Gerry Lindgren, Washington State: Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, Class of 2022

In just three years of Varsity eligibility, Gerry Lindgren amassed 11 NCAA titles – the only two athletes with more titles all enjoyed four years of such eligibility. He won all but one NCAA race he lined up for, and that loss was to another Hall of Famer, Jim Ryun.

Lindgren’s first chances at NCAA titles resulted in the first collegiate distance triple crown – titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in the same academic year. He accomplished the feat in 1966-67. It was the beginning of three-straight titles in both the 3-mile/5000 meters and 6-mile/10,000 meters outdoors, the first to do so in either event. Lindgren was also the first 3-time winner of the NCAA cross country championships.