Carl Stones is an NCAA steeple qualifier. He will represent Tulsa this week at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.



Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan- their larger than life exploits have captivated audiences for generations, but recent decades have failed to produce folk heroes of a similar magnitude. Tulsa senior steeplechaser Carl Stones is the last of a dying breed. (That breed of course being fictional American heroes immortalized in timeless tall tales.) He humbly and unintentionally has become a bastion of the traits and virtues that today's octogenarians bemoan are lacking in today's youth. He is a picture of consistency with his training (his ascension to national caliber steepler status has been anything but rapid- his last three yearly best steeple times: 8:58, 8:50, 8:43). Stones logs 100 mile weeks with such regularity that world renown geyser Old Reliable feels threatened by his metronomic regimen. It has been this steady diet of miles, along with a steady diet of stick-to-your-ribs type meals (his mom, on top of being a super lady, makes a mean “huevos rancheros”) that has propelled the Texas native to the top of the Tulsa record books and national rankings. Whereas most men of his age and geographic proximity might shy away from this Spartan-like existence and head to the nearest Texaco station to wolf down a microwaved burrito, Carl relishes in it. Advocates of hard work and opponents of today's youth-coddling culture alike are surely nodding their heads in silent approval over Carl's very existence.

In addition to his training, his stature and persona are also larger than life. Carl stands 6'5” tall and weighs upwards of 170 pounds. His wispy auburn hair falls over a face that rarely concedes emotion.  High cheekbones reveal his Scandinavian ancestry, and perhaps hint toward a viking barbarianism, however, Carl is a gentle giant.  (His only pillaging occurs with every gargantuan step he takes over the course of a race as his stride steals precious inches from his smaller, meeker competitors.)  One of his favorite pastimes is having photos taken of him holding his adorable nieces and nephew. Family is important to Carl, but his powerful intellect plays host to a number of other passions. An aspiring physical therapist and a true Renaissance man, Carl is an avid traveler and card carrying member of the American Automobile Association. Tales of his exploits stretch from coast to coast, and he has developed a cult-like following within a small enclave in northwest Portland, Oregon, as well as in Gunnison, Colorado. He is also the only human alive who knows lyrics to a Blues Traveler song that is not “Hook” or “Run Around,” and has seen the band in concert numerous times.  The former Eagle Scout also counts rock climbing, camping, and petting his cats (Radar, K-Ci, and JoJo) among his many hobbies.

Carl will be the first Golden Hurricane to compete in the steeplechase at NCAAs in what could be his last race in a Tulsa uniform. (His no-nonsense approach to running extends into the classroom, where the academic stalwart will be graduating in the standard 4 year time frame- no victory lap for this guy.) He hopes to better his 8:43 PR this weekend at Nationals in an effort to qualify for the Olympic Trials, and is also on the hunt for a podium spot.  He currently has the provisional mark, but acknowledges he will likely have to dip under 8:45 even further to earn his spot in Eugene.  His fabled career at Tulsa may be nearing its end, but surely Carl-based mythology will be passed on in hushed tones for years to come.


The author at age 16, dusting Carl Stones (18) at a 2007 cross country invitational