SMU Mustang track and field worldwide phenomenon, Kristine Eikrem-Engeset, is back, taking first place awards. The junior led the SMU track and field team to the 3,000-meter title by earning first place at the Red Raider Invitational last weekend.
The Norway native did not display interest in athletics growing up, but she changed her mind as soon as she hit the teens.
She started her athletic career playing football until her coach recommended she try long-distance running. Eikrem-Engeset had then found her true passion and decided to focus all of her attention into track.
She then found herself competing nationally in the Junior World Championships in Beijing for the 1,500-meter steeplechase in 2006. Eikrem-Engeset qualified for the finals but finished in at 12th place.
Eikrem-Engeset then went on to compete in the 2007 Junior European Championships for the 3,000-meter steeplechase and earned herself a silver medal. She also started attending the University of Stavanger during this time to study religion.
The people would call her the “New Golden Girl of Norwegian Athletics,” as she attracted great attention to her fans across the world of track. Quickly rising as a track star, big-name brands such as Puma, signed Eikrem-Engeset to be the new face of Puma’s running campaign alongside Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt.
Eikrem-Engeset then transferred to SMU, where she quickly began earning titles for the Mustangs.
As a freshman, Eikrem-Engeset was named to the NCAA South Central All Region Team, USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and competed in the NCAA Championships.
Eikrem-Engeset ‘s best achievement as a sophomore was claiming the silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships. Her time, 10:28.71, was the second best outdoor time by a C-USA runner in 2010.
The track and field season is just starting and Eikrem-Engeset is vulnerable to reach ,if not surpass, her old stats.
She just set the school record for the mile run at the Arkansas Invitational. Her time of 4:47.56 is just 0.14 seconds faster than the mark set last season by the junior Mustang Mary Alenbratt.
