Photo by: David Stluka
Sensational Shaelyn: Sorensen looks to end season on high note at NCAAs
November 19, 2015 | Women's Cross Country
A newfound confidence has led UW’s redshirt freshman to the national championship
BY KASSIDY FRANZ
To say that redshirt freshman Shaelyn Sorensen has had a great season would definitely be an understatement.
In fact, the Lake Elmo, Minnesota, native has had a standout season, which will cumulate with an appearance at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championship in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday morning.
After redshirting last year, Sorensen has burst onto the cross country scene, garnering an individual bid to the national championship after a stellar fourth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Great Lakes Regional this past Friday at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.
Sorensen was motivated to be a difference-maker coming off of a redshirt season. She has risen to the occasion this year, especially after her teammates, 2014 NCAA cross country runner-up Sarah Disanza and two-time NCAA second-team All-American Molly Hanson, were forced to redshirt after suffering injuries.
"I really wanted to be a key contributor to the team," Sorensen said. "At the beginning of the season, before the team was plagued with injuries, the goal for the team was to be Big Ten champions and then podium-finishers at nationals. So I was really was really striving for that and I wanted to be on the traveling squad for it. I knew that if our team was at full-force it would be more difficult to do so that was definitely the motivator."
Sorensen has done just that, in fact, she has been the first Badger across the line in all six meets this season. However Sorensen, who competed for the United States at this year's IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in China, admits that she has surprised herself with her successes.
 "I am kind of surprised," Sorensen explained. "Heading into postseason races this year, I didn't think I would be doing this well. Hopefully it inspires other people to know that if you put in the work good things will come from it.
"I'm thrilled that the hard work I've been putting in is paying off."
Wisconsin assistant coach Jill Miller, who works primarily with the women's distance runners, admits that Sorensen's newfound success was also unexpected. The second-year assistant coach credits it all to Sorensen's ability to consistently make improvements each week.
"At the beginning of the year, I felt she made a small step forward given how she progressed last year and I thought she would be a contributor for us," Miller said. "I'll be honest, I didn't think she would make the huge leap that she has made, but she has consistently been improving a little bit every week which is what I really like to see."
Even with the accolades Sorensen has garnered this year, which include being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, earning first team All-Big Ten accolades, and USTFCCCA All-Region honors, Sorensen has kept a team mentality. Even after her phenomenal finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional where she bested two-time Big Ten champion Erin Finn of Michigan, she was focused on her team finish.
 "I could tell when she finished she cared less about her own finish and more about the team at that point with the hope that the team would qualify for the NCAA championship," Miller said.
Although she was disappointed that her teammates just missed on qualifying for the national meet, Sorensen believes her successful showing last Friday will lead her to a solid finish at Saturday's national meet.
"Last Friday was definitely a confidence booster going into nationals," Sorensen remarked. "I want to use my finish at the regional and the Big Ten meet to fuel me and show that I can do well at NCAAs."
In the end, it is this confidence that can really make a difference out on the course.
"Confidence is everything," Miller said. "Honestly, you need the training, you need the physical side of things, but that confidence mentality in women's distance running is what sets you apart in my opinion.
"There are so many people of equal fitness but it's the people who are most confident that go out and beat those people and probably a few more that have more fitness than they do but lack the confidence."
With the newfound confidence, Sorensen looks ahead to competing at the NCAA Championships where she will go against a talented field of more than 200 athletes.
"From the beginning of the season my goal at nationals was to get top-75," Sorensen explained. "But I won't know because I haven't competed against a lot of the girls in this race. Maybe top-50? I don't know, we'll see. I want to definitely only get in the double-digits or lower."
Although Sorensen is focused on her 6-kilometer race at 11 a.m. (ET) at the E.P Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, she already has set some high goals for the future.
"I hope I can keep the momentum going in cross country and grab an All-America finish next year," Sorensen said. "Who knows how this year will end but I think that's definitely the goal for next season."
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To say that redshirt freshman Shaelyn Sorensen has had a great season would definitely be an understatement.
In fact, the Lake Elmo, Minnesota, native has had a standout season, which will cumulate with an appearance at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championship in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday morning.
After redshirting last year, Sorensen has burst onto the cross country scene, garnering an individual bid to the national championship after a stellar fourth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Great Lakes Regional this past Friday at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.
Sorensen was motivated to be a difference-maker coming off of a redshirt season. She has risen to the occasion this year, especially after her teammates, 2014 NCAA cross country runner-up Sarah Disanza and two-time NCAA second-team All-American Molly Hanson, were forced to redshirt after suffering injuries.
"I really wanted to be a key contributor to the team," Sorensen said. "At the beginning of the season, before the team was plagued with injuries, the goal for the team was to be Big Ten champions and then podium-finishers at nationals. So I was really was really striving for that and I wanted to be on the traveling squad for it. I knew that if our team was at full-force it would be more difficult to do so that was definitely the motivator."
Sorensen has done just that, in fact, she has been the first Badger across the line in all six meets this season. However Sorensen, who competed for the United States at this year's IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in China, admits that she has surprised herself with her successes.
 "I am kind of surprised," Sorensen explained. "Heading into postseason races this year, I didn't think I would be doing this well. Hopefully it inspires other people to know that if you put in the work good things will come from it.
"I'm thrilled that the hard work I've been putting in is paying off."
Wisconsin assistant coach Jill Miller, who works primarily with the women's distance runners, admits that Sorensen's newfound success was also unexpected. The second-year assistant coach credits it all to Sorensen's ability to consistently make improvements each week.
"At the beginning of the year, I felt she made a small step forward given how she progressed last year and I thought she would be a contributor for us," Miller said. "I'll be honest, I didn't think she would make the huge leap that she has made, but she has consistently been improving a little bit every week which is what I really like to see."
Even with the accolades Sorensen has garnered this year, which include being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, earning first team All-Big Ten accolades, and USTFCCCA All-Region honors, Sorensen has kept a team mentality. Even after her phenomenal finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional where she bested two-time Big Ten champion Erin Finn of Michigan, she was focused on her team finish.
 "I could tell when she finished she cared less about her own finish and more about the team at that point with the hope that the team would qualify for the NCAA championship," Miller said.
Although she was disappointed that her teammates just missed on qualifying for the national meet, Sorensen believes her successful showing last Friday will lead her to a solid finish at Saturday's national meet.
"Last Friday was definitely a confidence booster going into nationals," Sorensen remarked. "I want to use my finish at the regional and the Big Ten meet to fuel me and show that I can do well at NCAAs."
In the end, it is this confidence that can really make a difference out on the course.
"Confidence is everything," Miller said. "Honestly, you need the training, you need the physical side of things, but that confidence mentality in women's distance running is what sets you apart in my opinion.
"There are so many people of equal fitness but it's the people who are most confident that go out and beat those people and probably a few more that have more fitness than they do but lack the confidence."
With the newfound confidence, Sorensen looks ahead to competing at the NCAA Championships where she will go against a talented field of more than 200 athletes.
"From the beginning of the season my goal at nationals was to get top-75," Sorensen explained. "But I won't know because I haven't competed against a lot of the girls in this race. Maybe top-50? I don't know, we'll see. I want to definitely only get in the double-digits or lower."
Although Sorensen is focused on her 6-kilometer race at 11 a.m. (ET) at the E.P Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, she already has set some high goals for the future.
"I hope I can keep the momentum going in cross country and grab an All-America finish next year," Sorensen said. "Who knows how this year will end but I think that's definitely the goal for next season."
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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