CHICAGO, Ill. -- Record-breaking sprinter Elise Ruud was having a sensational senior year, and seemed to be peaking at the right time. However, after qualifying for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, Ruud found out her season was canceled on March 12 due to coronavirus concerns.
Ruud, a native of Stjordal, Norway, proved to be one of the best sprinters in North Park history, seemingly breaking the school record in the 60-meter hurdles every time she competed.
Ruud opened her senior campaign at the North Central Cardinal opener on January 17, marking a 9.17 time in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles. Next, at the Red Hawk Opener hosted by Ripon College the very next weekend, Ruud ran the seventh-fastest time in the country with a 9.05 finish in the 60-meter hurdles, securing a first-place finish at the meet. Ruud nearly duplicated that performance with a 9.07 time and third-place finish in the finals of the Olivet Nazarene University Invite on February 1.
After three impressive finishes, Ruud continued to push herself to the limit. At the Windy City Rumble on the campus of U-Chicago on February 8, Ruud earned a second-place finish while breaking the North Park University school record with a 9.04 mark in the 60-meter hurdles. Ruud seemed to have a knack for competing on the campus of U-Chicago, as she returned the following week at the Margaret Bradley Invitational to shatter her own record with a blistering finish of 8.92. This time in the 60-meter hurdles was good for a second-place finish, the second-best time in the event's history, and the 11th-best time in the country.
Ruud seemed to be peaking at the right time as she earned a third-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Indoor Championships on February 28, posting another sub-9 time of 8.95. Following her excellent indoor performances, Ruud, alongside fellow senior heptathlon competitor José Barrio, earned an invite to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Unfortunately, Ruud and Barrio never had the opportunity to compete, as the global threat of the COVID-19 virus forced the NCAA to cancel all spring and winter championships on March 12.
Sports Information Director, Tyler Woolbright, had the opportunity to remotely interview Ruud as she reflected on her career, senior season, and time at North Park University.
What has been your favorite memory at North Park – competing or otherwise?
"It has been a great four years competing for North Park University. Over the years I have made many fun memories with my teammates, especially in the relays. If I had to pick my favorite track meet, it would be the Margaret Bradley Invitational at the University of Chicago. At that track meet, I broke nine seconds for the first time in the 60-meter hurdles and knew that time was good enough to qualify for Nationals. My coaches and teammates were extremely happy and excited for me, which made it my favorite memory at North Park."
Just a day before you were set to compete at Nationals, the season was abruptly canceled. What was your initial reaction?
"When I was told that Nationals and the rest of the season was going to be canceled, I was devastated. After spending countless hours working towards the goal of qualifying for Nationals and not being able to compete against the best hurdlers in both indoor and outdoor, it was really frustrating. It was mentally tough to not be able to show everybody how hard I worked for my last outdoor season. However, I am now really glad that we had a great indoor season and that our team is safe and healthy. Our health is and always will be most important!"
What plans do you have upon graduating?
"My plan after graduation is to go to graduate school in the fall or start working. I will spend time this summer to decide what kind of path I will choose. With that in mind, I will still continue competing in track and field to see how far I can go!"
What would you like to tell the next class of athletes?
"For the next class of athletes: Train hard, smart and make practice fun. Be confident and challenge yourself to gain many great experiences that you will never forget. Sport is a mental game and competing, practicing, and training will teach you how to become mentally stronger. Most importantly, have fun with the sport you choose. If North Park gives you the opportunity to compete as a Viking, take the chance and become the best Viking version of yourself!"
