FELDMAN, Kristy ~ Graceland's Hall of Fame

FELDMAN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/25/2013 at 21:34:25

HALL of FAME

Kristy Feldman
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Kristy FELDMAN began her running career at Graceland with limited experience in cross country and track and field. Hailing from Central Lyon High School in northwest Iowa, this small-town girl had yet to reveal her potential. Prior to attending Graceland, Kristy had never set foot on a cross country course or seen a state track meet. Originally an 800 meter specialist, she was advised to participate in cross country to condition for track.

Kristy quickly made her mark in Graceland history. During her cross country career she was a four-time All-Conference athlete finishing in the top 15 each season, and a two-time NAIA All Region V athlete, finishing 7th and 4th at those regional races. Her senior season, Kristy overcame an extreme case of anemia and earned a spot for Nationals. She placed 4th among all NAIA runners in the country - the highest ranking of a Graceland cross country athlete to date.

After competing as a pentathlete on the track, Kristy quickly found a new love for the mile run. She qualified for Nationals in the Distance Medley Relay her freshman indoor season. The next year she came back with a vengeance qualifying for Indoor Nationals in the 1000 and the 4x800 and setting school records in the 1000, 1500 and the mile.

In outdoor track she set a new school record in the 1500m, qualifying her for Nationals. Her junior year she broke Graceland's school records indoors in all distances from the 1000m to the 5K and 4x800, also qualifying for Nationals in those events. She earned her first All-American award that season (4th), running 5:00 in the mile. In outdoor track that year she broke her own record in the 1500m and set new school records in the mile, 3K, and the Sprint Medley, as well as running qualifying marks in the 1500m, 3K, and the 4x800. She earned her second of four All-American awards in outdoor track (1500m, 3rd) that season.

After an amazing cross country season her senior year, she stepped on the indoor track again setting new records in the 1000m, 1500m, mile, 3K, and the 5K and running qualifying marks in all events from the 800m to the 5K including the 4x800. She earned National Champion honors that season in the mile, besting the field with a 4:55. She ended her collegiate career outdoors with new school records in the 3K and the 5K. She qualified for Nationals that season in the 1500m, 3K, 5K, and the 4x800 earning her final All-American award in the 1500m (4th).

Kristy graduated from Graceland in 2002 with a degree in Wellness Program Management and Health and Physical Education. She continues to run for Iowa's Elite Development Team, RunAblaze and is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Des Moines University, which she will receive in 2010.

Kristy FELDMAN was inducted into Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 2008.

SOURCES: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2013