Elk River's Chelsea Schlegel (pictured above with Bib #34) has verbally committed to Southwest Minnesota State University to run both cross country and track and field for the Mustangs. The women's cross country team was reinstated at SMSU just this fall after a 12 year hiatus, and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Track and Field will compete in their first season this spring.
Schlegel considered several schools, including Northern State University, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska-Omaha and Iowa State University before deciding on SMSU. "I really liked how they were just starting a new program, and the team is very small so I knew I was gonig to get one-on-one time and that the coach was gogn to be willing to do stuff just for me and have time for me." Schlegel is planning to study Nutritional Science, with a long-term goal of becoming a dietitian. Her goals for her collegiate running career are simple: "My goals are just to work hard and have fun and see what each season has to bring!"
Schlegel has been an excellent distance runner throughout her high school career, but was sidelined for much of her senior cross country season due to injury. "My favorite high school memory would be winning State in 2009 as a team for cross country, then going to Nike Nationals in Portland, Oregon." She is ready to compete this spring on the track and will likely race primarily in the 3200.
When asked what advice she would pass on to high school athletes, Schlegel responded, "Don't stress on picking a school. When you are looking at schools look at a lot of them, even the ones you don't think you are interested in - you'll just feel it when you it's the right one. For the longest time I wanted to go to Iowa State University. I even pictured myself running there but, when I got there to visit, I just knew it wasn't the right place for me."
Personal Bests
3,200 Meter Run
11:44.61
4,000 Meter Run
15:08.70
5,000 Meter Run
19:19.16
More Coverage
Chelsea's Athlete Profile
Elk River Team Page
Class of 2013 Signings List