Jan. 25, 2017
By Alyssa Palfey, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior two-time Big Ten Champion Tori Gerlach thought her career as a Penn State runner was ending last year, but things quickly changed.
Gerlach had competed in four indoor meets during the 2016 indoor season and intended on running and competing during the 2016 outdoor season as well. Then, she got injured and couldn't compete at all for what was supposed to be her last outdoor season.
After carefully considering her options, Gerlach decided to come back for a fifth year at Penn State. Now, she knows this spring will be her very last time competing as a Nittany Lion.
"I'm excited, but I also thought I was done last year until all of a sudden, with two months to go, I had to change my plan entirely because I got injured," said Gerlach. "I'm really excited although it's kind of bittersweet, knowing it's coming to an end, but I feel like it's going to be the best season I've ever had."
Gerlach only has outdoor eligibility left, so she has spent this year's cross country and indoor seasons training for the upcoming season.
Although she isn't running for Penn State right now, she still gets to compete unattached in indoor home meets in order to be as prepared as possible for meets coming up this March.
"The training is still intense. I'm doing the same exact things; I just don't have that many races to prepare for," said Gerlach. "In cross country, I just trained for everything. I didn't have to cut back in mileage because I was racing. It was emotionally not as intense, which is really nice."
"Her training really doesn't differ that much than if she were competing in the indoor season," said head coach John Gondak. "She still is running in multiple races unattached and is training with the team. I wish the outdoor season would start tomorrow in respect to her, she's ready for it."
"She's a multiple Big Ten champion and will be a great asset to our team this outdoor season as we prepare to win a Big Ten Championship at home."
Having this chance to run at the indoor home meets unattached allows for Gerlach to get back in the racing mindset, so she isn't completely starting over this outdoor season.
"I am racing at home, and it definitely feels like I'm getting back into it," said Gerlach. "It's not as intense and I don't have to spend my energy worrying about (indoor) Big Tens and Nationals, I can just workout with my teammates, race with my teammates and know in the back of my mind that outdoor is the main focus."
Gerlach has been a huge part of this Penn State track and field program since she came in as a freshman in 2012.
She currently has the number one all-time indoor performances in the mile and the 1,000-meter run with times of 4:37.83 and 2:43.15, respectively. She also has the second all-time indoor performance in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:50.49 and the second all-time outdoor performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:53.98.
Gerlach is also a two-time Big Ten indoor champion where she won the 3,000-meter run in 2014 and then later won the 5,000-meter run in 2015.
Although track has been successful and a major part of Gerlach's college years, she says the whole student-athlete experience has impacted her life in more ways than just running.
"Being an athlete isn't all about the running and racing, it definitely has shaped me into who I am as a human being in general."
Gerlach and the rest of the Nittany Lions will kick off their 2017 outdoor season with the Pac-12-Big Ten Challenge in Tempe, Arizona on March 24th.