Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS
By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern
Cierra Runge punched her ticket to Rio in the women’s 200 free at the 2016 Olympic Trials. After finishing fifth in 1:57.16, the first-time Olympian will represent USA as a member of the 800 free relay.
Here are five things to know about this Olympic rookie…
1. She spent last year training in Arizona.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
After completing her freshman year, Runge decided to leave Cal and head to Arizona to train under her NBAC coach Bob Bowman at Arizona State. There, she trained with Allison Schmitt and Michael Phelps, both whom are also on Team USA and were her former NBAC teammates.
2. She’ll be a Wisconsin Badger in the fall.
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
Runge will head north to Wisconsin after Rio to complete her collegiate career, where she’ll enter as a redshirt sophomore. Wisconsin’s distance coach, Chris Collier, was Runge’s coach prior to Bowman. She’s the first Badger women’s swimmer to make an Olympic team since Carly Piper in 2004. Ironically, Piper also finished 5th in the 200 freestyle and competed on the 4×200 free relay.
3. She has international experience.
Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr
The Olympics will not be her first international racing experience; Runge was a member of the winning 4×200 free relay at the 2015 World Championships, where she also placed ninth in the 400 free. At Pan Pacs in 2014, Runge took second in the 400 free, fifth in the 800, and fourth in the 1500.
4. She’s an American record holder.
Photo Courtesy: David Farr
During her freshman year at Cal, she led off the 800 free relay team that broke the NCAA and American record at the Pac-12 Championships. The relay team of Runge, Elizabeth Pelton, Caroline Piehl, and Missy Franklin broke the record by over two seconds. Franklin will also represent Team USA with Runge in Rio.
5. She comes from an athletic family.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Athleticism runs in the Runge family. Her father, Scott, played soccer at West Chester University and her brother, Taylor, played baseball at Bucknell University. Younger sister Madison was also an Olympic Trials qualifier for the 800 freestyle. Just after the Trials concluded in Omaha Madison was inducted into and will swim for the United States Naval Academy.
Runge grew up in Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Becoming an Olympian has been a dream of hers since she was 4 years old.
Congrats and good luck, Cierra!
- OFFICIAL SITE FOR RIO
- RIO COMPETITION SCHEDULE
- WHERE TO WATCH LIVE VIDEO OF OLYMPICS
- USA MEN'S SWIMMING TEAM
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- USA DIVERS GOING TO RIO
- USA WOMEN WATER POLO TEAM
- SWIMMING MEDAL PREDICTIONS
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- WOMEN'S 10K OPEN WATER RESULTS
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- FULL OLYMPIC SWIMMING RESULTS
She’s good !
the tall girl ?
Mindy Rowand Schmidt
And a future Badger!!??. You go girl!!
Cochranville and Octorara Area is behind you 100%!!!
Woo hoo!
A hometown girl:) Good luck! I swam in the 60’s and 70’s Ramsey, NJ and San Diego, CA, but ironically, when we moved to Cochranville, PA area, I quit swimming due to lack of pools/training center! (and we all know Octorara HS has no swimming program lol!)