RIPON, Wis. - Lori Stich '91 is the only two-time women's cross country National Qualifier in Ripon College history, appearing in the Division-III National Championships in each of her final two years at the school. (1989-90). Also a member of Ripon's track & field team, Stich is an unfathomable 14-time conference champion and six-time All-Region performer in just three years at the school, across two different sports, while setting six school and 11 conference records. She was inducted into Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, the first year she was eligible.
"Lori was the embodiment of the Energizer Bunny — she had unlimited energy and enthusiasm," legendary Ripon women's coach Elaine Coll said. "She graduated in three years, with three majors and was a conference champion in two intercollegiate sports. What she accomplished during her career is an amazing feat."
A triple major in English, Music (Classical Piano Performance), and Politics & Government, Stich was a three-time Academic All-American, despite her heavy workload. One of just two women in Ripon College history to win the MWC Cross Country Championships, Stich is a 33-time All-Conference performer in her two sports combined, earning that distinction all three years of her cross country career. In addition to her first-place finish in 1989, Stich also finished fifth and third at the conference meet in 1988 and 1990, respectively. She is the only runner in program history to finish a 5K race in under 19 minutes, accomplishing that feat four times, and is the owner of the top five times in program history. Nicknamed "The Hurricane," Stich holds the school record in the 5K with a time of 18:03, which was set 32 years ago.
"Being a student-athlete opened windows to the world and insights into myself, facilitating not just awards and accolades through successful competition, but lifelong friendships built on many miles sweated out with trusted teammates. For me, running provided a rare continuity through my transition to and beyond college as I struggled to find and follow my path in the world, which often meant creating new trails academically, personally, and professionally," Stich said. "Perhaps the greatest take away from being a student-athlete at Ripon College is learning not to be intimidated by perceptions of what I (or anyone else) can and can't do or have ever done before — learning not to be limited by the impossible."
In Track & Field, Stich was a 13-time conference champion in long distance events, establishing conference records at the time in the 3K, 5K, and 10K.
"The day she ran that 10K race, Lori and a Grinnell runner were side-by-side for a while and were chatting while they ran ahead of the field," recalled Coll. "On the final lap, Lori shifted into business-mode and told her fellow runner, 'I have to go now.' She kicked it into another gear, and that was that - Lori won the race and was conference champion yet again."
Another highlight of Stich's outstanding career came in 1991 when she was named NCAA Wisconsin Woman of the Year, beating out the likes of three-time U.S. Olympian and University of Wisconsin runner Suzy Favor. Stich also set NCAA records for All-time track seasonal points scored in 1990 and 1991. She won Ripon's S.N. Pickard Award as a senior, given to the school's best all-around male and female athlete.
"I came from a rural Michigan high school with no cross country program, so with virtually no distance running background I had the modest goal of making the cross country team as a freshman. I had never run more than two miles in my life, so I literally called home excitedly to tell my parents the first time I ran ten miles at practice," Stich said. "By the end of college, I was ready to attempt my first marathon, which in turn taught me that running made a great excuse to take a weekend trip, leading to years of adventure, exploring new places, while competing on a national (and international) stage."
As amazing as her athletic career at Ripon College was, it's what she has accomplished and experienced after her time at the school that is truly remarkable. About a month following graduation, Stich entered her first marathon just to gain some experience in that event. She surprised herself by qualifying for the 1992 Boston Marathon, where she later went on to finish in the top 25 on two separate occasions. It wasn't long before Stich began attempting to qualify for the Olympics, participating in the U.S. marathon trials in 2000, 2004, and 2008, where she finished in the top 50 each time. At the 2004 Olympic Trials, Stich placed as the top amateur, which earned her a selection as an alternate for the Athens games.
With or without an Olympic appearance, Stich has still touched nearly every corner of the globe. She has backpacked across Europe, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, ran with the bulls in Pamplona, and visited sites ranging from the pyramids of Egypt to the Taj Mahal. Stich has won races in France, Belgium, and Ireland, while also winning competitions in Alaska, Washington D.C., Texas, New York, Michigan, and Oregon. She has finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open Women's 25K National Championship four times, with her highest finish being third place. In 2000, Stich finished as the top-ranked American and ranked eighth in the entire world in the Professional Road Racing Organization Circuit final standings. She also has competed in races in Japan, Holland, and several other states across the USA.
Stich has competed in competitive races into her 40s, finishing 31st out of more than 3,000 participants at Rhode Island's 4.1-mile Pell Bridge Run in 2013, finishing third among women, and first in the 40-44 age group that day. She regularly runs competitively around her current home state of Colorado, finishing third among all women in a 15,000-meter race in Denver, also in 2013.
After her time at Ripon was finished, Stich attended law school at Emory University in Atlanta, where she was selected as managing editor of the Emory International Law Review. While at Emory, Stich also served as an Assistant Coach for the school's cross country and track & field teams, helping them win three consecutive NCAA South/Southeast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year awards from 1992-94.
Stich began her professional career as a Law Clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Lynn N. Hughes in Houston, Texas, and has practiced at law firms in Michigan, Oregon, and Texas. She currently serves as Senior Attorney for the National Legal Research Group, which is based outside Washington D.C., while telecommuting from her home in Park City, Utah.
During her career, she has used the talents she cultivated at Ripon for others' benefit, running to collect pledges of donations for beneficiaries ranging from Habitat for Humanity to her kids' high school sports teams. She has spent 30 years as a volunteer church musician and youth leader, playing and singing professionally in operatic productions and symphony choruses, while also performing at Carnegie Hall. Stich has lived in 16 different states and also resided in Europe for two years.
"Ripon provides a perfect atmosphere, not just in athletics, but also in academics, extra-curricular activities, and personal growth, for students to reach beyond themselves and try new things, which is a habit that continues for me to this day," Stich said. "My experience at Ripon College has opened more doors than I could ever have imagined when I first stepped on campus as a freshman."
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