Carrie Anne Tollefson (born January 18, 1977, in Dawson, Minnesota)[1] is an American former middle-distance runner who was on the US 2004 Summer Olympic team.
Tollefson was raised in Dawson, a small town in western Minnesota. Running for Dawson-Boyd High School in Lac qui Parle County, she was a five-time state champion in cross-country from 1990 through 1994, setting a national record for the most consecutive state championships.[2][3] She also won eight individual track and field titles in the 1600 and 3200 meters, and set a then-state record in the 3,200 meters in 1994 with a time of 10:30.28.[4] Tollefson's thirteen individual titles in cross-country and track are the most in Minnesota history as of 2020.[2]
She was also the 1999 NCAA Outdoor and Indoor 3000 meters and Outdoor 5000 meters champion.[7] She graduated from Villanova with a communications degree in 1999.
At the US Olympic Trials in 2004, Tollefson won the 1500 meters. She was the only American athlete selected for the women's 1500m event at the Olympics, as neither the second- nor third-placed finishers at the trials had achieved Olympic "A" standard times.[8] Tollefson competed in the 2004 Olympic Summer Games, making it to the semis in the 1500 meters.
In 2010, Tollefson began hosting a weekly online video show and podcast about running and fitness called C Tolle Run.[11] Tollefson works as an analyst and commentator for a variety of outlets including ESPN2, NBC, and USATF.tv, covering events such as the New York City Marathon.[12]
Tollefson began hosting a yearly summer distance camp for teens at St. Catherine University in 2007.[13] She is a Global Reebok Running Ambassador.
Tollefson was inducted into the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 2015.[14] She was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2018.[15]
Tollefson is a product advocate for Body Togs, a company producing weighted sleeves for weight loss and exercising.[16] In addition, she is a brand ambassador for St. Paul–based Hiway Credit Union, where she’s been a member for 20+ years.[17]
