Today is Friday, July 18, 2025, and on this day in 2004, middle distance phenom Carrie Tollefson won the 1,500 meter final at the US Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, CA.

In this episode we will hear about Tollefson's devastating loss in the 5,000 meters earlier in the trials, learn how she pivoted her focus toward the 1,500 to win and make the Olympic team, and then we'll sit down with Carrie Tollefson herself to hear what that day was really like.

This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or on Instagram as @robontherunpod.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com. 

Bibliography:

⁠https://mn.milesplit.com/articles/280307/olympic-legends-of-minnesota-carrie-tollefson⁠

⁠https://www.letsrun.com/2004/w1500mfinal.php⁠

⁠https://ucan.co/blogs/energy-lab/olympian-carrie-tollefson-on-digging-deep-and-not-holding-back⁠

⁠https://villanovarunning.blogspot.com/2012/05/carrie-tollefson-one-last-shot-to.html⁠

⁠https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/carrie-tollefson-14322879⁠

⁠https://2026specialolympicsusagames.org/get-involved/game-changers/carrie-tollefson⁠

⁠https://villanova.com/news/1999/6/21/tollefson_wins_fourth_career_national_championship.aspx⁠

⁠https://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_5000ok.htm⁠

⁠https://mn.milesplit.com/articles/325950/all-time-minnesota-class-a-state-champions-1975-present⁠

⁠https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2004.pdf⁠