On Nov. 23, senior Siri Retrum competed in the NCAA Divison III National Championship in Hanover, Ind. After four years of competing, Retrum capped off her senior season with 6,000 meters in 22:41.6, finishing in 107th place.
In the week prior, Retrum received All-Regional honors placing 16th in the Great Lakes Regional Championship.
"It is hard to put into words what this past weekend was like," says Retrum. The night before the race, a banquet was held for the competing athletes. Runners from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Wartburg College sat beside Retrum.
"I was surrounded by incredible athletes from across the country," she said. "I will never forget that."
Since the meet was in Hanover, Ind., only three hours from DePauw University, Retrum had many supporters at the race. The crowd of friends and family that attended the race humbled Retrum.
"There were people lining the course on both sides almost the whole way screaming like crazy. I could barely hear coach yelling what place I was in," Retrum said. "The last kilometer of the race all I could think about was finishing my last cross-country race as hard as I could. I wanted to leave it all out on the course and have no regrets."
Retrum is proud of the women's team this season. With a younger women's team, DePauw has immense potential going into the 2014 season.
"I cannot wait to come back next year and see them competing as a team," she said. "I know they have the work ethic, determination and talent to get there."
With track season ahead, Retrum is excited to compete again. The 2014 indoor track season will kick off on Feb. 7 with the Tiger Small College Invitational.
