The latest Pierre Governor to commit to take their athletic talents to the collegiate level was Gwen Richter, who signed her letter of intent today to continue her track and cross country career at Northern State with the Wolves.
Richter was joined by her teammates, classmates and parents Erik and Ashlie in the library as numerous coaches came up to talk about the success Richter had earned through her middle school and high school career at Pierre.
Richter began her running career as a Lil’ Gov where it was instantly apparent that this was her calling. Her coaches noting she was always trying to break records and place within the top-10. Later in her career, Richter was called up as an eighth grader to run for the Govs at state where she ran an impressive time of 20:53, placing her 56th out of 123 runners. Not bad for a middle schooler. An injury would set her back in her freshman year, but it would not stop her as she rehabbed through a summer training program and looked back to get back out there. Her ninth grade season was inhibited by the injury, but in her tenth grade season she blew by her ninth grade time by over two minutes. As an eleventh grader, Richter ran her fastest time at state (19:36) which was good enough to place. She would get even faster her senior season, running an 18:51.
Richter was described as many things, the underdog, one of the hardest workers and a winner. She was also praised for her “willingness to never get up and to always get better”. Richter had this to say about the turnout, the trials and tribulations along with the excitement she holds to run at Northern next year:
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