President Benson announced as official starter of 2019 BOLDERBoulder

BOLDERBoulder, America’s All-Time Best 10K, this week named CU President Bruce D. Benson the official starter for the 2019 race.

“We are honored to have one of the University of Colorado’s most accomplished presidents as this year’s official starter,” said Cliff Bosley, BolderBOULDER race director. “The race has a rich history with CU and our relationship with Bruce and the university is part of the magic of the BOLDERBoulder.”

In 1981, then-CU President Arnold Weber and CU Boulder Athletic Director Eddie Crowder approached race founder Steve Bosley about moving the BOLDERBoulder finish line to the University of Colorado’s Folsom Field. Since 1981, more than 1.3 million participants of the race have finished in the stadium, fulfilling Weber’s vision that the race would provide runners and spectators exposure to CU and showcase the state’s flagship university in a way that otherwise would not be possible.

“Almost 40 years since that first meeting with the University of Colorado, it is our honor to have Bruce Benson, the president of the University of Colorado, to serve as the official starter,” said race founder Steve Bosley, also a Regent Emeritus. “It is appropriate that the race is being started by another president whose charge is to lead this university and this legacy of community, dedication and service to and for the University of Colorado.”

Benson joins an esteemed group of race official starters over the years including Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter, Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffery, famed columnist Rick Reilly and other CU legends including Tad Boyle, Mike Bohn, Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett.

“I very much appreciate being selected for this prestigious honor,” Benson said. “The BOLDERBoulder and CU have had a wonderful partnership over the years and I welcome the opportunity to deepen those ties. I look forward to spending Memorial Day with tens of thousands of people who have made the race and the university part of their holiday tradition.”

As one of the longest-serving presidents in the university’s history, Benson has enhanced CU’s standing as one of the nation’s leading public universities, advancing the economy, health and culture of Colorado and beyond. During his tenure, CU’s researching funding has reached record levels and it has seen its best 10 fundraising years. He has announced he will retire from CU in July.