Craig Miller and Jack Bolas could have left with everyone else.
It has been almost a year since Jerry Schumacher resigned as the University of Wisconsin men’s cross country coach to train distance runners for Nike, a move that sparked some key departures from the program.
At the top of the list were Brandon Bethke, a three-time Big Ten champion who transferred to Arizona State, and Evan Jager, who turned pro after his freshman year and trains under Schumacher’s tutelage in Oregon.
Miller and Bolas, meanwhile, helped the UW cross country team win its 10th straight Big Ten title in the fall and during track season have pushed each other all the way to the NCAA championship meet, where both are among the favorites in the 1,500 meters.