Minnesota has had many illustrious cross country and track & field athletes throughout history. Some have been forgotten, and some are still competing, but one thing they all have in common? Being some of the greatest athletes this state has ever seen.
To qualify for this series the athlete has to have competed in high school track and/or cross country in Minnesota for at least one year, and competed in an Olympic event. In all there were 21 athletes that qualified for our series.
Mark Lutz / Mayo High School (Rochester, MN) 1970 Graduate
100-Yard Dash Minnesota All-Time Record (9.6 Seconds)
220-Yard Dash Minnesota All-Time Record (20.7 Seconds)
20thMinnesota All-Time 400m (47.9 Seconds)
6th Minnesota All-Time 200m (20.8 Seconds)
100- and 220-yard dash State Champ 1969 & 1970
440-yard dash State Champ 1970
Went on to a distinguished career at the University of Kansas where he won the individual titles in the 100 and 220-yard dashes in 1973 and 1974. He also won a 1974 national title in the 440-yard relay after running the third leg of the relay.
In 1976 after transferring to California State University, Long Beach he qualified for the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the 200m after finishing third in the U.S. Olympic Trials. He finished in fifth place in his heat failing to qualify for the finals.
All Historical results provided by MN Prep Track and Field/Cross Country