Jim Krejci (1987) - Hall of Fame - Murray State University Athletics

Jim Krejci

Induction:
1987

Jim Krejci – Cross Country and Track, 1971-1973

After being cut from his high school football team during his freshman year, it’s unlikely Jim Krejci envisioned a stellar collegiate track career. But because of that cut, Krejci decided to turn his attention toward distance running, and things couldn’t have turned out better for the Edwardsville, Ill. Native.

After developing into a conference cross country champion at Edwardsville High School, Krejci came to Murray State in 1965. He began his Murray career for Coach Bill Cornell by contributing to the 1965 Ohio Valley Conference runner-up squad.

Krejci then left school to join the Peace Corps. After spending two years in Micronesia helping rehabilitate agricultural production, Krejci returned to Murray State to rewrite the record books.

As a senior in 1971, Krejci displayed his finest performances. After a fall season of setting and resetting the school six-mile cross country record, Krejci and his MSU teammates earned a trip to the NCAA Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. There, Krejci placed 16^th overall, finishing behind future world-class runners Steve Prefontaine and Dave Wottle. Krejci’s effort boosted MSU to a 20^th-place finish overall and for his efforts, Krejci received all-American honors.

During the spring track season in 1972, Krejci continued to wear down the statistician’s erasers. Krejci established MSU records in the mile (4:07.4), two-mile (8:51.0), three-mile (13:40.1), and six-mile (28:58.4) runs, often breaking his own records. (The Murray Ledger & Times, October 26, 1987, Homecoming ’87)