Roadrunners shine on global stage

Four Metropolitan State University of Denver athletes competed at the highest levels of their respective sports this summer. As they pursued their dreams at the Olympics, Paralympics and U.S. Paralympic Trials, the Roadrunners continued to inspire the University community and others.

Bringing the boom

Former MSU Denver basketball star Nick Kay got a second shot at gold this summer as a key member of the Australian national team competing in the Paris Olympics. While the team, known as the Boomers, did not medal, it continued to showcase Australia as a global powerhouse on the hardwood.

Kay, who played for MSU Denver from 2011 to 2015, has been a consistent performer on the international stage. The 6-foot-8 forward helped the Boomers win their first Olympic basketball medal, a bronze, in Tokyo in 2021. “The goal (that year) was to go to the Olympics, and I was fortunate enough to get to do that,” he said. “And it just got me so hungry to want to do it again.”

Kay, 31, has been a two-time All-National Basketball League first-team selection in Australia. He has been a regular member of the national team since 2017.

Ryan’s resilience

Courtney Ryan netted another medal for the United States Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.

Ryan, a former MSU Denver women’s soccer All-American, transitioned to wheelchair basketball after a severe injury ended her soccer career in 2010. Paralyzed from the waist down, Ryan quickly became one of the top wheelchair basketball players in the country. In 2021, she was a key player for the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team that secured a bronze medal in Tokyo.

In Paris, Ryan and her teammates aimed higher, leveraging their experience and determination. “We’re looking forward to showcasing what this team has got,” Ryan said before the Games. As it turns out, the team had more than enough, as it brought home a silver medal, solidifying its position as a top team in the sport.

Paralympic pursuit

Jonathan and Jordan Duran, standout runners at MSU Denver, made a bid for the 2024 Paralympic Games in France. The twins, who are on the autism spectrum, trained rigorously for the U.S. Paralympic Trials in July. The hard work paid off with solid performances in the 1,500 meters. Jonathan Duran took second place (4:02.21) and Jordan Duran placed third (4:03.82). But they fell just short of qualifying for Team USA in track and field.

top: Courtney Ryan (55) looks to the bench during the women’s wheelchair basketball game between Team USA and Team Netherlands during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. bottom: Jordan Duran (1962) competes in a men’s cross country race at Washington Park in Denver.

Regardless, their journey has been nothing short of inspiring. While training year-round for their shot at the Paralympics, the Duran duo balanced their athletic pursuits with academic excellence. They competed for MSU Denver in cross country in fall and then during the indoor (winter) and outdoor (spring) track and field seasons. The Hospitality Leadership majors also have excellent cumulative grade-point averages.

Their next hurdle? “The goal for cross country is to be (team) national champions,” Jordan Duran said. “We’re coming back for our teammates. We’ll be stronger and faster.”