Colorado University Athletics
Built Through Consistency
June 03, 2026 | Track and Field
BOULDER — When Danny Tragarz arrived in Boulder in the fall of 2023, he had one goal: prove himself.
The freshman wasn't on Colorado's roster when he arrived on campus. Instead, he spent the opening weeks of the semester participating in a two-week tryout process, working to earn his place with the Buffs.
"As a freshman, I tried out with the mission of proving myself and earning a guaranteed spot on the team," Tragarz said.
Three years later, the junior is preparing to compete on collegiate track and field's biggest stage at historic Hayward Field.
Last week, Tragarz secured his first career berth to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, placing ninth in the 400m hurdles at the NCAA West First Round. The qualification marked another milestone in a journey that has taken him from walk-on to one of the nation's top hurdlers.
Â
The path wasn't immediate, but signs of his potential certainly appeared early.
When he arrived at Colorado, Tragarz owned a personal best of 50.50 in the open 400m from his time at Del Norte High School in San Diego.Â
In his first race as a Buffalo in February 2024, he ran 48.71. He would break 49 seconds two more times that indoor season before shifting his focus outdoors.
"I consistently worked hard to compete alongside my teammates and match their capabilities on the track," Tragarz said.
That work translated into success during his first outdoor season. In April, Tragarz ran a personal best of 51.87 in the 400m hurdles and later qualified for the NCAA West First Round, where he finished 28th overall.
By the end of his freshman season, Tragarz had accomplished more than he expected when he first arrived in Boulder.
"As the season progressed, I slowly improved, qualifying for regionals and running on the 4x400 relay," Tragarz said. "Two things I had not conceived of at the beginning of the season."
That same momentum continued into 2025.
Competing at the CU Invitational in late February, Tragarz clocked a personal-best 47.36 in the open 400m. Throughout the year, he consistently ran in the 47-second range, establishing himself as one of Colorado's top 400-meter runners.Â
Outdoors, he recorded a personal-best 51.49 in the 400m hurdles at the Big 12 Championships.
For Tragarz, the progression wasn't the result of a single breakthrough performance.
"The biggest factor of my progression over the past few years has been consistency and grit," Tragarz said.
Those qualities became even more evident during the 2026 season.
Tragarz opened the year with a personal-best 21.50 in the 200m before delivering one of the top 400m performances in program history.Â
In early February, he ran 46.69, moving to No. 2 all-time at Colorado in the event.
A few weeks later, he helped Colorado's distance medley relay qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The quartet earned First Team All-American honors with an eighth-place finish, giving Tragarz his first career All-American accolade.
Â
His success and confidence carried into the outdoor season.
In late March, Tragarz lowered his 400m hurdles personal best by more than a second, running 50.37. It proved to be the start of a remarkable stretch.Â
By May, Tragarz had lowered his personal best even more to 49.84 while finishing runner-up at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships. The mark moved him to No. 2 all-time in Colorado history.
Â
Throughout the spring, he repeatedly posted 50-point performances, broke the 50-second barrier twice and emerged as one of the most consistent 400m hurdlers in the NCAA.
But the journey to becoming one of the nation's top hurdlers was not without its challenges.
"Over the last three years, I've had moments where I struggled to stick it through and continue running," Tragarz said. "The pain and stress made it difficult to enjoy the sport I worked at everyday."
Through those challenges, Tragarz credits the support around him for helping him continue forward.
"With the help of PHP and my coaches, I was able to adjust my mindset and continue to show up and grind everyday," Tragarz said.
Three years after arriving in Boulder with the goal of earning a spot on the team, Tragarz will take the track at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
Â
Looking back on the journey, his perspective remains much the same as it was when he first arrived in Boulder.
"Now, having qualified for nationals, I feel quite the same as I did then," Tragarz said. "I'm unsure of how I somehow wiggled my way here, but nonetheless grateful for the opportunity I was given."
That opportunity has taken him from a two-week tryout in the fall of 2023 to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
The freshman wasn't on Colorado's roster when he arrived on campus. Instead, he spent the opening weeks of the semester participating in a two-week tryout process, working to earn his place with the Buffs.
"As a freshman, I tried out with the mission of proving myself and earning a guaranteed spot on the team," Tragarz said.
Three years later, the junior is preparing to compete on collegiate track and field's biggest stage at historic Hayward Field.
Last week, Tragarz secured his first career berth to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, placing ninth in the 400m hurdles at the NCAA West First Round. The qualification marked another milestone in a journey that has taken him from walk-on to one of the nation's top hurdlers.
Â
The path wasn't immediate, but signs of his potential certainly appeared early.
When he arrived at Colorado, Tragarz owned a personal best of 50.50 in the open 400m from his time at Del Norte High School in San Diego.Â
In his first race as a Buffalo in February 2024, he ran 48.71. He would break 49 seconds two more times that indoor season before shifting his focus outdoors.
"I consistently worked hard to compete alongside my teammates and match their capabilities on the track," Tragarz said.
That work translated into success during his first outdoor season. In April, Tragarz ran a personal best of 51.87 in the 400m hurdles and later qualified for the NCAA West First Round, where he finished 28th overall.
By the end of his freshman season, Tragarz had accomplished more than he expected when he first arrived in Boulder.
"As the season progressed, I slowly improved, qualifying for regionals and running on the 4x400 relay," Tragarz said. "Two things I had not conceived of at the beginning of the season."
That same momentum continued into 2025.
Competing at the CU Invitational in late February, Tragarz clocked a personal-best 47.36 in the open 400m. Throughout the year, he consistently ran in the 47-second range, establishing himself as one of Colorado's top 400-meter runners.Â
Outdoors, he recorded a personal-best 51.49 in the 400m hurdles at the Big 12 Championships.
For Tragarz, the progression wasn't the result of a single breakthrough performance.
"The biggest factor of my progression over the past few years has been consistency and grit," Tragarz said.
Those qualities became even more evident during the 2026 season.
Tragarz opened the year with a personal-best 21.50 in the 200m before delivering one of the top 400m performances in program history.Â
In early February, he ran 46.69, moving to No. 2 all-time at Colorado in the event.
A few weeks later, he helped Colorado's distance medley relay qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The quartet earned First Team All-American honors with an eighth-place finish, giving Tragarz his first career All-American accolade.
Â
His success and confidence carried into the outdoor season.
In late March, Tragarz lowered his 400m hurdles personal best by more than a second, running 50.37. It proved to be the start of a remarkable stretch.Â
By May, Tragarz had lowered his personal best even more to 49.84 while finishing runner-up at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships. The mark moved him to No. 2 all-time in Colorado history.
Â
Throughout the spring, he repeatedly posted 50-point performances, broke the 50-second barrier twice and emerged as one of the most consistent 400m hurdlers in the NCAA.
But the journey to becoming one of the nation's top hurdlers was not without its challenges.
"Over the last three years, I've had moments where I struggled to stick it through and continue running," Tragarz said. "The pain and stress made it difficult to enjoy the sport I worked at everyday."
Through those challenges, Tragarz credits the support around him for helping him continue forward.
"With the help of PHP and my coaches, I was able to adjust my mindset and continue to show up and grind everyday," Tragarz said.
Three years after arriving in Boulder with the goal of earning a spot on the team, Tragarz will take the track at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
Â
Looking back on the journey, his perspective remains much the same as it was when he first arrived in Boulder.
"Now, having qualified for nationals, I feel quite the same as I did then," Tragarz said. "I'm unsure of how I somehow wiggled my way here, but nonetheless grateful for the opportunity I was given."
That opportunity has taken him from a two-week tryout in the fall of 2023 to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
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