EHS College Spotlight: Carissa Gwerder, Cross Country, Northern Arizona University

When Carissa Gwerder originally was looking at colleges she did not necessarily expect to keep running at that level. She had multiple options on the table with schools such as Oregon State and Portland. 

But when the chance to walk-on at Northern Arizona occurred, Gwerder seized the opportunity and made the most of it her freshman year in 2010-11 after having a successful high school career at Enumclaw.

Gwerder led the Hornets to four state qualifying appearances, was the SPSL 3A Cross Country girls athlete of the year in 2008 and won the Towel Award at Enumclaw for eight varsity athletic letters in her career for cross country and track. She also broke the Enumclaw High School record in the 3,200 meters as a freshman with a time 11 minutes, 47 seconds.

One of the keys to her high school success and preparation for college cross country was the foundation of the coaching she received at Enumclaw.

"The coaches pushed me to be the best I could be at Enumclaw," Gwerder said.

As graduation approached in the spring of 2010, Gwerder visited Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, and it did not long for her to realize that was the school for her.

"It was a good-size campus and a great fit," Gwerder said. "It was a place where even if I did not run, I could go to school and be happy."

The man who gave Gwerder the opportunity to walk-on to the Northern Arizona cross country team was Eric Heins, director of Track and Field/Cross Country for the Lumberjacks.

"Carissa's high school coach (Jeff Jacobson) recommended her highly to us," Heins said.

On Gwerder's freshman year, Heins said: "She was a great addition to the team with her enthusiaism, excitement and energy. The cross country season was also good for her because she was thrown into the fire and had to run with the number of young girls we had on that team and be in the top seven."

Gwerder said it was a challenge being part of a new squad, balancing academics with athletics.

"It was a big adjustment. I had never met any of the team members or the coach," Gwerder said. "The time training and the amount of running was also a big difference as well."

Gwerder, a Spanish and International Affairs major, was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team for women's cross country with a 4.0 grade point average in the fall semester.

"NAU does a great job of helping students with required study hall hours and attendance sheets for teachers to sign to keep you on track with schoolwork," she said.

On the running trail, Gwerder turned in some key performances for the Lumberjacks. At the 2010 Big Sky Cross Country Championship in Cheney, Washington, she was third overall on the NAU team and finished 29th with a time of 16:58.9. Then at the NCAA Pre Nationals Open she posted a personal best in the 6-kilometer race of 23 minutes, 16.8 seconds.

Gwerder also scored a point for the Lumberjacks at the Big Sky Conference indoor track meet but had her season was cut short when she was hurt practicing the steeplechase.

Looking ahead to this fal'sl cross country season, Heins and Gwerder are excited about the possibilities.

"Carissa has big goals for next year. Going into the summer she was excited about making big jumps in both cross country and track," Heins said.

"I just want to continue to get better," she added. "Running in college cross country has definitely given me the determination to do my best."