Eastern Wayne Today

From scoring minimally as an underclassman to competing for a national championship, Thailyia Christensen improved her performance significantly during her time as a Wayne State University cross country and track athlete.

While the Flushing native's bio shows her growth in performance, it doesn't tell the full story.

The transformation in her performance was not simply due to becoming an upperclassman but resulted from progress through hardships like a world pandemic, self-doubt, grief, second-guessing, and discomfort.

The process wasn't easy but also brought significant growth, self-love, gratitude, support from her inner circle, and a new appreciation for running.

The months when the world shut down were crucial in Christensen's journey but were neither its beginning nor end.

Thailyia grew up playing softball, basketball, and golf. Running was not her initial passion. She originally planned to play basketball in college.

Due to a lack of understanding about college recruiting and a high school track coach who secretly reached out to college programs, Christensen ended up running for WSU instead of playing basketball at a smaller school.

"A lot of the (smaller) schools were offering me basketball and running because I was super indecisive. I knew for sure I wanted to go for basketball, but I love the team aspect of running. These people are like family and it is really hard to find that anywhere else," said Christensen. "So I was really indecisive."

After a last-minute visit to Wayne State and conversations with Coach Lofdahl, Thailyia decided Midtown would be her home for the next four years.

"They seemed very nurturing and caring. It seemed healthy," Christensen said about the program. "And I told myself 'If I'm ever going to be in the city it is going to be now,' so I committed the next day."

There wasn't immediate love or excitement for college running due to initial lack of success and lingering thoughts about not pursuing basketball.

"I was really bummed out about the basketball thing. When COVID hit I thought 'I still think I want to play basketball.' I wasn't getting better at running … I was slower than in high school."

Thoughts of transferring or quitting persisted until she moved home during the pandemic where her family encouraged her to shift her mindset.

"They all told me 'your heart is not in the right place.' My family encouraged me to 'try to work on your mindset and view running as something fun you get to do,'" said Christensen.

Her family supported her throughout each phase of her journey. Thailyia holds gratitude for her mom who raised her, father and stepfather who showed up for her, grandparents who attended most meets with post-run burritos, and extended family who have been supportive.

Even with a more mature mindset, junior year cross country season was tough due to sickness and pain.

"I was surviving," said Thailyia. "Having that big mindset shift ... then having crippling pain every race was defeating."

As indoor track began after cross country season ended, Christensen received a diagnosis that allowed proper fueling which led to success.

"Indoor track that season is where everything changed," she noted.

Christensen earned third place at GLIAC Championship meet with a time of 10:58.87 in steeplechase after transitioning from indoor to outdoor track.

"I was proud of myself for staying committed."

Entering what she expected as final seasons saw different vibes within the cross country program with high expectations culminating in helping achieve ninth-place finish at Nationals while earning All-Midwest Region accolades and Second Team All-GLIAC recognition.

"The only way to describe it is magical."

When outdoor season arrived Assistant Coach Eric Hansen believed Christensen could win GLIAC Championship steeplechase which she did with 10:42.69 earning top podium spot qualifying narrowly missing Nationals by 1.1 seconds ranked No. 21 nationally feeling left wanting more deciding fifth-year student-athlete goals remained same without important person Hansen gone taking new job shifting mindset instilled confidence preparing steeplechase again setting personal bests almost qualifying dropping two spots last-chance meet Baldwin Wallace calm took over body feeling peace shaving ten seconds off PR finishing 10:27.15 punching ticket Nationals hanging spikes Division II women's track & field 13th best runner decorated alum balancing academics athletics maintaining online clothing business The Fashion Fairy graduating May degree Marketing grateful journey ready next chapter emerging professional Utah business development representative holding gratitude memories personal growth trusted process worked hard achieving goals reflecting lessons learned improving quality life performance becoming strong woman proud Warrior Cross Country Track & Field alumna grateful opportunity people loved thankful journey.

"Gratitude is number one thing learned," said Thailyia noting practice improved quality life mindset performance better opportunities loved ones concluding strong woman decorated alum Warrior Cross Country Track & Field.

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