Glenn Cunningham

LEGENDARY JAYHAWKS Glenn Cunningham (1931-34)

One of the earliest cross country greats to don the Crimson and Blue was Glenn Cunningham. A member of the KU Hall of Fame, Cunningham was a two-time Big Six Conference cross country champion, capturing the league crown in 1931 and 1932. Cunningham also excelled in track and field while at Kansas, breaking the world record in the indoor 1,500 meters (3:53.3) in 1934 and both the indoor mile (4:08.4) in 1932 and the outdoor mile (4:06.7) in 1933. During his tenure on the track at KU, he served as team captain in 1934 and won 12 conference championships: four indoor (1932-34, mile run and 1934, 880-yard run) and eight outdoor (1932-34, mile run; 1932-34, 880-yard run; 1933-34, two-mile run). In 1932 and 1933, Cunningham was the NCAA champion in the mile run, earning All-American accolades in the process. A two-time Olympian in the 1,500 meters (1932 and 1936), Cunningham won the silver medal at the 1936 summer games in Berlin. In 1974, he became one of the first inductees into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. In accordance with his early success, Cunningham’s statue is located near the start of the course. The finish line at Rim Rock Farm is affectionately known as the Glenn Cunningham Finish.

CUNNINGHAM’S ACCOLADES

• 1931 and 1932 Big Six Cross Country Conference Champion • Silver Medalist in 1,500-meter run at 1936 Olympics • Broke three world records while at Kansas