February 25, 2022 | SPORTS | By Samwel Makyao | Illustration by Patil Khakhamian
Elliot Singer ’25 is a runner on the Colorado College Track and Field team and the Cross Country team. She lives in San Francisco, Calif., and outside of running, she’s an ordained minister and loves to watch cycling. We met with Elliot in the Loomis Hall First Floor Lounge and talked about her extraordinary running career at CC. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Samwel Makyao: At what stage in your life did you realize that running was your thing?
Elliot Singer: Probably later than most people. I played soccer from middle school to my first year of high school, and then I stopped because I felt like I wasn’t really into [it] anymore. I was too small, so I kept getting hit very hard. Then I didn’t have anything to do and I always thought that people who ran cross country and track were so cool, so I decided to try it.
Makyao: How does it feel to represent the Tigers and become an All-American?
Singer: It feels really good. I think being part of the cross-country team is something that I’m very proud of because we are a tight-knit group that is very supportive. With being an All-American, I think it still hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t necessarily think about it too much, but on the other hand, it’s exciting to see where I am now and think about all the things I could be or things I would change in training. It also makes me feel that I have so far to go already, which makes me excited for the future.
Makyao: What do you hope to accomplish in your career in the next five years?
Singer: For cross country, I would love to have our entire team be All-Americans. We are getting really strong and have some strong people already, so it’s possible. Personally, I would like to be in the top ten nationals for cross country and become an All-American in track because it’s much harder to become an All-American. And then, in my long-term career, I want to be a nurse in the emergency room.
Makyao: What drives you to be the best?
Singer: Honestly, this season was a surprise for me. I was injured coming in, and it’s tough to be an injured freshman who can’t run during the preseason. So I had no idea what to expect from the season, and a lot surprised me. I would also say the team is so supportive, and your success is everybody’s success. I also look up to my coach, who pushes me to do well. Additionally, cross-country is a very personal sport. You are in those races all alone, so you need to overcome a lot of stuff within and find things out about yourself.
Makyao: What award or record are you most proud of and why?
Singer: I think the All-American not because it’s got the flashy name, but the biggest deal to me was having a race where the goal was to perform well, and I was able to execute a really good race on a day that really mattered and in a high-pressure situation. College running is very different from high school running. It’s a lot more chaotic, and I think handling that transition was a learning curve. And sort of like getting out there and competing even if I had no business competing with many people out there that I’m proud of.
Makyao: What is your signature move or technique?
Singer: One that I can think is when we are at the starting line, I tend to get really low like I am about to start a 100 meter race. It looks super weird because I’m already shorter than everybody else.
Makyao: Tell us one thing people don’t know or misconceive about Track and Field.
Singer: I would say people think the one who wins is the fastest and the only thing that matters is how fast you can run. People overlook the strategy, and that includes a lot of people who are running. If you focus on strategy, you can make a lot of marginal gains. How you carry your body, conduct yourself, and how your competitors view you can make a big difference.
Makyao: What’s the craziest location you will wish to do Track and Field one day, and why?
Singer: I am really into trail racing and there’s a famous race around Mont Blanc in France. It’s such an insane location because you are like running over glaciers and running through the night. Our coach has done it and it’s my dream of mine to do that one day.
Makyao: What kind of music do you listen to before a tournament?
Singer: I don’t listen to a ton of music, but I am definitely a Taylor Swift fan. However, I was told by my teammates when I got asked this question to say “Frozen Heart” from the Frozen Movie. It’s one of the songs that pumps up our team.
Makyao: What’s your most precious memorabilia of a place or event?
Singer: One of the most impactful memories was from this season when we completed one of our regional races in Los Angeles. It was a challenging course, and we were all trying to qualify for nationals, which is rare for this team. In the end, we found out we qualified, and everybody was crying, and even our coach had tears in his eyes. It was like a very high emotional moment I got to be with the team after doing something tough.