Runner Continues to Set Records

Mary Kriege a leader on and off the trackJack PriceTHE SANTA CLARAApril 7, 2016

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you go to a track meet and see a blazing fast Bronco with a smile on her face, you have seen Mary Kriege. 

She has broken numerous school records and still completed a degree in accounting. Kriege is running her last season and pursuing a one-year master’s in finance.

“It has been a great experience at Santa Clara, I wouldn’t have changed anything,” Kriege said.

Kriege started running early on, but didn’t take it seriously until high school. There, she consistently did well across most races, which ultimately led her to Santa Clara.

“I wanted a reason to go far away from home,” Kriege said, who is a San Jose native. “But once I came on my visit and met the team and coaches, I loved everything about it. I couldn’t say no.”

Since then, she has broken the school record for the 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m and matched the top three in numerous others.

But her career hasn’t all been great. She had severe injuries that took her out of running for nearly two years while at Santa Clara.

“Last year I had a really big breakthrough,” Kriege said. “It had been after I was hurt and injured for so long. I had been in this injury cycle. I think at a certain point, I stopped stressing, and soon after things came together.”

On the school side, between running and her beloved naps, she is studying for the CPA exam.

Next fall, Mary hopes to start auditing in the world of accounting.

She loves to run at Rancho San Antonio in the Santa Cruz mountains with her teammates. The cool breeze and beautiful sights are a calling to Mary.

The track team of nearly 20 also volunteers when they can. Just last week, they helped at the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Overall, she is happy with her experiences thus far and the relationships she has made.

“The people at Santa Clara are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I have made some really great friendships here that I don’t think I would have otherwise,” Kriege said. “It has truly been really fun, my four years have been a blast.”

Contact Jack Price at jhprice@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.