Oklahoma State University Athletics
Framme Ends Cowboy Running Career with Style
May 23, 2003 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
The Stenungsund, Sweden native joined the OSU distance squad following a running career in his native country for Club Team Halle If under Coach Ulf Friberg.
While running under Friberg, Framme placed third at the Swedish Junior Cross Country Championships enroute to helping his squad win the team title.
As a student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, Framme completed his undergraduate studies in three years. Following his second year of study, he began preparing himself for his long term goals of one day obtaining a Masters degree in Business Administration and to run for a major Division I distance program in the United States.
Framme's achievements in running and the classroom caught the eye of several top notch college cross country/track and field programs such as Oklahoma State, Indiana, Illinois State and Arkansas to name a few.
Oklahoma State was chosen based on three key reasons, its top rated MBA program, the Cowboy's 1995 No. 1 regular season national ranking and head men's cross country/track coach Dick Weis' strong reputation in the international cross country community.
"I chose OSU because it was the best cross country team with the best academic opportunities," said Framme.
Upon arrival into Stillwater, Framme set a new set of goals for himself. He now aimed to do well in the MBA program and hopefully reach the national championships in cross country.
He was a key addition to the 1996 District V Championship squad and the NCAA fourth-place squad.
"I reached my goals of competing at the national championships when we placed fourth as a team at the University of Arizona in 1996," replied Framme.
Framme's college career was booming academically and athletically. Things took a turn for the worst when he suffered a possible career ending injury.
With the setback came a readjustment of goals. He now set out in finding his way back to full running form and also to do well in the MBA program.
Rehabilitation was intense but three things kept him struggling along, their 1997 early season fourth-place national ranking, his teammates and his coach.
"The biggest thing that pushed me to rehabilitating successfully was Coach Weis' belief in me," said Framme. "I wanted to do well for him and my team".
"Doing well" is exactly what Framme did by finishing the 1997 season with All-Big 12 cross country honors when he finished 15th at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships on the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Okla. He also played a key role in helping the Cowboys win their third straight District V title and earn their fifth straight NCAA berth.
Framme accomplished a great deal but feels that it is because of his team's closeness and coach's motivation that pulled him through.
"We are a tough group of runners; we always work well together," said Framme. "These guys have been great. We studied together, trained together, raced together but most of all we did it as a "team"."
Every goal put out by Framme has been accomplished. He closed his running career last week with an All-Big 12 performance when he placed sixth at the outdoor Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo. in the 10,000m run. In addition to his running achievements, Framme was selected to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team with his 4.0 grade point average in the MBA program. Framme graduated May 8, achieving his No. 1 goal. His ability to set lofty goals, meet them head on and reach them helped him finish his Cowboy college career with style
