University of Connecticut Athletics
The Road To The NCAA Championship: Mike Rutt
6/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
June 8, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - For most of his life, Mike Rutt was a runner. He would run three or so miles a day, every day. But, Rutt's miles came on the soccer field because for most of his life, Rutt was a soccer player.
Rutt began playing soccer at the age of six. In high school, he played soccer in the fall for his high school team and in the spring for an elite level soccer club. His dream was to eventually play soccer in college and was even offered a roster spot at Pittsburgh in his home state of Pennsylvania.
But he realized that playing soccer in college was just not going to work out and after making just one official visit to UConn, Rutt decided it was where he wanted to go. For track and field.
"I was always told that I was going to be a runner my whole life," said Rutt, "I didn't believe it at the time."
Rutt started his track career off in middle school running the mile. He was always the first person to cross the finish line while running in gym class and by eighth grade he was running those 5,280 feet in about 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
Rutt's junior high track and field track coach was also his soccer coach in high school and allowed him to participate in both soccer and cross country in the outdoor season.
In the spring Rutt competed as a mile runner and though he did well at conference meets, he never had enough to make a state final.
That changed at UConn.
With the warning that he could potentially be cut from the team if he didn't have what it took, Rutt put a lot of hard work in during his freshman season. Despite attending UConn to be a mile runner, Rutt's success came in the 800-meter run. In his freshman season he earned a second place finish at the BIG EAST Indoor meet and fourth place at the Outdoor meet.
"At UConn I was training more intensely and committed to the running all year round," said Rutt. "I don't know whether I physically matured, or if it just came naturally, but after my freshman year my eyes opened to what could happen in my career."
Rutt's career broke open during his sophomore season.
During the indoor season, Rutt earned another second place finish in the BIG EAST 800 meter run. He took home his first every championship title at the New England Championships with a time that qualified him for NCAAs. He would eventually run well enough to earn his first ever All-America honor.
In the outdoor season, Rutt earned his first BIG EAST Title in the 800-meter run also taking the outdoor 800 New England title to round off a successful year.
Rutt's success continued into his junior season.
After winning the 800 in three of the five meets that he took part in, Rutt captured his first ever BIG EAST Indoor 800 title while taking second place in the 500 meter run. For his efforts he was named the BIG EAST Track Performer of the Year.
He earned another shot at the NCAA Championship and was a few steps from capturing the national title.
"I think Mike's race at the Indoor NCAA Championship was one of the best of his career," said Head Coach Greg Roy. "He made his move at the right time and was stride for stride at the finish; he was just edged out in the end."
Rutt finished fourth earning his second-straight All-America honor.
"Everything that is happening to me is so unexpected," said Rutt. "I see guys that I raced against in high school that blew by me and now I am competing with them and even beating them."
Rutt redshirted the 2009 outdoor season and 2010 indoor season, but got right back into things this past season and qualified for the NCAA East Regionals for the third time in his career.
A sub-1:47 time, the first of his career, gave Rutt a third place finish in the East Regional and the opportunity to compete at his first ever NCAA Outdoor Championship.
"The race just felt like any other race to me," said Rutt. "I didn't think that we were running so fast but I knew that I was among tough competition. When I crossed the line and saw 1:46.63, I couldn't believe it."
Rutt looks to improve upon that time and shave another second off of his personal best at the NCAA Championship on Wednesday, June 9 when he takes part in the 800-meter semifinals at 4:30 p.m. PT, 7:30 p.m. ET.
"Mike has yet to race his race, `The Great Race'," said Roy.
He's hoping it will come this weekend.
Players Mentioned
