Annelise Offerdahl '25 Recruiting Profile

I'm Annelise Offerdahl. I started running cross country when I was a freshman and fell in love with the sport. Cross country has taught me a lot about how to do my best while also being the best teammate I can be. This journey has not been easy, but it has made me the athlete I am today. As a sophomore, I ran and PRd at the meet that would lead me to state. Unfortunately for me, two other teammates performed slightly better during the JV race after mine, and instead of being on the running roster, I was placed as an alternate. Although I was ecstatic for them, it’d be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed that I probably wouldn’t run—running at state was my goal for that year, after all. Not being able to run at state fueled my drive to trim my time and make it onto the state team in 2023. It was a goal I accomplished.

My dedication has led me to learn from my mistakes and become more confident. As a runner, I understand that every second matters and I do all I can to make sure I, and others, continue to progress. Although decent, I realize my track times don't necessarily correspond to my cross-country success; this is because in the past I viewed track as a means of training towards achieving my goal of racing in cross-country state. However, this year my goal is to get my track times to match my running ability more thoroughly. Additionally, a team is only as strong as its slowest runner and every teammate matters, no matter if you're first or last. One thing I am particularly proud of is no matter how fast my time is, I’m always happy for those who achieve their goals, and I’m always there to support others whether they place before or after me.

Academically, I strive to maintain or exceed my current GPA--a goal I will carry with me in my college studies. I want to run in college because I enjoy being part of a team to help achieve school goals and l love the comradery team sports bring. I have the mindset to achieve whatever goals the program has, as well as the goals I set for myself. Too, I learn from my mistakes, believe my coaches are there to help me, and am an excellent teammate.