Tiffany Christensen becomes two-time All American runner Part Two

With the cross country season over, Christensen set her sights on track. Her indoor goal: To make Nationals in the one mile in 4:40 or under and become an All American (Top 8). As a team, she to win the distance medley relay. Her outdoor track goal: To make Nationals in the 1500 in 4:20 or under and earn All-American status.

Christensen came on strong for the 2019 indoor track season, running a personal altitude record (PR) 1 mile in under 4:50, explaining that racing at altitude is harder so they take time off your official time so it would match what it would have been at sea level. She also ran a PR race in the 3K coming in at 9:33, but it was there that she fractured her heel. She qualified for Nationals in three events.

“I ran the mile at Nationals but couldn’t perform because of my fractured heel, so coach put in the alternate for the distance medley as he wanted me to focus on the 3k...I didn’t accomplish my goals, but was still happy with how fast I ran them considering I ran with a fractured heel,” said Christensen.

Due to the injury, she missed the outdoor track season. However, she was able to run one more season of cross country (through sixth year eligibility) due how she was mistreated at Wichita from her injury leading to her missing the 2015 and 2016 cross country seasons from injury and transferring.

During her final 2019 cross country season at Adams State, Christensen consistently placed amongst the top runners on the course. She had a massive PR, cutting off more than a minute from her prior record. At one meet she even ran her fastest 6K time with a 20:31. Their team finished in second place. Christensen finished in the Top 25 individually.

Their success continued. Adams State took a Conference win for the eighth year in a row. Christensen finished 16th individually. The team also won Regionals (as they have the past several years) and Christensen finished seventh overall.

Nationals 2019 was held in Sacramento, California. Grand Valley, Michigan posed the biggest threat to Christensen and the Adams State team winning the title as Michigan won the year before, but the girls were ready of the challenge.

“We blew everyone out of the water,” Christensen said with great pride and enthusiasm. “And I achieved my goal of getting Top 15.”

For the full story, see this week's Eagle Grove Eagle. Subscribe by calling 1-800-558-1244 ext 122 or email Deb at circulation@midamericapub.com or by clicking here.