympics | Colorado Running Hall of Fame

LARGE-Display • Coached at Wayne State, Colorado State, Idaho State, Colorado, the United States Military Academy and the U.S. Olympic team

• His coaching career spanned more than 40 years

• Directed 19 All-Americans, including Olympians Adam Goucher and Alan Culpepper

• Named the Patriot League Coach of the Year 22 times

The late Jerry Quiller, affectionately known as “Coach Q”, was inducted to the Hall posthumously, having passed away on February 3, 2012, after a long after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Jerry, a Fort Collins native, was a highly successful coach and fixture in the track and field community in Colorado. After a successful high school and college career himself, Jerry developed into an incredible track and cross-country coach leading his CU teams to three Big Eight Conference titles and 12 trips to the NCAA Championships (both men’s and women’s teams). He was named the league’s coach of the year five times and directed 19 All-Americans, including Olympians Adam Goucher and Alan Culpepper. Jerry was also one of the most successful coaches in Army history. He guided the Army men’s and women’s cross-country and track teams to 37 Patriot League titles in 13 seasons and was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year 22 times. He is remembered not only as a great coach, but also an amazing and genuine man.

(photo: cubuffs.com)

(www.usatfmn.org)

• Held the MN state high school mile record (4:05.1) for 39 years

• Five-time All-American

• Broke Big Ten records in seven categories

• 13^th place in 10,000m at the 1976 Olympics

• Won 10 major road races in 1978

• Inducted into the Road Runners Club of America’s Hall of Fame in 1988

• The Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth named the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon after him

Garry Bjorklund started his running career in high school, setting a Minnesota state record mile that lasted for 39 years with a time of 4:05.1. He represented the U.S. at the 1971 and 1975 Pan American Games as well as the 1976 Olympics, managing to make the 10,000m team in spite of losing a shoe during trials. Following his Olympic appearance, Garry became a marathon runner, earning fifth-place finishes in both the 1977 New York City Marathon and the 1979 Boston Marathon. By 1980, he had set a national age group record and personal best time of 2:10.20 at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth Minnesota. His strong road running during this time earned him a place in the Road Runners Club of America’s Hall of Fame in 1988. Garry has lived in Colorado since the late 1970s, training with the Colorado Track Club and running partner Frank Shorter.

Garry Bjorklund, right, battles with Dick Beardsley in the 5th edition of Grandma’s Marathon. Photo: Dulluth