Cierra Runge (born March 7, 1996) is an American competition swimmer.

Cierra Runge
Runge in 2014
Personal information
National team United States
Born (1996-03-07) March 7, 1996 (age 28)
Cochranville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height6 ft 2.5 in (189 cm)
Weight187 lb (85 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubNorth Baltimore Aquatic Club
College teamUniversity of California, Berkeley (2014–2015)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (2016–2017)
Arizona State University (2018–2020)
CoachBob Bowman
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4×200 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kazan 4×200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2017 Budapest 4×200 m freestyle
Pan Pacific Championships
Silver medal – second place 2014 Gold Coast 400 m freestyle
Junior Pan Pacific Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Honolulu 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2012 Honolulu 4×200 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Honolulu 100 m freestyle

Career edit

Runge was born in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, to Scott and Diane Runge. She is a 2014 graduate of Octorara High School. She was on the Jennersville YMCA swim team when she was younger (Now KJAY Swim Team). She attended the University of California, Berkeley her freshman year under Teri McKeever and afterwards took a whole year off to focus her efforts on making the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. Runge came back to collegiate swimming attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she swam for head coach Whitney Hite. For her last two years of NCAA eligibility, she transferred to Arizona State University, where she worked with Bob Bowman.[1]

At the 2012 United States Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Runge placed 25th in the 100-meter freestyle and 26th in the 50-meter freestyle.[2][3]

In 2013, she competed at the World Junior Swimming Championships and won four medals including gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

At the 2014 US National Championships, the qualifying meet for both the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships and the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, she finished second in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle, and 6th in the 200-meter freestyle.[4][5][6]

At the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Australia, Runge placed 2nd in the 400-meter freestyle, 4th in the 1500-meter freestyle, and 5th in the 800-meter freestyle. In the 400-meter freestyle, she finished behind teammate Katie Ledecky, who set a world record.[7]

She most recently won a gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 4 x 200 freestyle relay.

References edit

  1. ^ Anderson, Jared (November 20, 2017). "Olympian Cierra Runge Leaving Wisconsin Program". SwimSwam. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Women's 100 metre freestyle (heats)". Omega Timing. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Women's 50 metre freestyle (heats)". Omega Timing. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "2014 Phillips 66 National Championships – Women's 400 metre freestyle (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "2014 Phillips 66 National Championships – Women's 800 metre freestyle". Omega Timing. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  6. ^ "2014 Phillips 66 National Championships – Women's 200 metre freestyle (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  7. ^ Jason Marsteller, "Katie Ledecky Smashes 400 Free World Record, Nearly Clears 3:58! (Pan Pacific Championships Results)," Swimming World Magazine (August 23, 2014). Retrieved March 3, 2015.

External links edit