Female Athlete of the Week-Maddie Tieskotter

RedTail cross country runner Maddie Tieskotter has been named Scheels Female Athlete of the Week for her performance at NJCAA Nationals in Tallahassee, Florida on November 12.

Maddie just finished her freshman cross country season this past weekend in Tallahassee, Florida at the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships. Maddie, a middle-distance runner for track, stepped up to run for the cross team back in early October and has made an immediate impact on the team. She ran a 22:38.0 5k this past weekend that awarded her 114th place among a sizable field. Maddie had a 22 second personal best drop in this race under extremely adverse conditions.

"Maddie has been a wonderful gift to have among the team," said coach Hunter Lavallee. "She is an incredibly driven athlete, giving her all to anything that comes her way. Her ability to lock into any constructive criticism or advice and immediately apply what she's been told is a strength that's hard to come by. She has progressed so well coming off a previous injury at the end of her high school career. Maddie is one of the key elements to her very impressive middle-distance crew that looks to hit the ground running on the track in January. Maddie's progression will be one for the books!"

"Nationals went very well," said Maddie. "I ran one of my best races of the season and felt I pushed my limits. I have never run at a meet like that before and the whole experience was just amazing to be a part of!"

Tieskotter is originally from Waterloo.