XC: Shelton steps into the limelight
10/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
By Drew Harris | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Over the course of her life, Tori Shelton has proven she loves to move. The steps she takes just happen to be a little different than those of the rest of her family.
It's dancing that's in her blood. Her grandmother works at a dance studio, and her twin sister has always danced. However, in elementary school, Shelton found a love for running and has never looked back.
"My family is full of dancers," Shelton said. "It's like a family tradition. Whenever I told my mom and my grandparents `I want to quit and pursue running,' it was the most taboo thing ever."
But it has proven to be a wise choice and a life-changing decision.
"Running really is something to keep pushing me to be better than I was the week before," Shelton said. "In all aspects of life, it's pretty motivating."
The Arlington Lamar product ultimately caught the attention of UTA coach John Sauerhage, himself a former distance runner with the Mavericks, and it led to an opportunity to pursue her educational and running career in her hometown.
"I've really blossomed here," she said. "I really wasn't all that great when I was younger. I really thrive off of someone who pushes me as hard as I can be pushed. Coach Sauerhage is just very straight forward and to the point."
"Tori is going to go for it," Sauerhage said. "She loves running and competing. She performs better in competition than she trains, and you always love that when you are a coach."
Shelton has led the Mavericks at all three meets this season. The junior followed up top-10 finishes at the Gerald Richey Invitational and the Ken Garland Invitational with a 25th-place showing at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.
She has officially taken the reins from a pair of former UTA greats, Gabriela Alfonzo and Katelyn Hayward. That duo recorded some of the most impressive distance accomplishments in school history and helped the Mavs to a conference cross country title in 2014.
"I'm very fortunate to have had those older girls give me guidance," Shelton said. "I'm just taking what I learned from those girls and translating it over this year to help the freshmen."
The Mavericks field a young team, with two sophomores and three freshmen among the top contributors. That makes Shelton the unquestioned leader of the UTA women's squad.
"She always gives great effort," Sauerhage said. "That's one of the great qualities about her. But you need to be careful of her working too hard. She's always pushing the envelope. We've had adversity strike a few times because she pushes so hard."
Last year, Shelton missed the first three meets of the year due to a bout with plantar fasciitis. She ultimately worked her way back into the lineup and placed 21st at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, but is looking for more this year.
"I am really hungry," Shelton said. "By the end of the year, I'd like to break the 5k record and leave my name on the school record board."
At the Sun Belt Conference meet at the end of the month she will be in line for a top-10 finish, with dreams of a top-5 placement.
And her dreams have taken her places.
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What's Next
The Mavericks will be competing in the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama at the renowned Harry Pritchett Running Park Friday morning. The meet will feature a strong field teams, including several from the SEC.
At 9:45 a.m., the women will run a 6k, their longest race of the year thus far. The women will follow the men, who will compete in an 8k race at 9 a.m. Live results of the meet will be available here.
"I'm optimistic we are going to run very well," Sauerhage said. "Both teams have had good workouts over the past week. We're excited to get over there and compete."
