2004 U.S. Olympic Trials runner-up; 2004 U.S. 4 km cross country champion; 1999 & 2000 Big 12 Conference outdoor 1,500m champion.

After finishing as the men’s 1,500m runner-up at the 2004 Olympic Trials, Gruber secured his spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team by running 3:34.71 at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Gruber's time easily surpassed the Olympic A standard of 3:36.20. Gruber is the first University of Kansas track and field athlete to compete at the Olympic Games since pole vaulter Scott Huffman and sprinter Pierre Lisk showcased their skills at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Gruber is the first track and field athlete under coach Stanley Redwine's tutelage at Kansas to earn a spot on Team USA. By making the Team USA roster for the 2004 Olympic Games, Gruber adds his name to other all-time great KU and American 1,500m stars that includes Olympic silver medal winners Jim Ryun (1968, Mexico City) and Glenn Cunningham (1936, Berlin). He showed signs of his success this summer in February by winning the 2004 USA Cross Country 4 km title in Indianapolis. A five-time All-American at KU, Gruber won the 1999 and 2000 Big 12 Conference Outdoor 1,500m titles.

2004: Runner-up at U.S. Olympic Trials (3:38.45)…USA 4 km XC champ (11:14)…9th in opening round at Olympic Games (3:41.73)…set PR (3:36.20) at Heudsen…1st at Nike Prefontaine Classic (3:37.23)…ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 3:36.20

2003: 5th at USA Outdoors (3:45.29)…ranked #6 in U.S. at 1,500m…bests of 3:39.74 & 4:01.81i.

2002: 7th at Big 12 Outdoors…7th in opening round at NCAA Outdoors…10th in opening round at USA Outdoors…bests of 3:41.20 & 4:06.28.

2001: 11th at USA Outdoors (3:46.40)…bests of 3:41.30 & 3:58.47.

2000: 1st at Big 12 Outdoors…7th in opening round at NCAA Outdoors…10th in opening round at Olympic Trials…bests of 3:41.20 & 4:01.81i

1999: 1st at Big 12 Outdoors…11th at NCAA Outdoors…best of 3:43.45.

— Courtesy of usatf.org