Summit alumni achieve All-American status at NCAA Championships

As Jeremiah Vaille and Max Bonenberger hoisted the NCAA Division II National Championship trophy above their heads, the Colorado School of Mines distance runners couldn’t have been more proud of how far they had come since logging miles together in Summit County.

The two distance runners reached a high point in their collegiate career this past fall when they helped contribute to the Colorado School of Mines’ men’s cross-country national title. At the Division II National Cross-Country Championships in Sacramento, Vaille took 37th overall to become an All-American while Bonenberger finished in 100th. 

Although the moment was one Vaille and Bonenberger had dreamed of since arriving on campus as bright-eyed freshmen, the two never grew complacent. Instead, the talented and dedicated athletes set their sights on carrying that momentum into the spring track season.

After redshirting last track season, Vaille and Bonenberger took to the track with a ferocity like no other this spring.

Vaille recently managed to bring his 10K time to 30:01.58 (4:50/mile), while Bonenberger went well under nine minutes in the 3-kilometer steeplechase with a time of 8:49.13 (4:44/mile).

“I was a little disappointed last year, redshirting and not being able to get that first team All-American because I just missed it in 2023 with that 10th-place finish,” Bonenberger said. “This year, I started off strong at Stanford by getting that PR and getting an early qualifier for nationals. That was super good for my confidence, especially coming off of cross season.”

While running fast times is part of the sport, it does not mean much if an athlete cannot back up their performance at the championship meets at the end of the season. 

With a deep love for their team, Vaille and Bonenberger entered the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet from April 25-27 poised to score as many points as possible. 

Competing in Golden in front of friends and family, Vaille put on a show in the 10K. With numerous teammates helping to take the race out at an honest pace, Vaille managed to not only better his personal best in the event (30:01.58), but he also claimed his first-ever RMAC individual championship. 

“We had a lot of fans there,” Vaille said. “I knew I wanted to perform big there, earn the conference title and also secure a spot at nationals with my time. Having that opportunity in front of all my teammates, all my friends, family and fans was really cool. I worked with my teammates to get a fast time for nationals and I just felt really good. I was excited to get that win.”

With 6.25 miles already in his legs, Vaille then returned to the track two days later where his main goal was to place as high as his body would allow. Vaille ended up scoring the maximum amount of points he could, taking first overall in the 5-kilometer run with a time of 14:53.38.

“I did not expect to come back for the 5K two days later and not be absolutely exhausted,” Vaille said. “When I was in contention for the lead within the last 800 meters, I gave it my all. I raced my teammate to the line and was just ecstatic to be double champion for the conference.”

Bonenberger was also able to put together a steeple race to remember. Consisting of 28 barriers and seven water jumps, Bonenberger hung tough with the best runners in the conference, eventually crossing the finish line in 9:13.22 to finish as the RMAC runner up behind his teammate, Alex Shaw. 

“I feel like I didn’t have the greatest race at RMACs, but we got the most points that we could in steeple with a first-place and second-place finish,” Bonenberger said. 

The high finishes from Vaille and Bonenberger resulted in the Colorado School of Mines men’s track and field team placing second overall at the conference meet with a total of 195 points. University of Colorado – Colorado Springs won the men’s and women’s conference title. 

Vaille and Bonenberger allowed their standout performances at the conference meet to carry into the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Pueblo from May 22-24. At the meet, both athletes were able to check off another collective dream of becoming All-Americans on the track. 

At his first outdoor national meet, Vaille ran a strong and smart 10K. Passing runners who were not used to the altitude over the second half of the race, Vaille crossed the finish line in eighth place in a time of 30:27.63.

“My goal for the past five years has been to get All-American in cross-country and track,” Vaille said. “This year, I got All-American in cross-country and then eighth place to get All-American in track. … With 3K to go I was in 16th place  and I picked off eight guys in the last 3K to get that eighth-place finish that I wanted.”

After taking 10th at the national meet in 2023, Bonenberger returned to the prestigious meet with more experience, knowledge and training under his legs. The two extra years of development paid dividends for Bonenberger, successfully qualifying for the final in the event by placing third overall in his heat. 

Bonenberger went on to run 8:58.99 in the final, placing third overall and at last capturing All-American status 

“It was a huge relief,” Bonenberger said. “Getting that first All-American under my belt is super helpful going forward into this next cross season where we are trying to go back-to-back. … Podium was mainly my large goal for nationals. You can always do better, like first or second would have been phenomenal, but I have to focus on how successful the season was.”

Vaille and Bonenberger will now turn their focus to their final year of eligibility. Like previous years, both athletes will attempt to achieve individual and collective goals which include claiming back-to-back team titles in cross-country, moving higher up in their individual events and setting school records.

“I will be doing my best to work with my teammates this summer and fall to make sure that each and every one of us is ready to get a top 20 or 30 finish because that is probably what it is going to have to take to go back-to-back,” Vaille said.