Cierra Runge will take a year off from competing for the California Golden Bears with the hopes of qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic swimming team. The University of California-Berkeley confirmed Runge’s redshirt decision to Swimming World.
Runge told Swimming World that she will head south to Arizona State University and join Bob Bowman’s ever-growing elite group that includes Michael Phelps and fellow mid-distance freestyler Allison Schmitt among its talented athletes. Bowman was Runge’s primary coach at North Baltimore Aquatic Club before she head across the country for Berkeley last year, where she set the NCAA record in the 500 free and was part of the American record-setting 800 free relay at the Pac 12 championships as a freshman.
Runge was also given a release from Berkeley to pursue the option of transferring to another school. Some had speculated that Runge would transfer to Arizona State for the 2016-2017, but no word on an official pick for her new school has been reported.
While Runge was a strong contributor for California’s NCAA team title last March, she was also making her mark in the long course pool. She qualified for the world championships in the 400 free and the 800 free relay, earning a gold medal as a prelim swimmer for the relay. She finished ninth in the 400 free, just four tenths away from making the championship final. Her big breakthrough came at last summer’s Pan Pacific championships, where she was a silver medalist behind Katie Ledecky in the 400 free with a 4:04.55.
Runge will be part of a very competitive field at the Olympic Trials in the 400 and 800 freestyles, with several ladies fighting for the second spot in those events behind the unstoppable Katie Ledecky. Runge closes out the 2015 long course season ranked fourth among Americans in the 400 free, though her lifetime best of 4:04.55 would rank second in the nation, just one tenth ahead of Leah Smith. In addition to the 400 free, Runge could contend for a spot on the Olympic team in the 800 free. Her lifetime best of 8:24.69 from last summer would rank third among Americans, behind Becca Mann and just ahead of Smith.
With Runge’s decision to sit out the 2015-2016 NCAA season, California loses another large point scorer from last year’s team following Missy Franklin’s decision to become a professional swimmer. Runge was a finalist in the 200 and 500 freestyles last March, and was part of the winning 800 free relay.
What are the odds she returns to Cal next year? I say no way!?!
As someone who has only recently (well O.K. since Ledecky won the gold in 2012) become a swim fan, I was wondering if the short course swims that prevail at the collegiate level hamper the development of swimmers who plan to compete at the Worlds and the Olympics.
Most believe so, Mark. A season full of short course training and racing can be seen as affecting long course racing. With NCAA season ending four months before Olympic Trials, some might believe that’s too little time to prepare for the bigger meet.
Thanks for getting back to me Jeff. Though I remain very conflicted about teenagers becoming professional athletes, I would be terrified of anything happening to Katie Ledecky’s form. It would be like messing with Ted Williams’ swing. Is competing in college or turning pro the only alternatives?
Glad for Runge. She was below her best in LCM this year. This is the right move, and I would hope others choose the same path.