Colorado State University Athletics
Former In-State High School Champion Transfers to CSU for Distance Program
11/18/2020 12:26:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Rams add Furman transfer originally from Colorado to Track & Field Programs
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Three-time Colorado high School state champion Quinn McConnell has elected to transfer back to her home state and to Colorado State's track and field and cross country programs after spending a year at Furman University, announced Wednesday by head distance coach Art Siemers.
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McConnell, originally of Erie, Colo., attended Peak to Peak Charter School where she won the 2015 and 2017 Colorado High School 3A Cross Country Championships in addition to 800-meter championship at the 2016 state track meet. The heavily regarded prospect was named the Colorado Gatorade Runner of Year for 2018-2019, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse. Â Â Â
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At Furman, McConnell earned two All-Freshman Indoor Track honors in her final appearance after finishing eighth in both the 3000 and 5000 at the Southern Conference Championships. She competed in five indoor meets and two cross country races as a Paladin. McConnell can contribute immediately for the spring 2021 seasons.
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"We are excited to sign one of Colorado's best high school runners," head distance coach Art Siemers said. "Quinn will flourish in our environment, and we are happy to have her back in her home state."
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McConnell's running career started early as she swept the podium and improved all three years at the middle school level, winning a championship in eighth grade. It set the precedent of what was to come at Peak to Peak Charter School. To add on to her accolades with the Pumas, McConnell was a two-time 1600 runner-up, a 2016 Nike Cross Nationals All-American, a 2017 Brooks PR Qualifier, a two-time World Mountain Running Team member and was named Boulder Runner of the Year three times from 2015-18. In the school record book, she holds five top marks including the 4x800m relay, which is a 3A state record.
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The addition of McConnell further strengthens the distance group on the women's side in an already strong distance group with the men's cross country team ranked No. 20 nationally in USTFCCCA's last ranking poll. McConnell marks the fourth transfer originally from Colorado for the upcoming season joining Megan Mooney (FSU), Lauren Neugeboren (Arizona), and Maggie Smith (Oregon State). In the past two seasons, the women's distance team has welcomed seven total transfers including six from power five institutions. Six of those seven are Colorado natives as well.
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For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
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McConnell, originally of Erie, Colo., attended Peak to Peak Charter School where she won the 2015 and 2017 Colorado High School 3A Cross Country Championships in addition to 800-meter championship at the 2016 state track meet. The heavily regarded prospect was named the Colorado Gatorade Runner of Year for 2018-2019, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse. Â Â Â
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At Furman, McConnell earned two All-Freshman Indoor Track honors in her final appearance after finishing eighth in both the 3000 and 5000 at the Southern Conference Championships. She competed in five indoor meets and two cross country races as a Paladin. McConnell can contribute immediately for the spring 2021 seasons.
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"We are excited to sign one of Colorado's best high school runners," head distance coach Art Siemers said. "Quinn will flourish in our environment, and we are happy to have her back in her home state."
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McConnell's running career started early as she swept the podium and improved all three years at the middle school level, winning a championship in eighth grade. It set the precedent of what was to come at Peak to Peak Charter School. To add on to her accolades with the Pumas, McConnell was a two-time 1600 runner-up, a 2016 Nike Cross Nationals All-American, a 2017 Brooks PR Qualifier, a two-time World Mountain Running Team member and was named Boulder Runner of the Year three times from 2015-18. In the school record book, she holds five top marks including the 4x800m relay, which is a 3A state record.
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The addition of McConnell further strengthens the distance group on the women's side in an already strong distance group with the men's cross country team ranked No. 20 nationally in USTFCCCA's last ranking poll. McConnell marks the fourth transfer originally from Colorado for the upcoming season joining Megan Mooney (FSU), Lauren Neugeboren (Arizona), and Maggie Smith (Oregon State). In the past two seasons, the women's distance team has welcomed seven total transfers including six from power five institutions. Six of those seven are Colorado natives as well.
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For More on Colorado State Track & Field and Cross Country follow: Twitter – CSUTrackFieldXC | Instagram – csutrackfieldXC | Facebook – Colorado State Track & Field/Cross Country
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