Metro State Roadrunners

Last updated
Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners
MSU Denver Roadrunners.svg
University Metropolitan State University of Denver
Conference Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA Division II
Athletic directorTodd Thurman
Location Denver, Colorado
Varsity teams15
Basketball arenaAuraria Events Center
Baseball stadiumAuraria Field
MascotRowdy the Roadrunner
NicknameRoadrunners
Fight songA Rowdy Encounter
Website www.roadrunnersathletics.com

The MSU Denver Roadrunners are the athletic teams that represent Metropolitan State University of Denver. The Roadrunners participate in 15 intercollegiate sports and compete in the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Contents

History

MSU Denver has produced 239 All-Americans and was one of the seven charter members of the Colorado Athletic Conference in 1989 before joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1996. Metro State competed as a NAIA member until 1983, when the Roadrunners jumped to the NCAA Division II ranks. Since 1998, Metro State has captured 32 regular season conference titles, 35 conference tournament championships, as well as the 2000 & 2002 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships and the 2004 and 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer national crowns. MSU Denver also boasts five individual national championships. Men's swimmer Darwin Strickland won national championships in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle in 1995 and also won the 100 free in 1996. Anthony Luna won men's track championships in the 800 meters during the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2009. [1] MSU Denver's main rivals are Colorado School of Mines, Fort Lewis College, and Regis University.

Completed in 2015, the Assembly Athletic Complex is the home site for six of the Roadrunners’ 15 sports, including, baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's tennis. The site is located south of the Colfax viaduct adjacent to Shoshone Street, east of I-25. In addition to hosting the athletic and academic programs, the University hosts activities for the community's youth. The baseball, softball and soccer fields will be synthetic turf surfaces. [2]

The 2016 Division II National Championships Festival marked the ninth occurrence of the distinctive Division II event, and was hosted by MSU Denver and the Denver Sports Commission. 76 qualifying teams and 20 qualifying individuals represented their institutions by competing for national championships in men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, softball, and men's and women's tennis. [3]

NCAA

SportNational ChampionshipsSeasons
Men's Basketball22000, 2002
Women's Soccer22004, 2006
Total4

Runners Up

Final Four

Regional host

  • Cross Country: 1995, 2011
  • Men's Basketball: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014
  • National Championships Festival: 2016
  • Women's Soccer: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
  • Women's Volleyball: 2001, 2003

NCAA individual champions

RMAC

SportChampionshipsSeasons
Men's Baseball21998, 2002†
Men's Basketball171998, 1999†, 2000‡, 2001†, 2003†, 2004‡, 2005‡, 2007‡, 2009‡, 2010†, 2013‡, 2014‡
Men's Soccer32003†, 2004†, 2007
Men's Tennis81998†, 1999, 2000†, 2001‡, 2002‡, 2006†, 2007‡, 2008‡,
Women's Basketball41998‡, 2005†, 2011, 2012
Women's Golf12015†
Women's Soccer82002‡, 2003, 2004‡, 2005‡, 2006, 2007, 2008‡, 2009
Women's Softball32009‡, 2010‡, 2011
Women's Tennis32001‡, 2002‡, 2003‡
Women's Volleyball61998, 2001‡, 2002‡, 2003‡, 2006†, 2009†
Total55Since 1996

† Tournament champions
‡ Regular season & Tournament champions

RMAC All-Sports Cup

The RMAC All-Sports Competition Cup is awarded to the institution which accumulates the most points over the year based on its teams' outcome in the RMAC's four core sports, along with six wildcard sports. The four core sports are football or men's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball, while the six wild card sports consist of three men's sports and three women's sports, which are designated by that institutions' best finish in those 16 Olympic sports (21 total RMAC sports). Total RMAC All-Sports Competition Cup points are calculated based on how the teams finish in the RMAC regular season standings. In the scenario where teams do not have regular season standings, conference championship results are used. [6]

ChampionsYear
22006–2007, 2008–2009

Sports

MSU Denver has produced 239 All-Americans and was one of the seven charter members of the Colorado Athletic Conference in 1989 before joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1996. MSU Denver competed as a NAIA member until 1983, when the Roadrunners jumped to the NCAA Division II ranks. Since 1998, MSU Denver has captured 32 regular season conference titles, 35 conference tournament championships, as well as the 2000 & 2002 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships and the 2004 and 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer national crowns. MSU Denver also boasts five individual national championships. Men's swimmer Darwin Strickland won national championships in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle in 1995 and also won the 100 free in 1996. Anthony Luna won men's track championships in the 800 meters during the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2009. [7] Pep Band [8]

Facilities

Club sports

Rivals

Camps and clinics

Roadrunners in the Pros

Active

NameNationality
David Barlow Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Paul Brotherson Flag of Australia (converted).svg
John Bynum Flag of the United States.svg
Steven Emory Flag of the United States.svg
Shakir Johnson Flag of Jamaica.svg
Luke Kendall Flag of Australia (converted).svg
CJ Massingale Flag of the United States.svg
Ben Ortner Flag of Austria.svg
Hayden Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Lester Strong Flag of the United States.svg
Benas Vikalas Flag of Lithuania.svg
Jesse Wagstaff Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Mark Worthington Flag of Australia (converted).svg

Brandon Jefferson SIG Strasbourg France

Retired

NameNationality
Patrick Mutombo Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Flag of Belgium (civil).svg

Roadrunner Olympians

NameNationalityTeam
David Barlow Flag of Australia (converted).svg Men's Basketball: 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics
Todd Schmitz Flag of the United States.svg Swimming Coach: 2012 Summer Olympics
Mark Worthington Flag of Australia (converted).svg Men's Basketball:2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics

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References

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