Who loves running, the Olympics, racial justice, and Save ACXC? This girl. Colleen has written to say she supports the reinstatement of the most inexpensive, diverse athletics program at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Learn why—and find out the opportunity she's offering to Save ACXC's female student-athletes!

One night in February 2021, former Austin College runner Tori Dodd heard by word of mouth the Distance Track/XC coach and team had been cut. She emailed her long-distance running hero Colleen Quigley through the Olympian's official website. In response, Colleen wrote a concise letter of support on behalf of the program...a letter Tori received on March 31st. If you already think Colleen is amazing, just wait, because she's even more incredible than you realize!

Tori emailed Colleen before discovering no one was aware that Distance Track/XC exhibits the highest annual percentage of people of color out of any athletics program on campus, at 54%+; that it's the cheapest athletics program at the college, according to Equity in Athletics Database (EADA) reports; or that the school's athletics department is actively violating multiple NCAA anti-discrimination regulations. In fact, before she ever started a campaign to reinstate her Distance Track/XC family.

From civil rights activist and running program advocate Russell Dinkins's viral articles, Tori already knew running is a sport characterized by high percentages of people of color across all NCAA levels. What she didn't know: her alma mater was aware cutting Distance Track/XC represented a discriminatory decision, didn't care, and would soon be under NCAA DIII Enforcement investigation due to discrimination concerning the running program's removal. Thankfully, Colleen understood the cut of Distance Track/XC was not only in line with the discriminatory collegiate pattern of eliminating running programs occurring nationwide, but also an unjust and painful blow to the coach and student-athletes themselves. 

Colleen's Message to Save ACXC

The Takeaway:

1. Colleen's heart goes out to Austin College's Distance Track/XC coach and team; she doesn't approve of athletic program cuts, particularly in the case of running programs.

2. Like the knowledgeable and social justice-oriented professional athlete she is, Colleen recognizes running programs are being removed at colleges around the United States. Readers of diversity and inclusivity champion Russell Dinkins's work will notice that, in doing so, she shows she is informed as to the discrimination inherent in the national trend toward eliminating running programs. Austin College is merely a single institution choosing to adopt a discriminatory position other institutions have already adopted.

3. Finishing by stating she wishes the best for Distance Track/XC—the coach and the runners—and sends them "lots of love," Colleen communicates her understanding of the discriminatory decision's negative impact on the innocent individuals facing mistreatment.

Colleen's Opportunity for Austin College's Distance Track/XC Women

The Takeaway:

1. More than anything, including her world-class intellectual and athletic achievements, Colleen values integrity, compassion, and kindness. Through her public appearances and social media venues, she promotes a number of priorities, among them the following: diversity and inclusivity, gender equality/female opportunity in sport, environmentalism, friendship, sportsmanship, self-care, social activism, and leadership. 

2. Distance Track/XC women, whether they've graduated or are competing in college, can represent women in sport by signing up to join Colleen's partner organization Voice in Sport! Any female athletes interested in joining can sign up via the VIS website.

Thank you, Colleen Quigley! Save ACXC loves you. We are blessed and proud to have such a strong, kind leader supporting us.