Collin Dylla enrolled at Pima College in fall 2016 with plans to join the cross country team.
The Tucson native called coach Greg Wenneborg multiple times a week, and stopped by his office every other day in hopes of catching him. Dylla’s persistence paid off: Wenneborg called him back in late October and invited him to visit a practice.
Wenneborg told the freshman he would have to put in the miles if he wanted to make the track and field team the next semester.
For the next two months, Dylla went to work and rounded into shape. He showed up to Pima’s time trial in January 2017 and beat the entire team.
“So, he did his homework,” Wenneborg said. “Right away, I knew we had something.”
It didn’t take long for Dylla to win a championship, either.
The sophomore finished first in the 1,000-meter run at last month’s Division I NJCAA Indoor National Championships in Lubbock, Texas. Dylla said his mom, who brought along his grandmother to watch the race, provided the needed inspiration. He took the lead with 200 meters to go, finishing with a time of 2 minutes 30.18 seconds.
“I couldn’t lose in front of my grandma,” Dylla said. “And when I won, I gave her my medal.”
Hating the run
Dylla was introduced to the cross country world sort of by accident in sixth grade. He wanted to run, but dreaded the thought of running long distances.
“I was told that cross country was like track, but when I came out, it wasn’t — we ran longer,” Dylla said.
He ran through his junior year at Ironwood Ridge High School before injuries and a growing resentment for the sport caused him to quit. Dylla played soccer as a senior; when his season was over, he figured he’d give track and field one more shot.
“And I got pretty good at it,” Dylla said. “And then went to college.”
Had Dylla not sought out Wenneborg, he’d be just another Pima student. He ran a respectable-but-not-great 2:16 in the 800 meters during his senior season of high school.
“He never broke two minutes,” Wenneborg said. “That’s not really on my radar.”
Earning it
Dylla said he continued to work hard even after making Pima’s roster. College sports are a numbers game, and Dylla knew where he stood.
“I could be cut easily because I cost no money,” he said.
Dylla has since developed into the kind of athlete that always asks for more, texts his coach for updates and to give his own updates, and puts in the miles, Wenneborg said.
“He’s a true student of the sport,” he said. “We need more guys like that.”
Dylla finished the 2017 season ranked No. 16 nationally. Although the ranking was a huge milestone for someone who hated running in high school and joined the Aztecs as a walk-on, it wasn’t good enough to earn an automatic qualification for the national championships in May. Wenneborg managed to get Dylla in anyway.
The day of the 800-meter championship, Wenneborg presented Dylla with a scholarship offer. He signed the form in his hotel room, then went out and raced. He finished sixth.
“After the race, he came up to me and quietly said, ‘Hey coach, I want to win this next year. I want to win a national championship,’” Wenneborg said.
That might happen.
Dylla is focused on improving his time to a sub-1:50 in the 800 meters, winning the 800-meter championship and moving on to a four-year university.
UTSA has shown interest in Dylla, who was born in San Antonio. His mother and coach were both Roadrunners, too.
Now, Dylla only needs to work on qualifying for the outdoor national championships. But Wenneborg said he doesn’t think that’ll be a problem.
“We have to have the right meets,” Wenneborg said. “We have to have the right competition, but I think he’s going to be in the 800-meter final, in the lead pack with 250 meters to go and we’ll see what happens.”
