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From the start of classes in August 1997, it took approximately two months for Sandy Tecklenburg to acquaint herself with The College of Wooster record books.
A member of Wooster’s 1997 cross country conference championship team, Tecklenbug completed the 5,000-meter course in 19:48 to claim the NCAC’s Newcomer of the Year honor as top freshman finisher. Tecklenburg, who placed fourth overall, turned in a key performance in Wooster’s 39-point margin of victory, the largest in the conference since 1991.
During her tenure on the course, the four-time all-conference and three-time All-Great Lakes Region harrier helped lead the Fighting Scots to two team championships before capping her career at the NCAA Div. III Championships in the Pacific Northwest as an individual in 2000.
“Sandy was an excellent team leader that led through hard work, a positive attitude and commitment to overall team success,” said longtime head coach Dennis Rice. “Sandy’s team commitment and enthusiasm for team success made her one of the most respected team members that I have coached.”
Tecklenburg’s progression was largely seen at the regional meet and beyond. After a top-25 showing in 1997, she placed 34th a year later, and was in line to qualify for the 1999 NCAA Div. III Championships, but collapsed from exhaustion 50 meters from the finish line at regionals.
Determination displayed itself prominently in her last campaign, as Tecklenburg finished as the runner-up at the NCAC meet at 18:42 before placing third at the regional meet with a 5,000-meter time of 18:50, thus qualifying for the national championships at Spokane, Wash. At nationals, Tecklenburg placed 83rd out of 215 competitors, crossing the finish at 19:14 on a snow-covered course in 20-degree weather.
Of course, that momentum from the future NCAC All-Decade Team honoree transferred each year from the cross country course to the track.
Indoors, Tecklenburg helped secure three all-conference citations for Wooster’s distance medley relay, twice claiming first-place, including then-meet records in back-to-back years in 1999 and 2000 with the latter year’s quartet teaming up for a 12:57.8.
Tecklenburg went out in style as a senior, garnering three all-conference certificates at the indoor meet, including her first individual title, en route to the conference’s most valuable middle-distance runner honor. Tecklenburg’s signature performance came via her tape-breaking 10:53.64 in the 3000 meters, and she was the runner-up in the 1500 meters at 4:49.93. In relay action, Tecklenberg helped the distance medley relay to another first-place finish with a time of 12:57.08.
Taking to the outdoors, Tecklenburg garnered one all-conference performance in addition to two All-Ohio citations. At the all-Ohio Championships, Tecklenburg claimed runner-up honors in the 1500 meters as a sophomore before tacking on another All-Ohio honor with a similar finish two years later. At the NCAC Championships, Tecklenburg capped her career with a 4:52.09 in the 1500 meters, good for third-place and her seventh track all-conference certificate.
Away from competition, Tecklenburg excelled in the classroom as the recipient of numerous academic nominations, including the NCAC Scholar-Athlete Award, the Manges Athletic Prize, and the David Guldin Scholar-Athlete Award in addition to being named the LCC Press Freshman Chemistry Scholar of the Year. She also served on the student-athlete advisory committee.
“I wanted to major in the sciences … chemistry or biochemistry, but I also wanted to compete in athletics,” Tecklenburg said. “I felt Wooster offered me the opportunity to excel in both academics and athletics and lead me to graduate school. When I visited Wooster for an overnight visit, I just felt so at home with the team and the people there I knew it was the place I wanted to go.”
After graduating from the College with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and minor in physical education, Tecklenburg went on to earn her master’s and Ph.D. in exercise physiology with minors in physiology and biochemistry at Indiana University. After teaching stints at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Brigham Young University-Idaho, Tecklenburg now serves as chair of the kinesiology department at Saint Ambrose University, where she was recently awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor.
Personally, Tecklenburg is married to Golden Lund, and they have four-year-old twins – Audra and Oliver – and reside in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Still a regular runner, Tecklenburg’s hobbies include volunteering at her church and a local girls’ summer camp, and spending time with her family.