Valerie Constien

Height:
5-6
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Edwards, Colo.
High School:
Battle Mountain

2018: Constien saved her best season for last as she helped the Buffs win their third NCAA team championship. She started the season with an impressive second place finish at the Wyoming Invitational, before racing to a 40^th place finish at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Inviational. Her next race was the Pac-12 Championship, where she placed 15^th as CU’s No. 4 scorer. She earned her second all-region nod two weeks later as she was 14^th overall at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships. Then, at NCAAs, Constien found another gear and placed 30^th overall (CU’s No. 6) to record her first cross country All-America honor and help CU to the team title.

2017: Constien started her junior season at the Colorado State Invitational with a 16^th place finish as CU’s fourth uniformed harrier. In the following meet, the Rocky Mountain Shootout, she led the emerging varsity team with a second place finish in 21:34. Constien went on to race at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and placed seventh, CU’s No. 3, in the ‘B’ race. After her regular season performances, Constien earned a position on the Pac-12 Championship roster and finished 64^th (CU’s No. 10).

2016: Did not compete.

2015: Constien made her cross country debut for the Buffs at the USA Junior Cross Country Championships in February, recording a runner-up finish in 21:54. The finish qualified her for the world championships where she placed 62nd in 22:58. Constien went on to race as a redshirt freshman in the fall. She finished sixth at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. At the open race at NCAA Pre-Nationals, Constien placed 13th overall. She didn’t score for the Buffs in the last three races, but played an important part of the team. Constien was 29th at Pac-12s, 24th at regionals and 136th at NCAAs. Her performance at regionals garnered her all-region recognition.

2014: Redshirt. Did not compete.

HIGH SCHOOL: Constien was a four-sport athlete at BMHS, competing in cross country, track & field, Nordic skiing and soccer. She owns or is a part of seven records at BMHS. In 2013, Constien ran 17:55 to set the 5k cross country record and in the spring of 2014, she recorded records in the 800-meters (2:16) and 1,600 (5:04). Constien also own records in the triple jump (36-3), 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays. The Huskies won three straight 4A Western Slope League Championships in track (2011-13) and three in a row for cross country (2011-13) during her time on the team. Constien was named first-team all-state her junior and senior years for cross country and was a first team all-state selection for track as a sophomore. She raced at the 2013 Nike Cross Country South West Regionals and was 10^th overall. On the track, Constien placed sixth at the state championships in the 1,600, finishing in 5:04. Constien also earned numerous academic honors while at BMHS and was a member of the National Honor Society.

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 400-meters: 1:01.66; 800-meters: 2:16; 1,600-meters: 5:04; 3,200-meters: 11:40.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Constien is majoring in environmental engineering.

PERSONAL: Valerie H. Constien was born on March 21, 1996 in Vail, Colo. She is the daughter of Ron and Ann Constien of Edwards, Colo., and has one sister, Elizabeth. Constien enjoys baking, crafts and reading and can play the piano and French horn. She was a member of her high school’s band and pep band all four years of high school.