Former Western Washington University All-American and Bellingham native
Courtney Olsen has announced that she is turning pro.
The former Viking distance runner All-American will be turning pro with sponsorship from shoe company
HOKA ONE ONE.
A steeplechase and 1,500m specialist, and a two-time competitor at NCAA II Cross Country nationals, Olsen competed for the Vikings from 2007-2010 after transferring to Western from Concordia (OR). Olsen prepped at Squalicum High School and is still a Bellingham native working in Imaging as a Film Librarian at Peacehealth St. Joseph's Hospital.
While Olsen had a standout collegiate career that included setting program records in the 1,500 (4:32.34) and 3,000m Steeplechase (10:35.32), with both marks remaining in the WWU top five. She won the 3,000m Steeplechase at the 2010 GNAC Outdoor Championships and placed 9
th at the NCAA II National Championships. She earned USTFCCCA All-America honors during the 2009 indoor season running the leadoff leg of the distance medley relay that placed 7
th.
Following her collegiate career, Olsen helped create and is the president of the
Bellingham Distance Project and trained at longer distances. She qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials that was held February 29 in Atlanta, finishing 54
th in a time of 2:41.36. She was also the top American finisher and placed 5
th overall at the 2019 50K World Championships in Romania, turning in a time of third-fastest US time in 3:19:23. She also qualified for the 2014 Boston Marathon.
