Cierra Runge Transferring To Wisconsin Next Fall

Cierra Runge
Photo Courtesy: David Farr

Once she completes her year of training in Arizona with Bob Bowman’s elite squad at Arizona State University, Cierra Runge will head north to the University of Wisconsin to complete her collegiate career.

Runge had a great freshman season at the University of California-Berkeley, setting an NCAA record in the 500 freestyle and helping the Bears set the American mark in the 800 free relay. Though she didn’t swim as fast at her debut NCAA championships, she did help the Bears win the women’s national title.

She followed that up with a ninth-place finish in the 400 freestyle at the world championships, just missing the final by four tenths of a second. After the meet, she decided to take a redshirt year to train with the likes of Allison Schmitt and Michael Phelps in Tempe with a goal of making the U.S. Olympic team.

“My time at the University of California-Berkeley was valuable,” Runge said. “I learned a great deal about what is important to me and made friends that I’ll have for life. I appreciate the education I received and the support from the University and the entire Athletic Department.”

Runge’s addition will help Coach Whitney Hite continue to build his squad of Badgers in Madison. Runge will help greatly in freestyle relays, and will be a definite point scorer in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Whether Runge moves down to the 100 free or remains with the 1650 free for collegiate swimming is yet to be decided.

“I’m excited to make a difference in the rising Badger program,” said Runge. “With a top 25 academic ranking in the world and the women’s swimming and diving program consistently in the top 15, Wisconsin can provide me the elite overall experience I am looking for. The Badgers have a strong program led by Coach Whitney Hite and I am thrilled to return to Chris Collier, Distance Coach at UW, who was my coach prior to my time with Bob Bowman.”

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Kristine Murphy Grim
8 years ago

You gotta go where you can graduate.

Gerald Macedo
8 years ago

Harsh

Swimmom
Swimmom
8 years ago

Has no idea of truth. Pretty ignorant comment.

Kristine Murphy Grim
8 years ago

Gerald Macedo, I think a degree is more important than where you swim. I don’t think that’s harsh. I may have different priorities but that doesn’t make them wrong.

MindoMom
MindoMom
8 years ago

Actually it is harsh because you have assumed she couldn’t graduate from Cal. You said nothing about her decision purely being about swimming, you instead insulted Ms. Runge by your assumptions. So unless you know Ms. Runge personally and consulted with her about her decision, you are not only wrong, you’re ignorant.

hlj
hlj
8 years ago

Yes, because Wisconsin is the kind of university where one goes to graduate easily.

Suzanne Blaydes
8 years ago

On Wisconsin!!!

Hank
Hank
8 years ago

No probs graduating if you knew her GPA…Something else is the issue. Did you read any of the comments during Worlds?!?!

Bill Bell
Bill Bell
8 years ago

Hood M’s, Grim isn’t suggesting Ms. Runge couldn’t gave graduated from Berserkeley ( Baghdad by the Bay?) were she to have stayed there after coming back from Rio.
And I hood M’s. Runge understands that unlike her sister Big Ten institutions Wiscinsin practices and swims its meets outdoors in Madison’s Whitewater River where the usual water temp us minus 50 degrees, the air temp double that and per Coach Hite, NO wetsuits allowed!
But as Barry Alvarez always
“You gotta be a MAN to play this here sport,
Boy, you gotta be a MAN,”
Hmmm…maybe that’s y Ivy Martin set all those records.

hlj
hlj
8 years ago

I hope you’re joking when you say that Wisconsin trains outside, because they don’t

Old swimmer
Old swimmer
8 years ago

Does anyone know the real back story?

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