Shelton’s passion for running leads her to Tarleton

By Sandy Anderberg

She runs because she loves it. “It’s my passion,” cross-country runner Audrey Shelton claims. 2013 Clarendon graduate Audrey Shelton now runs for the Tarleton State University TexAnns in Stephenville, Texas, where she is a Kinesiology Major and has already made a huge impact on the program.

Shelton, along with her teammates, has qualified for the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championship in Spokane, Washington to be held on November 23. They earned that honor by finishing sixth at the NCAA South Central Regional Cross Country Meet where Shelton finished 34th with a time of 22:36. Shelton’s coach Pat Ponder noted that this is the first time in school history that a cross-country team has qualified to compete in the national championships. “I have taken individuals in the past, but it is special when a team qualifies,” he said. “I hope to use this as a building block for the future.” Shelton will join six other girls as they make history for TSU. Already the team has posted many honors in their event. Shelton was named the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year in her first year at TSU. Two of her fellow runners also claimed awards, which are the New Comer of the Year and Conference Champions. Coach Pat Ponder was also named Coach of the Year for the Lone Star Conference. Ponder had nothing but praise for Shelton. “Audrey is an outstanding young lady!” Ponder said. “She has been a consistent top three runner for our team all season. She is a leader. She leads by example, hard work, discipline, and commitment!”

Shelton is familiar with participating in post-season meets and had many successes in cross-country and track while at CHS. She qualified for the state CC meet three out of four years and finished sixth in the state as a senior. She has adjusted well to running at the collegiate level where the race has lengthened from two miles to running a 6K, which is about four miles. She runs 45-50 miles a week in preparation. “I didn’t want my running to be over (after high school),” Shelton said. “I love competing and staying healthy. I also love being a part of the team. I just have a great love for running and I feel like I am pretty good at it.”

Shelton chose Tarleton because she really liked the program and the coach. After college she is interested in going into the Physical Therapy field to work in pediatrics or sports medicine, but for right now, Shelton wants to give TSU her all. “I want to improve a lot more,” Shelton said. “And I would like to be one of their top runners to help them out a lot more.” She gives a lot of credit to her high school coaches. “I really didn’t realize I could run until my eighth grade year,” Shelton said. “My high school coaches have definitely prepared me for this and without them I wouldn’t have been as ready. I am thankful for my parents’ support, too. I am very blessed to be a part of all of this.”

Clarendon head coach Molly Weatherred had nothing but praise for what Shelton did in her four years at CHS. “Audrey is such a special athlete and person,” Weatherred said. “She had a huge impact on the Lady Bronco athletic program. She was one of the hardest workers I have ever known and the commitment and dedication Audrey had for our program was undeniable. She set a standard and an expectation for our program. Everything that Audrey accomplished in her high school career was a direct result of how much heart she had. She is a true example of a winner.”

Shelton has a very good concept of life in general that is partly due to her dedication and determination in her running. “If you find the passion in something, pursue it and give it your all. It can pay off even if it’s hard. Give it your all, all of the time.”

After the Christmas break, she will begin training for the track season. Yes, Audrey will run some more, because it’s her passion, and in her own words, “I just can’t stop.”