Marty Krulee
Encyclopedia
Marty Krulee is an American "World Class" Track and Field athlete, primarily known for running sprint races. While never achieving outstanding results, he is best known for an extended career in International competition. While the 100 metres
was his primary outdoor event, decades after his elite career he still ranks on the world list at 200 metres
. Krulee ran extensively in Europe during the annual track circuit, achieving the Swedish
national championship in the 100 metres three years in a row, when he was already in his 30's. He also won the 200 metres and indoor 60 metres twice each.
Krulee was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
, but was brought up in San Jose, California
, where he attended Branham High School
and West Valley College
in Saratoga, California
. As a young athlete, he was constantly overshadowed by another contemporary area athlete, Millard Hampton
who went on to win a Silver Medal in the 200 metres and Gold Medal in the 4x100 metre relay in the 1976 Summer Olympics
. He barely made the varsity team as a sprinter his senior year of high school. But he persevered, attending San Diego State University
and competing with the track team as a walk-on. At that level, he was again overshadowed by future World Number One sprinter Clancy Edwards
who competed for the nearby University of Southern California
. Still his times were respectable enough to continue running. He managed to make the semi-finals in the 1978 NCAA Championships and the ill fated 1980 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
against some of the top sprinters in the world. But that was the point, he had already experienced the best in the world. As frequently the only white American sprinter in a field, Krulee felt he "stood out like a sore thumb." In Europe, he found he could hold his own against the top International sprinters.
He split his time between the United States and living in Europe eventually applying for both Finnish and Swedish citizenship in order to have a chance to run in the Olympics and European Championships where he would face less competition from other American sprinters (because a single country is only allowed three entrants).
Other than for nagging injuries, he's never stopped running. He's won multiple United States and World Masters Athletics Championships
and is still one of the top sprinters in his age group.
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
was his primary outdoor event, decades after his elite career he still ranks on the world list at 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
. Krulee ran extensively in Europe during the annual track circuit, achieving the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
national championship in the 100 metres three years in a row, when he was already in his 30's. He also won the 200 metres and indoor 60 metres twice each.
Krulee was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, but was brought up in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where he attended Branham High School
Branham High School
Branham High School is a secondary school located in San Jose, California. It first opened in 1967. From 1991 to 1999, Branham had been leased out to Valley Christian Schools. In 1999, the school was reopened as part of the Campbell Union High School District due to increased enrollment within...
and West Valley College
West Valley College
West Valley College is a community college in northern California. Founded in 1963, the campus is located on in the city of Saratoga. One of the distinguishing features of the school's location is that it is located right off of the West Valley Freeway....
in Saratoga, California
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
. As a young athlete, he was constantly overshadowed by another contemporary area athlete, Millard Hampton
Millard Hampton
Millard Frank Hampton, Jr. is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay and the individual silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1976 Summer Olympics....
who went on to win a Silver Medal in the 200 metres and Gold Medal in the 4x100 metre relay in the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. He barely made the varsity team as a sprinter his senior year of high school. But he persevered, attending San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and competing with the track team as a walk-on. At that level, he was again overshadowed by future World Number One sprinter Clancy Edwards
Clancy Edwards
Clancy Edwards is a retired track and field Sprinter from the United States. While at the University of Southern California he was one of the best sprinters in the world. He won the 200 metres at the 1977 IAAF World Cup, the most important meet of that year, defeating future World Record holder...
who competed for the nearby University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Still his times were respectable enough to continue running. He managed to make the semi-finals in the 1978 NCAA Championships and the ill fated 1980 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
against some of the top sprinters in the world. But that was the point, he had already experienced the best in the world. As frequently the only white American sprinter in a field, Krulee felt he "stood out like a sore thumb." In Europe, he found he could hold his own against the top International sprinters.
He split his time between the United States and living in Europe eventually applying for both Finnish and Swedish citizenship in order to have a chance to run in the Olympics and European Championships where he would face less competition from other American sprinters (because a single country is only allowed three entrants).
Other than for nagging injuries, he's never stopped running. He's won multiple United States and World Masters Athletics Championships
World Masters Athletics Championships
The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biannual championships for athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes over the age of 35 years old....
and is still one of the top sprinters in his age group.