Grace Steinmetz, Bellevue University

Bellevue University's Grace Steinmetz's college coach called her rapid ascent a "huge understatement" of a surprise, and there’s no better way to explain the incredible trajectory of improvement for this athlete. Grace had a high school cross country 5K best of 20:34, and she was 73rd at the Iowa Class 1A cross country state meet as a senior, with track bests of 2:30 for the 800, 5:37 for the 1600…no state titles, no national appearances, a few all-state awards…just your regular high school runner.  And then all semblance of average disappeared. As a collegiate freshman, Grace won in Sioux City, Iowa, at the Dordt Classic last October, becoming just the second NAIA runner at that time in the season to break 21 minutes, running 20:40 and breaking her own school record and setting the course record by over a minute. She was named the NAIA Athlete of the Week and the Frontier Conference Runner of the Year for her efforts.  By the end of her first collegiate season in November, she had set cross country school records of 17:33 in the 5K and 20:40 in the 6K, winning her conference and taking fifth at the NAIA cross country national championships, the best-ever finish for Bellevue, garnering NAIA USTFCCCA Midwest Region Athlete of the Year honors. 

She now owns the 1500, 5K, and 10K track school records at Bellevue University, along with the DMR and 4x800 records, with personal bests of 4:42, 17:08, and 35:12, respectively.  She’s a multi-time track conference champ, both indoors and outdoors, was All-American in both the 5K and 10K outdoors, and was named the Freshman of the Year by NAIA Track and Field Central. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to the Red Banner Race Report Podcast, where we dive into the incredible stories of athletes and moments in NAIA cross-country and track and field. I'm your host, Marin, and our guest today has had quite the meteoric rise to greatness. Her college coach called her rapid ascent a quote, huge understatement of a surprise. And there's no better way to explain what has been just an incredible improvement for this athlete. Belleville University's great diamonds had a high school cross-country 5K Best of 2034, she was 73rd at the Iowa Class 1A Cross Country State Meet as his senior, and had track bests of 230 for the 800, 537 for the 1600, no state titles, no national appearances, a few all-state awards, just your regular high school runner. And then all semblance of average disappeared. As a collegiate freshman at Bellevue, Grace won in Sioux City, Iowa at the Dork Classic last October for cross-country, becoming just the second NAI runner at that time in the season to break 21 minutes for the 6K, running 2040 and breaking her own school record, and setting the course record by over a minute. She was named the NAI Athlete of the Week and the Frontier Conference Runner of the Year, and by the end of her first collegiate season in November, she had set cross-country school records of 1733 for the 5K and 2046K, winning her conference and taking fifth at the NAI Cross-Country National Championships. The best ever finish for a Bellevue runner, garnering NAIA USTF TCCA Midwest Region Athlete of the Year honors. Grace now owns the 1500, 5K, and 10K track school records at Belleville University, along with the distance medium relay and the 4x800 records. She has personal best of 442 in the 1500, 1708 in the 5K, and 3512, respectively on the 10K track. She's a multi-time track conference champ, both indoors and outdoors, and Grace was named the Freshman of the Year by NAI Track and Field Central, and she was all American in both the 5K and 10K outdoors. We'll get to know Grace as an athlete, a person, and what's on her radar as she looks ahead to the fall. So welcome Grace to the Red Banner Race Report Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Yeah. Well, let's jump into your beginning of your incredible freshman year. So I was reading some articles across the internet, you know, getting some information and research done before our interview. And I read that your coach, Craig Christians, am I saying that correctly? Yes. Okay. Well, he mentioned that given your high school times, your debut was kind of a massive understatement of a surprise, which I love the way he phrased that. So when you first stepped onto campus, did you have any idea that you would be putting up these crazy times and these historic accomplishments so quickly?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Well, so first of all, I Bellevue was nowhere on my radar of going to college until I had a few other colleges that I was looking at before Bellevue, but Bellevue was not something that I was even going to go to. But my junior year, um I was running at a trail, the end of that cross-country season, and that was the year I didn't make it to state, and I was running, and we have seen some crazy things at that trail, like call the police at that trail, and like on certain things. And there's this guy sitting on the bench with like his shirt off, ponytail, and we were like, Um, should we go down there and run? And my dad was there, and so we started, and then my dad and him started talking, and he was like, Oh, I coach for Bellevue. Um, where do you guys run for? And like, what year am I in high school? And it ended up being Coach Christians, and he was like, Oh, you guys should come on a tour. So we went on a tour, and I fell in love with Bellevue, and I was like, small school, small team. Um, the coaches were great, and so I like to say that I met Coach Christians on a bench thinking he was a crazy guy at first, but um it's kind of a God moment, like I didn't know where I was gonna go to college or what I was gonna do, and then I realized that I should try running in college, and I guess the rest is history from there is what I like to call it. But yeah, definitely um through high school, I did um not have as faster times as I did in college, but senior year um track season was when I could start to see that um I was getting faster and improving. And um I definitely was like a late peaker, is what I would say. Like I had a big gross spur in in um high school. My license actually said 5'3 until I was like a senior year, and I was like five seven, and everyone at school one summer like I went back and they were like, Whoa, you grew or whatever. But I like to say that I was probably a late peaker um in running, and I guess I just peaked um later.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

Well, it worked out clearly, because this is only your freshman season and your accomplishments are historic, both for your school and even the NAI in general. I'm not sure there's been a more successful freshman across the board in the history books. I mean, we'd have to look at some stats, but I'd say you're definitely one of the top to come in and make an immediate impact. And wow, what a story about how you ended up at Bellevue because had you not been there that day, you're right, your story could have been very different. So was there a specific moment when you were as at Bellevue and you're getting, you know, into your collegiate career, you're beginning your um freshman season as a cross-country runner where something just clicked. I mean, you realized, hey, I am operating at a completely different level now.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yeah. So I had no idea like going into like the first meet, um, knowing what I would do um from high school. I was like, yeah, maybe like I'll drop my time a little bit or whatever. But then um realizing right when the gun went off or whatever, I realized that oh, I can stay up with these um good competition. Um some of them were like D1 runners in that race, and I was like, this is really fun to race with these people, and then I just realized that I just took off and finished that race and realized that I could go that fast and was excited about it. And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Did you have a major increase in your mileage? Did you do anything different that was a big jump?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

Yes, so that summer um going into my freshman year, I put more miles in than I have ever put in in my whole life. Um freshman year, I went to state and cross-country as a um in high school, and then I kind of had an injury my um sophomore year, and I did not run that summer um with my hip. And then junior year I had my appendix rupture, so then I was determined to get back to state my senior year, which I did, and then um just I put way more miles in in the summer than I ever have because um through my high school it was like injury and like um stomach problems and different things like that. But yeah, I put way more um miles in in that summer than I ever have ran in my whole life.

SPEAKER_00 8:12

Well, it paid off, clearly, because you went on a blazing win streak for a while. Um, at the Dort Classic, you didn't just win, you shattered the existing course record by over a minute and you ran a 2040 6k. And if I look back at your high school PR for 5k, it's almost the same, which is a crazy comparison. So talk about that race. I mean, did you know that you were on a record-breaking pace while you were running?

SPEAKER_01 8:39

Yes, so I had no idea during the whole race that I was on that record breaking pace. Dort was actually that was one of my favorite courses that we ran. Yeah, so that was one of my favorite courses. Um, and I had no idea that I was on that record uh breaking pace. I just went out and I don't know, just kept it and enjoyed it the whole way through. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

And you beat quite a few D1 runners as well, which was exciting. We always love when the NAI, you know, I shouldn't say shows up, but yeah. Well, you also made history as Bellevue's first indoor track, All-American. So you were third in Gainesville, and you stuck it out with national champ, Jamie Holterman. There's a kind of a gap that opened up, and then um some some runners took off. So when you are racing something on an indoor track, it's obviously very different than cross-country or even outdoor track. So, do you have anything that goes through your mind, like tactical decisions when somebody starts to ramp up the pace that you're gonna cover a move?

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Yeah, um, I knew for indoor when um I knew I wanted to place and become an all-American at indoors, so top eight was my goal. But when we first started that race, I realized that when they took off, that I should be up in that top five, and then I realized that I should go for it and keep the pace and um try to get in the top three. I know during the race, Chris Craig Christians was like um yelling at me like, don't don't like die or anything in the middle. And afterwards, he told me that I made him nervous that I was gonna like drop back, but he realized that he told me afterwards, I realized I should just stay quiet and let you do your grace thing. And um so I just decided to that I wanted that third place, and I was like, I'm gonna stick with it and try to stay up as long as I can with um the top leaders.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

Well, your your coach has mentioned you as being an athlete who isn't afraid of racing, so you know, doing your your grace thing. Do you prefer keeping your racing simple? Like just get out and go fast, or do you, you know, do some mental preparation? Some athletes they visualize their race, they you know, maybe they meditate on what they're gonna do or they just spend some time thinking, or do you just get out there and go after it?

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Yeah, so I don't really have like a certain thing I do. Um I do pray before each race, and I like to I have this little saying where I'm where I say God's got this, and um, so when I run, I think about that, and I'm like, okay, give it to God, and he can do the rest, and whatever happens, happens. Um, he'll give me his strength all the way through. And I like to think of that as I run is like um God has control of this race, so just trust him through the whole race and know that he's got this, is what I like to think before I run. Um, and during the race, too, that whatever happens, happens, and um give him the glory no matter what.

SPEAKER_00 11:56

I love that. Do you have a favorite verse that maybe speaks to you?

SPEAKER_01 12:01

Yes, so um 1 Corinthians 10 31 is one of my favorites, and it's whatever you do, whether you eat or drink or do all to the glory of God. I like that one.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

Yep, that's a good one. Well, moving to the outdoor season, you didn't slow down, clearly. You were the frontier conference champ in the 5 and 10k. You walked away from outdoor nationals with more all American hardware and the long distance events. So doubling up like that is very challenging, especially with some of the weather conditions and the heat that we had, including race delays and some of the events. So, how did you manage your recovery and your focus for two of the longest events in track when you are trying to run at such a high level at a national meet?

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Yeah, so at nationals, too. So we uh we ran the four by eight, um, and I was in the four by eight, and the 10K was um really close to that afterwards, and I was like, I do not know how I'm gonna do both, but we're gonna try. And then the weather delay happened and I was great, which I was so thankful because then the 10K was moved to the next day, um, which it wasn't gonna be, it was gonna be on the same day as the four by eight. So that worked out really well for having a weather delay.

SPEAKER_02 13:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:21

Then um my coach was like, Are you sure you want to do the 5k too? Because I was having some foot issues, and I was like, Yes, I'm gonna I'm gonna run it, I'm gonna do it. And he was like, Okay. Um, so um the weather delay did help me a lot with um running both the 10k and the four by eight at national. So I was so thankful for that. Yeah, it worked in your favor. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

Well, talk a bit about your training culture at Bellevue. So maybe what a weekly practice, um, maybe mileage, what your you know, typical training looks like, and then your coaches and teammates, how has that been for you as a freshie, right? Where you're constantly breaking all these school records and you're getting all these honors and everything's kind of new. So just taking it all in and talking about the atmosphere that you experienced for your first year.

SPEAKER_01 14:19

Yeah. So my coaches and teammates are um a big part of my training um because it takes good coaches and um good teammates to go out and compete. So with like cross-country, we practice on different trails in Bellevue. Um, sometimes we run um over in Council Bluffs on the Wabash Trail, which was where I practiced in high school. So coming back and practicing on the same trail practice in high school is really nice. Um, we don't have a track at the university, so we practice uh Bellevue West High School's track. Um and um in high school, sometimes we would practice okay, so we would practice on our own. So my coaches are really flexible with um practices and if it conflicts with anything. So sometimes if like I have to do a practicum out of school or like have class at that time, they're like, Oh, you can just here's a workout, run on your own. Um, so sometimes we have two a days or um one a days, and sometimes it's on your own, depending on it. And then mileage, um, I like to get like 50 to 60 mile weeks, either go down week, up week, down week, up week, um, is where I try to hit at. Um and then having teammate teammates um behind me practicing, pushing me um helps a lot as well.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Well, you're obviously a student athlete. You talked about, you know, how you have to balance running with classwork and things that are keeping you busy. So how have you learned to manage the the heavy academic load with the demands of long-distance running and travel and competition and you know, running at a high level as well?

SPEAKER_01 16:19

Yeah, so I always like I'm a person that like writes it all down of like when practices, when each class is. Um, so I have like an agenda of like when this is and I like to cross it off or whatever. I'm also a person that like um the first part of the term when like you have all your classes and everything opens up and you see assignments, I'm a person that like has to get it all done at once, and I just have to tell myself, no, it has to do in a month, like wait, but I'm like have to get it done. But I take one week at a time and then if I can work ahead a little bit to just get ahead in case we're traveling or um moving on. But um, with like being an elementary education major, you have to have practicum hours and whatever. But my coaches are always good with like, oh, if it overlaps, you can always make up the workout some a different time with them or practice on your own. So they're very flexible with that as well.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

Yeah, that's that's very helpful. You are wrapping up one of the most decorated freshman seasons, like I mentioned earlier, in NAI distance running. You have multiple all-American honors, lots of school records, um, lots of national awards, uh, you know, runner of the week at various levels. So we call this podcast the Red Banner Race Report because chasing the red banner is the slogan of the NAIA as you're looking for a national championship, you know, the red banner is the ultimate prize. So has that entered your mind? I mean, does that mean anything to you personally?

SPEAKER_01 18:00

Yeah, just to like um keep improving my times. Um, I know that to get there, um, I know that there's a lot of good competition um in front of me. I know Janie Halterman and um is a fabulous runner and Heather Murphy, and I'm always competing against them, and it's so awesome to um compete and experience um and race them because they have so much talent as well. So just keep improving my times and um see where that takes me.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

Well, do you have any specific goals, either time-wise or place-wise, that you're hoping to accomplish as you look at your sophomore fall?

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Um yeah, just see if I can drop any more time. Um try to see if I can be any all-American honors again, and um just keep working hard and um see where that um well let's get to know you a little bit as a person, some of your personality or your favorites.

SPEAKER_00 19:16

So, what is your favorite post-race meal?

SPEAKER_01 19:20

Yes, so I always before like I run, I like to eat um homemade pancakes, no syrup, just like eat the pancake. Um, actually, before one of my races, the 10K in St. Louis, I usually like pack them in like a cooler, but um I forgot them that day, so I was like, oh no, what's gonna happen? So I didn't have my homemade pancakes that day, but it was my best 10K time ever. So maybe I don't need my pancakes, but um, if you know me personally, I'm like a very picky eater and I only eat um certain things. So like when we go out to eat as a team or whatever together, um my coaches have to take me to Walmart to pick out my food and start eating there. But um, so pancakes is something I eat before like I run, and then I eat a lot of um these peanut butter bowls that are like skippy peanut butter balls, and then um I eat a lot of cottage cheese on like everything, so those are like some of my favorites to eat. So you're go-to's got it.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

All right, well, speaking of go-to's, do you have a running shoe that is currently your ultimate go-to for what you're putting on your feet?

SPEAKER_01 20:46

Yes, so I um run in the Nike um I think Nike Invincible Plus, I think it's called.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Nike Zoom Plus or whatever it's called. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

Uh is there a specific song or artist that you like to listen to that gets you ready to race, or are you a no music before I run kind of girl?

SPEAKER_01 21:11

Um, I don't really listen to it like right before I run, but I do on like I listen to a lot of music on like my training runs. I play music and my favorite artist right now is Forrest Frank. And um Ann Wilson is another good artist that I like to listen to. I just have my Spotify playlist and I have like all my songs on one and I just let it shuffle. But Forrest Frank is definitely one of my favorite artists to listen to.

SPEAKER_00 21:42

Life is good and it keeps getting better.

unknown 21:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

Uh, what is the hardest workout your coach has ever given you so far?

SPEAKER_01 21:53

Yes, so definitely sprinting workouts because um, as a distance runner, I hate sprinting. And so like when we do like um speed work, it's awful. I'd rather just like give me 13 miles and instead of the sprinting workout. I feel like I'm the person that like has the same pace and I could just keep that for 13 miles. So when we do sprinting workouts, it's definitely rough.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

Well, you said you ran the four by eight. So what's your 800 split? It's gotta be quite quick.

SPEAKER_01 22:27

Um, my fastest 800 has been 222.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

Okay. Well, see, that's faster than high school by quite a bit. So you're getting there, right? Yes. Yeah, I understand. Everyone has their preferred distance, and when they go outside that comfort zone, it does not feel so good.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

800 is not one of my favorites, but I did it.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

You did. Um, that's what I ran in college, the opening hundred. So I know exactly why it hurts so much. Yes. Well, what hobbies and interests do you have when you are not training, you know, you're not in season, maybe, or you're just getting some downtime in your schedule. What are your hobbies and interests outside of running and studying?

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Yes. So um it's really hard for me to like be like lazy and like relax or whatever. So I don't I love just like working out, um, hiking. Um is one of my favorite things to do. Um I like to hang out with my two sisters and family. Um other than running, I really love just like working out and hiking.

SPEAKER_00 23:39

Okay. You like to be outside.

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:42

And making pancakes, or does someone else make those for you? I do. Okay. I was assuming, but all right. Do you have any running role models or professional runners that you like to follow?

SPEAKER_01 23:55

Um, I don't follow any currently known.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Okay, okay. All right, so one last question to wrap up our conversation, and this is if you could run a race anywhere in the world, where would it be?

SPEAKER_01 24:12

Um, I don't know. I really don't like to travel, so it would probably be anywhere by like water or like probably one of my favorite things is probably just running out in the middle of nowhere and like blaring my music on like a gravel road somewhere. But nowhere like fancy in the world.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

Okay, you're just a simple kind of gal, huh? Well, Grace, it has been awesome to chat with you. It is also an incredible inspiration to see how far you've come in just one short year. So if there are any young women out there listening and you know they're thinking, well, I could never do that, you can. Hard work, motivation, determination, all those things pay off. Obviously, you have to put in the effort, but you never know till you try, right? Yes. Well, I wish you the best for the cross country season, and we'll definitely be keeping an eye on all the amazing things you're doing. And I wish you the best for all of the things coming up for you. Thank you. Thanks so much for tuning in to the Red Banner Race Report. I can't wait to feature more cross-country and track and field athletes from the NAIA, so stay tuned because it just might be you. If you enjoyed today's podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review. You can find the Red Banner Race Report podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players. You can also ask for SmartSpeaker to play the podcast. If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you'd like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the show notes or reach out on Instagram.