Laurentian Athletics and Lady Vees cross-country head coach Dick Moss are excited for Gracie Tetzlaf to join the cross country program starting in September when she enrols as a Sports Administration student.
Tetzlaf, a native of Trenton, Ontario is a former two-time COSSA cross-country running champion and silver medalist, as well as a member of the 2007 COSSA winning team. She has had strong top-60 finishes at OFSAA finishing 33rd in 2004, 53rd in 2005, 43rd in 2006 and 51st in 2007.
She is also a three-time Trinity College race silver medalist (2004-2006), having tied for the race record in 2006 with the gold medalist.
On the track, the Trenton High School graduate is a three-time Bay of Quinte champion in the 1500-metre (2005, 2006, 2008), 800-metre (2005-2007) and four-by-400-metre relay (2005, 2006, 2008) events, running record times in the 1500-metre in 2005 and the four-by-400-metre in 2008.
She is also a three-time COSSA champion in the 800-metre event (2005-2007), and single COSSA champion in the 1500-metre (2008) and four-by-400-metre (2005). She has qualified for OFSAA twice in 1500-metre race, finishing 11th in 2005 and 13th in 2006 and the 800-metre race, finishing 11th in 2005 and 15th in 2006. She holds personal best times of 4:48:10 in the 1500-metre and 2:23 in the 800-metre.
Tetzlaf has also found success in the classroom finishing all-four years of high school with a 90-plus grade point average.
She has won numerous academic awards including being named an Ontario Scholar, a Clay Elliott Foundation Attitudes for Education Scholarship winner, OFSAA Legacy Award for Bay of Quinte area and Award of Excellence in 12U Chemistry.
"Gracie is a true student-athlete. She is plus-90-percent academically and I'm impressed with how serious she is about her running career," said Moss, in a release.
"She improved her 1500-metre time dramatically this year, to 4:48, and is a four-time OFSAA cross-country competitor, so I'm excited about her potential as a university student-athlete."
Tetzlaf credits the small class sizes, scenic surrounding area and a unique Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration (SPAD) program at Laurentian for her decision to attend the school and the team's excellent reputation for her decision to run for the Lady Vees.
The Lady Vees cross country running team kicks off their season with the Ramsey Tour/Laurentian Open on Sunday, Sept. 7 on the LU trail system.
