PROPELLING FORWARD ON AND OFF THE TRACK
For many college athletes, national rankings bring a wave of competitive stress, but not for Elise Hoel Ulseth ’22. A junior from Norway, Ulseth is ranked third in women’s long jump and fifth in the pentathlon in NCAA Division II. “I’ve never really been very focused on competition
results, rankings and all that. I’m more focused on how I can develop,” Ulseth said. She admits it’s hard to avoid comparing herself to other athletes, but she tries. “For me, the real goal is to always beat myself.” Jim Vahrenkamp, director of track and field and cross
House’s father and mother coached him as a young swimmer.
corporations just simply don’t have the capabilities to do,” he said. “And it’s so awesome to be a part of it. It’s really an honor.” Dugdale also leans on House whenever he needs help understanding something his protége has more experience with. “Tere have been times in my career when I’ve actually called and talked to him and said, ‘Can we just have a conversation?’ ” the coach recalled. “Sometimes I need help understanding people closer to his age, and why sometimes I get frustrated. And he’ll help me understand, infusing his experience now.” And that family atmosphere that Kyle loved
so much? It is still pervasive on Queens’ men’s and women’s swimming teams. In fact, recently, the fifth couple in the program’s history got engaged. “It’s a group that not only finds family,” said Dugdale, “but sometimes helps create their own
families.”
country at Queens, said that Ulseth’s internal drive and ability to stay calm in competitive situations is what propels her to the front of the field. Despite recovering from knee surgery her freshman year, Ulseth finished fourth in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division II championship. This past May, Elise finished third in the pentathlon at the 2021 Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. At the 2019 outdoor NCAA Division II championship,
Ulseth posted a javelin throw of just under 137 feet. This came after a poor first throw of 100 feet and a foul in her second throw. “We discussed her third throw, and then she threw the longest throw of anyone at the competition,” recalled Vahrenkamp. “She’s a consummate leader and teammate and performs well academically,” explained Vahrenkamp. “She does things for other people out of the kindness of her heart.” For example, Ulseth, who
is majoring in exercise and sport science, and minoring in French and sports management, returns to Norway each summer to mentor and
coach boys and girls in track and field. On and off the track, Ulseth
keeps the mindset that you can always learn and improve. “Not knowing how to do something only makes you a novice,” she says. “You just have to put in the effort, and eventually you’ll get better.”
—Michele Huggins
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