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Cedarville Magazine
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Carsyn Koch ’18 Becomes First Cedarville Undergrad to Compete at Olympic Trials
Yellow Jacket Carsyn Koch ’18 qualified for the U.S.
Olympic Track and Field Trials, competing in the
women’s 800 meter on July 1 in Eugene, Oregon. She
placed fifth in her preliminary heat in 2:05.57.
She was the only NCAA Division II athlete in
the field of 38, which included more than a dozen
professionals and eight runners from Division I
institutions.
While multiple Cedarville University graduates
have participated in the Olympic Trials, Koch became
the first undergraduate to qualify. She did so with the
2:02.39 effort she turned in at the Stanford University
Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, California, on
May 1.
That mark is the fastest time in women’s Division II outdoor history,
breaking a record that stood for 26 years.
Koch, fromWashburn, Maine, posted the No. 4 time of 2:03.48 in
winning the NCAA Division II title on May 28 in Bradenton, Florida.
Her 2:03.58 performance at the Mt. SAC Relays in
Norwalk, California, ranks No. 5.
During the winter season, she won the Division
II indoor 800-meter championship in 2:05.12,
setting meet and school records in the process.
More than a dozen print and electronic media
outlets from across the country covered Koch in the
months of May and June alone.
At least a hundred supporters showed up at the
Callan Athletic Center for her send-off to the Trials
on June 28, in addition to the buzz created by Yellow
Jacket fans on social media.
“I am proud of all that Carsyn has accomplished
in her first two years here at Cedarville,” noted Jeff
Bolender ’91, Cedarville’s Director of Cross Country and Track and
Field. “The Olympic trials competition was one that she will never
forget. This experience will be invaluable for her as she seeks to
compete in future high-level competitions.”
Norman’s older sister, Bethany ’17, is
a four-year member of the Lady Jacket
distance running team. Her younger sister,
Danielle, is a junior at LCA.
Norman was born without her left
foot and ankle and her right big toe due
to an amniotic band disorder. Due to the
condition, fetal parts in the womb, such
as fingers, toes, and limbs, are caught in
fibrous bands and amputated.
“I’m very grateful for my prosthetic,”
Norman affirmed. “If I would have not been
born like this, I probably wouldn’t have
been given these opportunities to compete
on a world stage and share my faith with
others. God had this plan for my life
all along.
“There’s a reason why I’m training so long and it’s so hard,”
Norman said. “He has a reason and plan for me, and I have to trust
that His plan is perfect for my life.”
The next phase of that plan includes
running winter indoor track for Cedarville.
“I’ve looked forward to running for
Cedarville most of my life,” she shared. “To
finally be on the team, it’s very exciting. I
hope to really strengthenmyself athletically,
get my best times in a lot of different
distances, make varsity for all the teams,
and improve all around.”
And what about her counsel to young
athletes? “I would tell them that if you
make goals and put your mind to what you
want to do, you can achieve more than you
think,” Norman said. “Dream big and really
go after those goals. Don’t let anything
in life stop you, whether disabilities, or
circumstances. God placed those in your
life to grow you and challenge you, not to stop you.”
Clem Boyd
is Managing Editor of
Cedarville Magazine
.