Cross country and track and field athletes under Ted Castaneda’s expert tutelage have made their mark on the Colorado College record books regularly throughout his years at the helm.
Castaneda has served as head coach of the men's cross country team at CC since 1981, when he also started as a volunteer assistant with the track and field program. He took over as head coach for women's cross country in 1993 and for track and field in 1994.
During his tenure, the men's cross country team has captured seven Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships, while his women's teams have won four.
Last fall, Castaneda led both teams to the SCAC title at the conference meet in Widefield, Colo. For his efforts, he was named the SCAC Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's cross country seasons, his seventh time earning the men's COY honor and fourth as women's.
He has coached athletes to a total of 34 outdoor track men’s and women’s school records during his tenure. In indoor track, his women athletes reset all 26 records and the men broke 15 before winter competition was discontinued in 2002.
In addition, 22 cross country and track athletes have earned All-America honors including 1998 NCAA heptathlete champion Heather O’Brien, five-time recipient Julian Boggs (three times in cross country and twice in track and field) and standout Jackson Brainerd ’12, who led the Tigers to their third consecutive SCAC cross country team championship in 2011.
Castaneda’s Tigers also get it done academically, with regular academic accolades each year as individuals and teams, including both cross country teams earning academic All-America status numerous times.
The program's success should be no surprise when you look back at Castaneda's success as a competitor. Castaneda is well-versed not only with the style and technique required in both cross country and track, but with training and theory of conditioning as well.
His career as a distance runner started during his prep years at Colorado Springs’ Palmer High School.
From there he went on to the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he earned All-America honors four times in track and once in cross country. His best times include a 3:58.5 mile, an 8:29 two-mile, a 28:30 in the 10 kilometers and a 2-hour, 15-minute marathon. He also competed in two U.S. Olympic Trials (5,000 and 10,000 in 1976, marathon in 1980).
