Central Michigan University Athletics
Jeff Drenth Memorial: A Quarter Century of Tradition
8/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
MOUNT PLEASANT — A lot can change in 25 years, but one constant for the Central Michigan cross country program is the homage it pays to former Chippewas great Jeff Drenth every fall.
CMU hosts the 25th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial on Sept. 3. The meet serves as the Chippewas’ season-opener as a tribute to the former All-American and two-time Mid-American Conference champion.
“I was here when Jeff was first recruited and got to see him develop when I came back,” former CMU head cross country coach Craig Fuller said. “He wasn’t anything special early in his career, but his work ethic drove him to great things. Jeff put in a lot of hard work and he grew into an All-American.”
Drenth’s breakout junior campaign paced the Chippewas to their first team MAC title in 1982, a season that saw Drenth become CMU’s first cross country All-American since 1971.
After closing his collegiate career with another individual MAC title in 1983, Drenth took his talents to the international scene, competing in meets across the country with Team USA and training to become an Olympian. However, tragedy struck in 1986 when Drenth died suddenly at the Athletics West headquarters in Eugene, Ore. After that, the cross country program sought out to keep Drenth’s memory alive with this meet.
“It was a natural progression to hold the meet in Jeff’s honor,” Fuller said. “The competition has always been an open meet where college age athletes show up to run. We have given out plaques for the winners of the meet over the years. A number of elite runners have competed in this meet since it was created.”
While Jeff Drenth passed away 25 years ago, his spirit has lived on with the Chippewas and helped usher in an era of dominance for the cross country program. CMU has captured six more conference titles and produced seven All-Americans since Drenth paced the Maroon and Gold.
“We had some very good teams with Jeff here,” Fuller said. “Having him here raised the expectations of this program. He became the model of a runner who put in all the work and saw the results. Everyone who comes here to compete is trying to be a national caliber runner, not just a conference champion, and Jeff showed it was possible to do just that.”
The Drenth meet has changed venues numerous times over the years, but the Chippewas are returning it to Pleasant Hills Golf Course, the site of the inaugural meet, for the special occasion.
“We are excited to move the meet back to its original home where it belongs,” head coach Willie Randolph said. “There is so much great history with the meet at Pleasant Hills. We wanted to pay homage to a great athlete whose memory, tireless work ethic and accomplishments we want to live on as a part of our program for years to come. We will continue to honor our past in order to move into a bright future.”
A lot can change in 25 years, but the constant of the Jeff Drenth Memorial will continue inspiring runners at CMU for many years to come.
CMU hosts the 25th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial on Sept. 3. The meet serves as the Chippewas’ season-opener as a tribute to the former All-American and two-time Mid-American Conference champion.
“I was here when Jeff was first recruited and got to see him develop when I came back,” former CMU head cross country coach Craig Fuller said. “He wasn’t anything special early in his career, but his work ethic drove him to great things. Jeff put in a lot of hard work and he grew into an All-American.”
Drenth’s breakout junior campaign paced the Chippewas to their first team MAC title in 1982, a season that saw Drenth become CMU’s first cross country All-American since 1971.
After closing his collegiate career with another individual MAC title in 1983, Drenth took his talents to the international scene, competing in meets across the country with Team USA and training to become an Olympian. However, tragedy struck in 1986 when Drenth died suddenly at the Athletics West headquarters in Eugene, Ore. After that, the cross country program sought out to keep Drenth’s memory alive with this meet.
“It was a natural progression to hold the meet in Jeff’s honor,” Fuller said. “The competition has always been an open meet where college age athletes show up to run. We have given out plaques for the winners of the meet over the years. A number of elite runners have competed in this meet since it was created.”
While Jeff Drenth passed away 25 years ago, his spirit has lived on with the Chippewas and helped usher in an era of dominance for the cross country program. CMU has captured six more conference titles and produced seven All-Americans since Drenth paced the Maroon and Gold.
“We had some very good teams with Jeff here,” Fuller said. “Having him here raised the expectations of this program. He became the model of a runner who put in all the work and saw the results. Everyone who comes here to compete is trying to be a national caliber runner, not just a conference champion, and Jeff showed it was possible to do just that.”
The Drenth meet has changed venues numerous times over the years, but the Chippewas are returning it to Pleasant Hills Golf Course, the site of the inaugural meet, for the special occasion.
“We are excited to move the meet back to its original home where it belongs,” head coach Willie Randolph said. “There is so much great history with the meet at Pleasant Hills. We wanted to pay homage to a great athlete whose memory, tireless work ethic and accomplishments we want to live on as a part of our program for years to come. We will continue to honor our past in order to move into a bright future.”
A lot can change in 25 years, but the constant of the Jeff Drenth Memorial will continue inspiring runners at CMU for many years to come.
Saturday, November 02
Saturday, November 02
Tuesday, October 15