Former Grizzly standout and three time Olympian Diane Nukuri to be inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame
One of the most decorated runners in Butler history, Diane Nukuri is set to be inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Cross Country Hall of Fame this Friday at the NJCAA Cross Country Banquet.
"Diane is one of those inspirational stories that Butler and the NJCAA is all about," said Butler's Director of Athletics Todd Carter. "She was extremely successful during her time at Butler Community College and continued that success throughout her collegiate career at Iowa and into her professional life. She was a three time Olympian and claimed nine national championships during her time at Butler in Cross Country and Track and Field while earning the prestigious title of All-American 17 times. Not only was she amazing in her sport, Diane was a joy to be around off the track. She was very kind, dedicated and very well respected among her teammates and peers. I am so proud of her and she is very deserving of this honor."
A member of the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame, Diane competed in Cross Country, Half Marathon and Track & Field during her time at Butler. She won nine national championships and was a 17-time All-American during her two seasons at Butler from 2004 to 2006. She won two titles each in half marathon, 1,600 meters, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, and was the individual cross country National Champion in 2005. She was a two-time NJCAA Indoor Athlete of the Meet and set NJCAA meet records in half marathon and indoor 5,000 meters. Diane set NJCAA all-time records in half marathon, indoor 3,000 meters and indoor 5,000 meters. She was an 11-time Region VI champion, going undefeated at that meet both years. She was a three-time Region VI Athlete of the Meet. She holds 11 school records at Butler with her best times of 4:27.13 in 1,500 meters, 4:27 in 1,500 meters, 34:30 in 1,000 meters, 16:36 in 5,000 meters, 36:15 in 10,000 meters, 17:15 in cross country 5,000 meters, 21:12 in cross country 6,000 meters and 1:16:01 in half marathon.
After Butler, Diane transferred to the University of Iowa. At Iowa, she won two Big Ten Championships, in cross-country (2007) and the 5,000 meters in outdoor track (2008). She was named an All-American three times and left Iowa with school records in ten events. In 2008, Diane won the Wilma Rudolph student-athlete award. It is awarded by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A). The annual national award is intended to honor student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics.
She competed in the Olympics three times for her native country of Burundi – once as a 15-year-old in the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. She also completed in the 2012 games in London and the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.
Congratulations to Diane for her induction into the NJCAA Cross Country Hall of Fame.
Diane is set to be inducted on Friday, November 13 at 6:00pm via zoom during the NJCAA Cross Country National Banquet. Watch the induction live via zoom HERE.