DENVER – Title IX, the groundbreaking law prohibiting sex-based discrimination at schools that receive funding from the federal government, went into effect just over 50 years ago – on June 23, 1972.
 
MSU Denver has for decades been a leader in providing equal opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics. Today is the eighth installment of a 52-part tribute by Roadrunners Athletics to pioneers and leaders in intercollegiate athletics at MSU Denver.
 
Each Thursday, a key female figure in Roadrunners athletics history will be recognized.
 
Today, ground-breaking track & field and cross country coach Janis Christopher is recognized.
 
Not only does Christopher coach the Roadrunners' women's cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field team, she also coaches the men in all three of those sports as well.
 
Christopher continues to build MSU Denver into competitive status in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. She begins her 10th season at MSU Denver and her seventh season as the men's and women's track and field head coach in 2022-23, while also beginning her second season as head coach for the men's and women's cross country programs.

The 2022 outdoor season saw MSU Denver set school records in three events. The women had 25 performances that moved into, or improved upon, top-eight all-time status in their events, while the men had 22 such performers.
 
Indoors in 2021-22, the MSU Denver women set school records in seven events, while the men set one. The women had 45 performances that ranked among the top eight in program history in their events, while the men had 14.
 
The 2021 cross country seasons saw the MSU Denver women finish sixth in the RMAC and ninth at the Division II South Central Regional, while the men finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in those races.