Cristyn Oliver, a standout cross country and track athlete now in her fifth year at Lawrence University, is looking to put lessons learned on and off the track to work in a career focused on sports psychology.
A psychology major from Redondo Beach, California, Oliver's passion for running has led to her interest in sports psychology over the past few years. That interest, she said, grew following a difficult junior year.
"I went through a really hard time where I lost my confidence,” Oliver said. “I was dropping out of every race. I saw a sports psychologist and have built up a better mentality. Physical stuff matters but having confidence and knowing you can be the best is the biggest thing for me."
Oliver continues to rewrite the Lawrence record books. On Oct. 12, she ran the fastest 6,000 meters in Lawrence University cross country history as the Vikings won both team titles at the Gene Davis Invitational. Oliver ran to the individual title and covered the 6,000-meter course at Reid Golf Course in 21:52.6. Her time broke the school record of 22:01 set by Lawrence Hall of Famer Val Curtis in 2002.
That is the latest accomplishment in a career that has included two individual conference titles in cross country—a first for a women’s runner in Lawrence history. She also is a four-time Midwest Conference champion in indoor track, and she owns one outdoor league track title and holds the Lawrence records indoors in the 3,000 meters and outdoors in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters.
As she competes in her fifth year (the added Covid year), Oliver is planning for graduate school and a career involving sports psychology, counseling, and coaching. She hopes to help athletes going through similar experiences as she did.
While she has seen much athletic success in her time at Lawrence, Oliver cautions athletes to always see the person beyond the records and titles.
“Know that everyone struggles,” she said. “I think that a lot of people think I don't do that. They say you're doing so good, but they don't understand I go through the same problems as everyone else. Everyone struggles; I'm not special.”
This is a message she hopes to continue to spread as her career progresses.
Oliver said she has enjoyed running from a young age. In youth soccer programs, she always enjoyed the running aspect of the sport more than anything. The switch to running cross country brought much success and joy to her athletic career, and she was ready to bring that passion into college athletics.
Oliver first visited Lawrence on a recruiting visit in March 2020, flying from her hometown in California. Meeting the team and seeing the culture fostered at Lawrence made the decision to run as a Viking an easy one.
"The team seemed like it had a lot of undiscovered potential," Oliver said. "Back in the day, the team was really small, but even then, everyone had good relationships with each other and that was more important than the numbers. The team needs to be together as one if you want to succeed."
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As both an outdoor and indoor runner, Oliver is active all year, with practice in every season. She runs the mile and 3,000 meters in indoor track, and 1,500 and 5,000 in outdoor track. This is in addition to cross country in the fall.
Oliver loves having athletic events throughout the school year.
"I really like getting to do both,” she said. “I really enjoy going to practice every season."
Oliver now has her sights set on the Midwest Conference Cross Country Championships on Nov. 2, to be hosted by Lawrence at Reid Golf Course.
