Western Colorado University Athletics

Sheila Winegardner (Barrett) moved from North Quincy, Massachusetts to Gunnison in 1983. Winegardner competed in both cross country and track & field between 1983 and 1988. During this period, Winegardner became a four-time All-American. In that regard, she was a pioneering female athlete at Western paving the way for a proud tradition of Mountaineer women's distance running.
 
While Winegardner accumulated three All-American performances in cross country, highlighted by a 12^th place finish, she was no stranger to the track either. She was an All-American at 10,000 meters and set the Western school record in the event during her career.
 
As the school record holder at 10,000 meters, Winegardner also impressed in the middle distances. She was the school record holder at 1,500 meters during her career – a unique combination in the distance running ranks.
 
In recounting her prowess on the track, MSHOF Coach Duane Vandenbusche described her as "one of the most versatile runners I ever coached."
 
Across her track & field career, Winegardner routinely scored in events ranging from the mile run to the 10,000 meters at the conference championships. Vandenbusche specified that in one conference championship alone, Winegardner scored in the Mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000-meter events – an accomplishment that simultaneously speaks to her dedication, talent, and mental fortitude.
 
During her career at Western, Winegardner set multiple school records and helped her Western team begin a near decade of domination in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as the team would win nine-of-10 outdoor track & field championships.
 
She also helped lead the Western women to a seventh place team finish at the 1986 NAIA cross country championships. The year prior at the NAIA Championships, Winegardner finished 19^th overall, giving her two top-20 finishes at the national championships.
 
Winegardner graduated from Western in 1988 with a degree in Elementary Education. She went on to a multi-decade-long career in education. She continues to work as a special education para-professional in the Grand Junction District 51 school district. Winegardner remains an active parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church.