Women’s cross country profile: Kelsie Slater

Since the age of seven, senior runner Kelsie Slater has been running for enjoyment and competition. Her early start has propelled her to compete for Indiana State University in cross- country and track and field.

Slater joined the Niagara Olympic Club at the age of ten, and continued to run and compete for the organization until her high school career was over. In Canada, the sport system is focused more on club athletics, as opposed to the more recreational high school sports. In addition to cross country and track, Slater also participated in soccer, power tumbling, cheer, and badminton. She graduated from Grimsby Secondary High School in Grimsby, Ontario.

After graduating high school, she headed to the University of Alabama where she completed a year of school and athletics before transferring to ISU for the 2008 – 2009 school year. Due to a distaste of the Alabama athletic program, Slater was planning to transfer and had verbally committed to Jacksonville State University prior to receiving a call from ISU head coach John Gartland. Gartland offered her a position on the ISU cross country and track roster, and she withdrew her commitment to Jacksonville and headed to Terre Haute.

Since running for the Sycamores, Slater has established collegiate personal bests in all of her events including the 800 meters (2:19), 1,000 meters (3:01), 1,500 meters (4:45), 1,600 meters (5:08), 3K steeplechase (11:13), 4K (15:01), and 5K (19:37). She has lettered in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. She was also a contributor to the 2011 MVC indoor All-Conference distance medley relay team that placed second.

Slater's most devastating memory of her athletic career occurred last year in the 2011 MVC outdoor track and field Championships. The meet had been held under chilling temperatures and sporadic rain, and the 3K steeplechase was ran in the midst of the brutal weather.

"I was finishing the last lap, coming up to the last water jump. I was tired, cold, and could not feel my body. I didn't lift my foot up high enough, and my shoe clipped the track and I fell into the barrier," Slater said.

After scraping her chest, midsection, hands, and legs, Slater kicked the decorative flowerpot into the water, and simultaneously launched herself into the deepest of the barrier. She was forced to fall into the water as opposed to go around it, due to the risk of being disqualified. The accident pushed her from All-Conference scoring position to ninth place. To top it off, it was the last track and field race of her senior year.

Now, Slater can tell the story with laughter and mockery, but it will remain in her athletic memory for the rest of her life, she said.

In contrary to her unfavorable memories, Slater has also created plenty of gratifying memories with her teammates throughout the years. Among these are the simple pass-times on the bus rides, where they play games such as finding the area codes for each of the US states.

"We were almost finished, and we couldn't find North Dakota's area code. It's 701, I figured out, and I hate North Dakota for it," Slater said.

Additionally, the memory of her third place finish at the 2011 Evansville opener will remain in her reflection. She ran her career best in the 4K race.

As her career at ISU is slowly waning, Slater reflects on her choice of schooling and athletic program.

"I love coach Gartland, and he is the best coach I've had in my whole career of running," Slater said. "He has a fantastic philosophy that no other coach has had: ‘you know your body better than anyone.' It makes running a lot more enjoyable being guided by that."

Furthermore, teammate senior runner Kacie Klem has given Kelsie encouragement throughout her athletic career while she has experienced chronic and unlucky injuries that have impacted her running.

"Kacie is always there, being positive and telling me to stay strong," Slater said. "Even when you are having a horrible day, she is always there for you."

Slater was born December 18, 1989 in Brampton, Ontario. Being only 21 years of age, her Canadian residency has given her a young age compared to the average American 5th year senior. Academically, Slater will be graduating this December with a major in Legal Studies and minors in Recreational Sports Management and French. She plans to continue her studies at Law school. Eventually, she hopes to be a sports agent or involved in the legal liabilities for group homes.

Slater choice in study has been partially influenced by her annual summer experience in Toronto. She has worked with group homes for the disabled, and is inspired to ensure proper care and living arrangements for the housing of individuals.