View source for Carrie Tollefson

{{Short description|American middle-distance runner}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Carrie Tollefson
| image = Carrie Tollefson ING New York City Marathon 2011.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = Tollefson at the 2011 [[New York City Marathon]]
| fullname = Carrie Anne Tollefson
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|January 18, 1977}}
| birth_place = [[Dawson, Minnesota]], U.S.
| headercolor = lightsteelblue
}}

'''Carrie Anne Tollefson''' (born January 18, 1977, in [[Dawson, Minnesota]])<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/carrie-tollefson-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418073823/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/carrie-tollefson-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> is an American former middle-distance runner who was on the US [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Summer Olympic]] team.

==Running career==
Tollefson was raised in [[Dawson, Minnesota|Dawson]], a small town in western [[Minnesota]]. Running for Dawson-Boyd High School in [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle County]], she was a five-time state champion in cross-country from 1990 through 1994, setting a national record for the most consecutive state championships.<ref name='milesplit'>{{cite web |last1=Kotajarvi |first1=Ryan |title=Olympic Legends of Minnesota: Carrie Tollefson |url=https://mn.milesplit.com/articles/280307/olympic-legends-of-minnesota-carrie-tollefson |website=Minnesota MileSplit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Goucher and Tollefson: Fast friends |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/2261350-goucher-and-tollefson-fast-friends |website=Duluth News Tribune |date=18 August 2008 |language=en}}</ref> She also won eight individual track and field titles in the 1600 and 3200 meters, and set a then-state record in the 3,200 meters in 1994 with a time of 10:30.28.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfhs.org/articles/tollefson-won-13-high-school-track-cross-country-titles/#:~:text=Carrie%20Tollefson%2C%20who%20will%20be,first%20as%20an%20eighth%2Dgrader. |title=Tollefson won 13 high school track cross country titles |website=www.nfhs.org}}</ref> Tollefson's thirteen individual titles in cross-country and track are the most in Minnesota history as of 2020.<ref name='milesplit' />

Tollefson ran collegiately at [[Villanova University]] where she won the 1997 [[NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship|NCAA Cross Country Championships]]. In 1998, she returned to the championship race after surgery, and finished 11th as the first Villanova runner as she led her team to the 1998 [[1998 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships|championship]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/351 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117073627/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/351 |archivedate=17 November 2016 |title=NCAA XC 1998 Women |work=Track and Field News |url-status=dead |accessdate=27 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_THPAB85agQ  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/_THPAB85agQ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=1998 NCAA XC Championships (Women's Race) |date=28 July 2019 |publisher=Pivotal Running The Running Process |via=youtube.com |accessdate=27 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

She was also the 1999 NCAA Outdoor and Indoor 3000 meters and Outdoor 5000 meters champion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tollefson Wins National Championship |url=https://villanova.com/news/1999/6/21/Tollefson_Wins_National_Championship.aspx |website=Villanova University |date=21 June 1999 |language=en}}</ref> She graduated from Villanova with a communications degree in 1999.

At the [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|US Olympic Trials]] in 2004, Tollefson won the 1500 meters. She was the only American athlete selected for the women's 1500m event at the Olympics, as neither the second- nor third-placed finishers at the trials had achieved Olympic "A" standard times.<ref>{{cite web |title=USATF - Events - 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field |url=http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/entry/qualifyingStandards.asp |website=oldserver.usatf.org |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143517/http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/entry/qualifyingStandards.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tollefson competed in the [[United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic Summer Games]], making it to the semis in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 1500 metres|1500 meters]].

In 2004, she was ranked No. 1 nationally{{clarify|date=March 2021}} by [[Track and Field News]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

In 2006, Tollefson won the 4K race at the [[USA Cross Country Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall surprises Ritzenhein; Tollefson, Uhl win USA Cross Country Championships presented by Gleukos |url=https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/news-center/news-archive/detail/hall-surprises-ritzenhein-tollefson-uhl-win-usa-cross-country-championships-presented-by-gleukos/ |website=BMW BERLIN-MARATHON |language=en |date=7 August 2019}}</ref> She also won the 3000 meters at the 2006 US Indoor National Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=USATF - Events - 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships |url=http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/F24.asp |website=oldserver.usatf.org |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143519/http://oldserver.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/F24.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the [[2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships]] in Moscow, Tollefson finished 7th in the [[2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 3000 metres|3000m]].

==Post-competition career==
In 2010, Tollefson began hosting a weekly online video show and podcast about running and fitness called ''C Tolle Run''.<ref>{{cite web |title=C Tolle Run - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/CTolleRun/about |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Tollefson works as an analyst and commentator for a variety of outlets including [[ESPN2]], [[NBC]], and USATF.tv, covering events such as the [[New York City Marathon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 TCS New York City Marathon to Air Live on November 3 on ESPN2 and WABC-TV for Seventh Consecutive Year |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2019/10/2019-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-live-on-november-3-on-espn2-and-wabc-tv-for-seventh-consecutive-year/ |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |date=21 October 2019}}</ref>

Tollefson began hosting a yearly summer distance camp for teens at [[St. Catherine University]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://minneapolisrunning.com/all-about-the-carrie-tollefson-training-camp/ |title=All About The Carrie Tollefson Training Camp |access-date=2021-03-20 |archive-date=2020-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804143933/https://minneapolisrunning.com/all-about-the-carrie-tollefson-training-camp/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> She is a Global [[Reebok]] Running Ambassador.

Tollefson was inducted into the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Broten, Scurry, Tollefson Named To MSHSL Hall Of Fame |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/09/01/broten-scurry-tollefson-named-to-mshsl-hall-of-fame/ |date=1 September 2015}}</ref> She was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota Grown Spokesperson, Carrie Tollefson, inducted to High School Hall of Fame |url=https://minnesotagrown.com/news/minnesota-grown-spokesperson-carrie-tollefson-inducted-high-school-hall-fame/ |website=Minnesota Grown|date=6 March 2018 }}</ref>

Tollefson is a product advocate for [[Body Togs]], a company producing weighted sleeves for weight loss and exercising.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us - body togs - make every move count |url=https://bodytogs.com/about/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=body togs |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition, she is a brand ambassador for St. Paul–based Hiway Credit Union, where she’s been a member for 20+ years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hiway Partners With Olympian Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.hiway.org/about/pressroom/carrie-tollefson-brand-ambassador.html |website=Hiway Credit Union |access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Tollefson married Charlie Peterson in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beck |first1=Kevin |title=Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20831957/carrie-tollefson-1/ |website=Runner's World |date=1 January 2005 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225145030/https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20831957/carrie-tollefson-1/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> They have three children: Ruby (born 2010),<ref>{{cite web |title=Brief Chat: Carrie Tollefson Races Again |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20805035/brief-chat-carrie-tollefson-races-again/ |website=Runner's World |date=23 March 2012}}</ref> Everett (born 2013),<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Switch: 5 Questions With Carrie Tollefson |url=https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/5-questions-with-carrie-tollefson/ |website=PodiumRunner |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225143518/https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/5-questions-with-carrie-tollefson/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Greer (born 2016).<ref>{{cite web |title=Runner Carrie Tollefson's pesto pasta |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/life-style/story/_/id/15036230/what-athletes-eat-carrie-tollefson-night-race-pesto-pasta |website=ESPN.com |language=en |date=21 March 2016}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2008/Tollefson_Carrie.asp Carrie Tollefson] at [[USA Track & Field]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519133853/http://www.teamusaminnesota.org/athlete_bio.asp?id=1 Team USA Minnesota Bio]
* [https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athens2004/usa/Carrie+Tollefson/1725782 2004 Olympic Results]

{{Footer USA Track & Field 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer US NC 1500m Women}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 3000 meters Women}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tollefson, Carrie}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Dawson, Minnesota]]
[[Category:American female middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Villanova University alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Villanova Wildcats women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]