After a strong junior track season which saw her place third in the 800 at the 1A state championship, Grace Casagrande had a breakout cross country season. The senior won her first two meets of the season and finished in the top four at both the flrunners.com Invitational and FSU Invitational/Pre-State. In the postseason, she took home the district championship, was second at regionals, and fifth at the 1A Cross County Finals. Recently, Grace announced where she will be continue her running career.
What was the recruiting process like for you?
It was a completely new, but really exciting process. I loved meeting coaches and seeing how different they all were in their coaching style and in how they trained their team. All of the coaches were really helpful in answering all of my questions and I especially loved meeting the different teams on my visits.
When did you really see your recruitment take off?
After the flrunners.com Invitational when I ran 18:14. That was the first time I ran in the 18's and the first time I placed at such a competitive cross country meet. After running this time, more colleges started contacting me and putting their confidence in me which gave me the confidence to really compete this past cross country season.
What other schools did you consider?
I also considered the University of Florida, University of Mississippi, and Columbia University. I took official visits to UF, Ole Miss, and St. Louis University.
Why did you ultimately choose SLU?
It was where I felt most comfortable with both the coach and the team. I automatically clicked with the team on my visit, especially the distance girls. They all treated me like I belonged there and I felt like I could really contribute to the team. I could really see myself being happy there for the next four years and felt it would help me reach both my athletic and academic potential. SLU has a great international business program and that’s what I plan on studying. Also, I loved the campus and the city of Saint Louis!
You come from a small tight knit school in Cardinal Mooney. Did that play a factor in your college decision?
That definitely played a big role in my decision. I love that my high school is like a family because everybody knows each other and cares about each other. I felt the same way about SLU, especially with the team, which felt like a big family, where the boys team, girls team, sprinters, and distance runners were all really close.
What kind of runner are they getting in Grace Casagrande?
They are getting someone who is very excited for the next four years and someone who will be sure to push herself to the limit at practices and in the meets. I just really want to contribute to the team and see how far I can go and how fast I can run by training at the collegiate level.
What are you looking forward to most about running at the next level?
I’m really looking forward to the team environment, and having other girls on the team just as passionate about and dedicated to running as I am. Also, I’m excited to compete in the big collegiate meets and to experience indoor track season. I hope to focus on the 1500 in college and help score points for my team.
More Coverage
