GECU PRESENTS: UTEP Track & Field and Cross Country's Karoline Daland

Karoline Daland and the UTEP Miners will take the course in Birmingham, Ala., on Halloween morning to compete at the 2020 Conference USA Cross Country Championships. However, Daland and her teammates weren't sure they were going to compete at all this season as a global pandemic started in early March.

But the UTEP cross country student-athletes received great news in late September as they were told by their coaches after a practice session that the 2020 campaign would be underway in early October.

"We didn't know if we were going to have a cross country season," Daland said. "It was probably the hardest in the fall to keep the motivation to keep practicing and doing long runs to keep in shape. But I was very happy that I did my best to keep practicing even with a pandemic going on and, of course, it was super challenging. And then when we returned to school, we heard that we had a cross country season. We were so excited!"

Before donning the Orange and Blue school colors, Daland started to compete in track and field at age 10. Karoline's father John Tore was her inspiration to compete.

"I always looked up to my dad. He was an orienteer, which is almost like cross country, but it's with a map in forests," she said. "I was really motivated by him because he told me how he ran when he was youngers. For me, he was a person I looked up to."

The native of Grimstad, Norway, experienced a wealth of success as she was a six-time nation junior champion. Most notably, Daland notched two first-place finishes at the 2016 Brandbu Norwegian U20 Championships in the 400m and 400m hurdles.

Daland then made her way to the United States and The University of Texas at El Paso.

"I chose UTEP because of the coaches. They're really good here and have a great reputation," Daland said. "I also chose UTEP because of the good weather conditions, because obviously being from Norway where it's super cold in the winter."

Daland is also aware of the success the UTEP track and field/cross country program's rich tradition and history.

"UTEP has a great reputation when it comes to national titles and conference titles from previous years," she said. "And, of course, you want to keep that reputation. I really believe in this program, and like you know, we have great coaches and it's a very good environment. The goal every year is to do better and that motivated us as a team to keep striving."

Speaking of the program's success, Daland, in her first season, contributed to the long list of accolades the program has earned. The UTEP women's cross-country team won its first Conference USA Championship during the 2018 season in Boca Raton, Fla. The title occurred during her first season in her first collegiate race.

"That was my best and also the worst moment because I was in so much pain." Daland said. "It was my first cross country race ever, and I had never run more than a 1500. It was my first 5K and we won conference, and we won by two points. I was dead and felt so much pain. But it also was a good feeling. Everyone did the best they could and we made it. It was so much fun. That was a lifetime experience, and I was so happy during that moment."

After the ups and downs during the pandemic, and the success experienced in the past, Daland is "super excited" to compete at the C-USA cross country championships.

"I feel like we've been practicing very well, even with the pandemic going on," she said. "We've had quality workouts even with the recent weather conditions changing. One day it's 90 or 100, and then it's 30 degrees. But it's been good for us, being able to run in any weather conditions. Whatever situation comes up, we're prepared. I'm super excited for the team and hopefully we'll do good this weekend."

Daland is currently perusing a degree in Business Management with a minor in International Business. Daland said, "I don't really know what I want to do," but her plan is keep studying and competing for the UTEP track and field/cross country program.

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