Friday, February 6
New York, N.Y.
Rutgers University
vs
Scarlet Knights Open
Persistence Pays Off For Crawford
Feb 04 | Track & Field
Senior sprinter Charlee Crawford owns four school records, proof that her hard work has led to success on the track
Stepping onto the track as a freshman, the goals for Charlee Crawford were simple: learn, adapt, and soak in the experience of competing at the Big Ten level. Five years later, her mindset has transformed from a wide-eyed newcomer to a powerful leader, chasing national standards, professional dreams, and even an Olympic future.
"I came into my freshman year just embracing the moment," said Crawford. "It was about learning what it's like to be a collegiate athlete and being open to learning from the upperclassmen and my coaches."
This mentality paved the way for the athlete she is today. Now a graduate student in her fifth year, Crawford has shifted from absorbing knowledge to being the sprinter her younger teammates look up to.
"My mindset has definitely shifted to more goals," she explained. "In my senior year, I set a lot of standards for myself, like making it to Nationals."
Crawford will compete in her final home indoor meet on Friday, February 6, when the team travels to the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory for the Scarlet Knights Open.
For years, Crawford stayed in a familiar range in the 400-meter sprints, consistently clocking times in the mid-50s. The times were solid, but she knew she could improve. Then, last season at an indoor meet at Boston University, something finally clicked.
"I broke 54 seconds for the first time since my freshman year of high school, about eight years later," she said. "I just felt very confident going into it with my training. I dropped a second off my time. Everything clicked."
That race became a turning point. From that moment, her times continued to fall and with them came a surge of confidence. "It was great to finally have confidence in myself, going out there knowing I can do what I worked so hard to do during preseason," she said.
Much of that belief was inspired by the Olympic sprinter Isabella Whittaker, whose career mirrored her own. Whittaker was also stuck in the 54-55 second range before breaking through late in her collegiate career and eventually dropping into the low 50s.
"Seeing her story gave me so much inspiration," Crawford said. "I kept telling myself, if she could do it, I could do it too. It showed me that just because it's your senior year doesn't mean it's too late." That mindset paid off as Crawford eventually lowered her own personal best in the 400-meter. Capturing both the indoor and outdoor school record in the event was proof that hard work and persistence can fuel breakthroughs.
Her career trajectory reached a new level last summer when she competed for Team USA at the World University Games in Germany. "Getting to represent Team USA has been a dream of mine since I was little," she said. The experience felt like a "mini-Olympics", bringing together athletes from around the world and coaches from different schools.
"I got to meet people from different countries who also run the 400 and talk to them about their experiences," said Crawford. "It was a great experience and the best week of my life." Beyond the excitement, it was a learning experience, getting to listen to new coaching styles and new teammates on a global stage.
As her time as a Scarlet Knight winds down, Crawford's journey is far from finished. She understands what's possible when patience meets persistence. Crawford has already proven she can write her own timeline, and now with her fastest years still ahead of her, she's ready to chase what comes next.
"I came into my freshman year just embracing the moment," said Crawford. "It was about learning what it's like to be a collegiate athlete and being open to learning from the upperclassmen and my coaches."
This mentality paved the way for the athlete she is today. Now a graduate student in her fifth year, Crawford has shifted from absorbing knowledge to being the sprinter her younger teammates look up to.
"My mindset has definitely shifted to more goals," she explained. "In my senior year, I set a lot of standards for myself, like making it to Nationals."
Crawford will compete in her final home indoor meet on Friday, February 6, when the team travels to the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory for the Scarlet Knights Open.
For years, Crawford stayed in a familiar range in the 400-meter sprints, consistently clocking times in the mid-50s. The times were solid, but she knew she could improve. Then, last season at an indoor meet at Boston University, something finally clicked.
"I broke 54 seconds for the first time since my freshman year of high school, about eight years later," she said. "I just felt very confident going into it with my training. I dropped a second off my time. Everything clicked."
That race became a turning point. From that moment, her times continued to fall and with them came a surge of confidence. "It was great to finally have confidence in myself, going out there knowing I can do what I worked so hard to do during preseason," she said.
Much of that belief was inspired by the Olympic sprinter Isabella Whittaker, whose career mirrored her own. Whittaker was also stuck in the 54-55 second range before breaking through late in her collegiate career and eventually dropping into the low 50s.
"Seeing her story gave me so much inspiration," Crawford said. "I kept telling myself, if she could do it, I could do it too. It showed me that just because it's your senior year doesn't mean it's too late." That mindset paid off as Crawford eventually lowered her own personal best in the 400-meter. Capturing both the indoor and outdoor school record in the event was proof that hard work and persistence can fuel breakthroughs.
Her career trajectory reached a new level last summer when she competed for Team USA at the World University Games in Germany. "Getting to represent Team USA has been a dream of mine since I was little," she said. The experience felt like a "mini-Olympics", bringing together athletes from around the world and coaches from different schools.
"I got to meet people from different countries who also run the 400 and talk to them about their experiences," said Crawford. "It was a great experience and the best week of my life." Beyond the excitement, it was a learning experience, getting to listen to new coaching styles and new teammates on a global stage.
As her time as a Scarlet Knight winds down, Crawford's journey is far from finished. She understands what's possible when patience meets persistence. Crawford has already proven she can write her own timeline, and now with her fastest years still ahead of her, she's ready to chase what comes next.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
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