New Jersey's Camryn Wennersten, one of the top distance running recruits in the country, made her college decision on Thursday night.
The winner is.........Furman University!
Wennersten, who is from Ridgewood and ran for the Garden State Track Club during the cross-country season last fall and the track and field seasons this past winter and spring, also considered the University of North Carolina, the University of Virginia, Georgetown, Colorado, Oregon, Wake Forest, Penn, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard, Rutgers, and Alabama.
Wennersten shared news of her commitment to Furman, which is located in Greensville, S.C., on her Instagram account.
"I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing coaches and athletes throughout this recruiting journey,'' she wrote. I am beyond thrilled to announce I will be attending Furman University to further both my athletic and academic pursuits. Thank you to all of my family, coaches, and friends who have supported and guided me. I am forever grateful to have people who inspire me everyday to be my best self. Can't wait to spend the next four years building something special.''
Wennersten, who placed seventh in the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last weekend at Hayward Field in Oregon, is coming of a historic track and field season!
When Wennersten ran 4:43.83 in the mile (she was auto-timed in 4:42.07 for 1,600-No. 6 on NJ's All-Time) to finish first among women at the John Hay Pennsylvania Distance Festival at West Chester Henderson High last month, she not only moved into No. 4 on the state's all-time list, but she also became the first high school girl in NJ history to run under 4:45 for the mile and under 2:08 in the 800m!!
On the last weekend of May, Wennersten lit up the track when she threw down a 2:07.68, No. 13 in state history, to finish first in the two-lapper at the Dash and Splash Holiday Classic at the University of West Virginia in Morgantown.
With her 4:43.83 mile, Wennersten joined some fast company on the state's all-time lists.
The only runners in state history to run faster than Wennersten for the full mile without 1600m conversions are Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional, who ran the state record of 4:39.25 to finish first at the 2007 Nike National Championships, Olympian Erin Donohue of Haddonfield, who ran 4:42.96 at the 2001 Adidas National Championships, and Michelle Rowen of Washington Township (4:43.3 in 1982).
For the 1600m, only Tauro, Donohue, Rowen, current Colts Neck junior Lilly Shapiro (4:40.15 last month), and Josette Norris of Tenafly (4:41.61 to win at the 2016 Meet of Champions) have run faster than Wennersten.
