Carrie Tollefson
{{Short description|American middle-distance runner}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Carrie Tollefson
| image = Carrie Tollefson ING New York City Marathon 2011.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = Tollefson at the 2011 New York City Marathon
| fullname = Carrie Anne Tollefson
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|January 18, 1977}}
| birth_place = Dawson, Minnesota, U.S.
| headercolor = lightsteelblue
}}
Carrie Anne Tollefson (born January 18, 1977, in Dawson, Minnesota){{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/carrie-tollefson-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418073823/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/carrie-tollefson-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}} is an American former middle-distance runner who was on the US 2004 Summer Olympic team.
Running career
Tollefson was raised in Dawson, a small town in western Minnesota. Running for Dawson-Boyd High School in Lac qui Parle County, she was a five-time state champion in cross-country from 1990 through 1994, setting a national record for the most consecutive state championships.{{cite web |last1=Kotajarvi |first1=Ryan |title=Olympic Legends of Minnesota: Carrie Tollefson |url=https://mn.milesplit.com/articles/280307/olympic-legends-of-minnesota-carrie-tollefson |website=Minnesota MileSplit |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Goucher and Tollefson: Fast friends |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/2261350-goucher-and-tollefson-fast-friends |website=Duluth News Tribune |date=18 August 2008 |language=en}} She also won eight individual track and field titles in the 1600 and 3200 meters, and set a then-state record in the 3,200 meters in 1994 with a time of 10:30.28.{{cite web |url=https://www.nfhs.org/articles/tollefson-won-13-high-school-track-cross-country-titles/#:~:text=Carrie%20Tollefson%2C%20who%20will%20be,first%20as%20an%20eighth%2Dgrader. |title=Tollefson won 13 high school track cross country titles |website=www.nfhs.org}} Tollefson's thirteen individual titles in cross-country and track are the most in Minnesota history as of 2020.
Tollefson ran collegiately at Villanova University where she won the 1997 NCAA Cross Country Championships. In 1998, she returned to the championship race after surgery, and finished 11th as the first Villanova runner as she led her team to the 1998 championship.{{cite web |url=http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/351 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117073627/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/351 |archivedate=17 November 2016 |title=NCAA XC 1998 Women |work=Track and Field News |url-status=dead |accessdate=27 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_THPAB85agQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/_THPAB85agQ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=1998 NCAA XC Championships (Women's Race) |date=28 July 2019 |publisher=Pivotal Running The Running Process |via=youtube.com |accessdate=27 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}
She was also the 1999 NCAA Outdoor and Indoor 3000 meters and Outdoor 5000 meters champion.{{cite web |title=Tollefson Wins National Championship |url=https://villanova.com/news/1999/6/21/Tollefson_Wins_National_Championship.aspx |website=Villanova University |date=21 June 1999 |language=en}} She graduated from Villanova with a communications degree in 1999.
At the US Olympic Trials in 2004, Tollefson won the 1500 meters. She was the only American athlete selected for the women's 1500m event at the Olympics, as neither the second- nor third-placed finishers at the trials had achieved Olympic "A" standard times.{{cite web |title=USATF - Events - 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field |url=http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/entry/qualifyingStandards.asp |website=oldserver.usatf.org |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143517/http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/entry/qualifyingStandards.asp |url-status=dead }} Tollefson competed in the 2004 Olympic Summer Games, making it to the semis in the 1500 meters.
In 2004, she was ranked No. 1 nationally{{clarify|date=March 2021}} by Track and Field News.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
In 2006, Tollefson won the 4K race at the USA Cross Country Championships.{{cite web |title=Hall surprises Ritzenhein; Tollefson, Uhl win USA Cross Country Championships presented by Gleukos |url=https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/news-center/news-archive/detail/hall-surprises-ritzenhein-tollefson-uhl-win-usa-cross-country-championships-presented-by-gleukos/ |website=BMW BERLIN-MARATHON |language=en |date=7 August 2019}} She also won the 3000 meters at the 2006 US Indoor National Championships.{{cite web |title=USATF - Events - 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships |url=http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/F24.asp |website=oldserver.usatf.org |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143519/http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/F24.asp |url-status=dead }} At the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow, Tollefson finished 7th in the 3000m.
Post-competition career
In 2010, Tollefson began hosting a weekly online video show and podcast about running and fitness called C Tolle Run.{{cite web |title=C Tolle Run - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/CTolleRun/about |website=www.youtube.com}} Tollefson works as an analyst and commentator for a variety of outlets including ESPN2, NBC, and USATF.tv, covering events such as the New York City Marathon.{{cite web |title=2019 TCS New York City Marathon to Air Live on November 3 on ESPN2 and WABC-TV for Seventh Consecutive Year |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2019/10/2019-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-live-on-november-3-on-espn2-and-wabc-tv-for-seventh-consecutive-year/ |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |date=21 October 2019}}
Tollefson began hosting a yearly summer distance camp for teens at St. Catherine University in 2007.{{cite web |url=https://minneapolisrunning.com/all-about-the-carrie-tollefson-training-camp/ |title=All About The Carrie Tollefson Training Camp |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2020-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804143933/https://minneapolisrunning.com/all-about-the-carrie-tollefson-training-camp/ |url-status=dead }} She is a Global Reebok Running Ambassador.
Tollefson was inducted into the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 2015.{{cite web |title=Broten, Scurry, Tollefson Named To MSHSL Hall Of Fame |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/09/01/broten-scurry-tollefson-named-to-mshsl-hall-of-fame/ |date=1 September 2015}} She was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2018.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Grown Spokesperson, Carrie Tollefson, inducted to High School Hall of Fame |url=https://minnesotagrown.com/news/minnesota-grown-spokesperson-carrie-tollefson-inducted-high-school-hall-fame/ |website=Minnesota Grown|date=6 March 2018 }}
Tollefson is a product advocate for Body Togs, a company producing weighted sleeves for weight loss and exercising.{{Cite web |title=About Us - body togs - make every move count |url=https://bodytogs.com/about/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=body togs |language=en-US}} In addition, she is a brand ambassador for St. Paul–based Hiway Credit Union, where she’s been a member for 20+ years.{{cite web |title=Hiway Partners With Olympian Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.hiway.org/about/pressroom/carrie-tollefson-brand-ambassador.html |website=Hiway Credit Union |access-date=30 June 2023}}
Personal life
Tollefson married Charlie Peterson in 2003.{{cite web |last1=Beck |first1=Kevin |title=Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20831957/carrie-tollefson-1/ |website=Runner's World |date=1 January 2005 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225145030/https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20831957/carrie-tollefson-1/ |url-status=dead }} They have three children: Ruby (born 2010),{{cite web |title=Brief Chat: Carrie Tollefson Races Again |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20805035/brief-chat-carrie-tollefson-races-again/ |website=Runner's World |date=23 March 2012}} Everett (born 2013),{{cite web |title=Big Switch: 5 Questions With Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/5-questions-with-carrie-tollefson/ |website=PodiumRunner |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143518/https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/5-questions-with-carrie-tollefson/ |url-status=dead }} and Greer (born 2016).{{cite web |title=Runner Carrie Tollefson's pesto pasta |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/life-style/story/_/id/15036230/what-athletes-eat-carrie-tollefson-night-race-pesto-pasta |website=ESPN.com |language=en |date=21 March 2016}}
References
External links
- [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2008/Tollefson_Carrie.asp Carrie Tollefson] at USA Track & Field
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519133853/http://www.teamusaminnesota.org/athlete_bio.asp?id=1 Team USA Minnesota Bio]
- [https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athens2004/usa/Carrie+Tollefson/1725782 2004 Olympic Results]
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer US NC 1500m Women}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 3000 meters Women}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tollefson, Carrie}}
Category:People from Dawson, Minnesota
Category:American female middle-distance runners
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
Category:Villanova University alumni
Category:21st-century American sportswomen
Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners
Category:Villanova Wildcats women's track and field athletes
Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners