Running Through Life: A Tribute to Adams State's Former Distance Runner Dan Maas
This is the fifth profile of five individuals being inducted into the 2017 RMAC Hall of Fame on Friday, July 14 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel. The 1999 University of Nebraska at Kearney Softball Team will also be inducted. Tickets for the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet can be purchased by clicking here.
It was the year 1969 in a summer cottage in the mountains of Virginia, when a newborn baby made his first move towards becoming what we know today as one of the greatest runners in RMAC history.
Dan Maas was six days old when he made his way across the living room floor and out to the patio. His father Fred Maas, remembers this day perfectly.
“I spread his little blanket in the middle of the living room and placed him down,” said Fred. “His mother was in the kitchen doing dishes so I walked into the kitchen to help her dry dishes and after about three minutes, I poked my head out of the kitchen door [to] check on my new son and he was gone! I mean gone...somebody must have kidnapped him. With that [in mind] I rushed out the screen door and practically tripped over him. He had crawled, pushed whatever across the room, pushed the screen door open, toppled down two steps to the carpeted porch and was laying down on his back looking up at me, [at] six days old.”
From that point on, Dan’s parents knew there was something special about their newborn son.
As the years went on, Dan developed a passion for running. Before the age of 10, he began running a three-mile loop around the neighborhood, and eventually ran regularly with his father.
“Typically, [it was] three [or] four miles and by the time he was nine, he’d run a couple of 10,000 [meter runs], t-shirt races with me and yes, he enjoyed it [and] we just did it for fun.”
Dan would compete in several youth track meets, finishing last in his age group, but that never discouraged him from the sport.
“We weren’t about awards or anything like that. We just ran and we just enjoyed being together and enjoyed being on the trails and up in the mountains,” said Fred.
In 1987, the Santa Fe, New Mexico native graduated from Santa Fe Prep School. That same year he ran the third fastest mile in the country at the high school level with a time of 4:08. His high school accomplishments led him to attend one of the best cross country and track and field programs in the NAIA, Adams State (currently competes in NCAA Division II).
Dan had an outstanding career at Adams State, running for the Grizzlies from 1988-92. Dan finished his career as a six-time individual NAIA national champion and 12-time All-American in track and field and cross country. During indoor track and field, Dan won the 1990 national championship title in the mile and distance medley relay (DMR). In 1992, he was crowned national champion in the two-mile run. Dan was also an accomplished runner in outdoor track and field as he captured the national title in the men’s 1500-meter run 3-of-4 years at Adams State (1989, 1991, and 1992). His accolades led the Grizzlies to their sixth and seventh consecutive NAIA Cross Country Championship team titles (1988, 1989), and two NAIA Indoor Track & Field titles in 1990 and 1992. He remains the school record holder in the men’s outdoor track and field 1500-meter run (3:39.64) and was a member of the outdoor DMR team which holds the school record with a time of 9:42.70. The team consisted of Stephon Flenoy, Peter Kilibarda, Martin Johns and Dan Maas.
“He loved his teammates. He loved what he was doing; he loved Alamosa [and] he loved his coaches,” said Fred. “It was just joy [and] you couldn’t hope for a better college experience. At the same time [Dan] maintained 3.80 GPA. He [earned] Academic All-American [honors] and was named Academic All-American of the Year for all sports and all colleges.”
Dan graduated with a degree in Biology-Allied Health from Adams State and eventually received his Master’s Degree from Nova Southeastern in Technology in Education and then a Doctorate of Education (Ed. D) from University of Northern Colorado.
After college, Dan competed professionally for Reebok and Adidas. He represented the USA on seven international teams and qualified for two Olympic Trials (1992, 1996). During the 1992 Olympic Trials, he was a finalist in men’s 1500-meter run clocking a time of 3:39.68.
The accomplished distance runner was inducted into the Adams State Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame class of 2013, as member of the 1990 and 1992 Adams State men’s indoor track and field teams.
In August 2016, Dan and his wife Loan were killed in a car accident. Prior to his death, he served as the Chief Operations Officer for the Thompson School District. Loan was an educator with Denver Public Schools and the couple have one son, Calvin, who is enrolled at Colorado State University.
Dan’s legacy will forever be remembered, not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for the role he played in the community.
“He inspired so many,” said Fred. “We know that [from his] courage, determination, work ethic, kindness and his generosity…Everybody who knew him was affected [by his death] …[but] we had 47 wonderful years with him.”
Dan will be honored at the 2017 RMAC Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Friday, July 14 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel.