It’s been quite a year for former Kansas University distance runner Charlie Gruber.

Not only did he compete in the 2004 Olympic Games late last summer, but, shortly after his season ended, took a major step in his personal life.

“I got engaged,” the 26-year-old Gruber revealed Tuesday at a Kansas Relays media session at Memorial Stadium. His future bride is former Jayhawk runner Courtney Deutsch.

“The plan is to go to the World Championships in September, come back and get married,” Gruber said.

Gruber, who competes as a professional for Nike, has seen his career blossom since graduating from KU in 2002. He placed second at the 2004 Olympic Trials, but did not place at the Games in Greece.

Nonetheless, he’s emerged as a force in track and field and will highlight the mile field in the Gold Zone event at 3:55 p.m. Saturday. He’s hoping to run his first sub-four minute mile at Memorial Stadium.

“I ran 4:03 at the Relays,” said Gruber, a three-time Relays mile champion who has a personal-best clocking of 3:58 in the event. “Last summer in the 1,500, I ran a metric equivalent of 3:52, so I’ve been well under four minutes.”

Gruber has a special time on his mind this year.

“A goal in the back of my head,” he said, “is to become the fastest Kansas alum in the 1,500. Jim Ryun ran 3:33.1. I’d like to get that mark this year. I ran 3:34.7 last year. I can’t get the school record because my eligibility is up, but Jim Ryun’s mark is one of the top-10 best all time. I’d like to be in the top 10 all time.”

6Sports video: Gruber shooting for fifth Relays championship

His other goal besides winning the Relays?

“To make the World Championship team in Helsinki,” he said. “I want to make the finals. The top 12 guys make the finals.”

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Button bonanza: Relays meet director Tim Weaver said 6,000 admission buttons had been sold for the Relays and another 6,000 had been ordered. Also, 28,000 admission tickets have been ordered as Relays officials hope to exceed last year’s total crowd of 18,000. The meet runs Thursday through Saturday.