- Courtney Crutcher
Courtney L. Crutcher (born August 3, 1985) is a national champion triathlete most noted for her swimming abilities. Crutcher began her
triathlon career in 2006. Crutcher has earned National Age Group titles in both swimming and triathlon.Swimming
The early years
Crutcher began swimming at the age of nine with the local Suburban Municipal Swim League.. She swam two seasons with the SMSL before moving to year round swimming at then Longview Aquatics. At the age of 12 she earned first place rights in the Division I Junior Olympics in the 50 yard freestyle and a 2nd in the 100 yard freestyle. The same year, Crutcher placed in the Top 8 in six other events. As a 13 year old she made the switch to the club Kansas City Dolphins. She was the second youngest competitor at Region 8's in 1998. Crutcher swam against high school and college aged swimmers in the 50 yard freestyle, the 100 yard freestyle and the 100 yard
backstroke . She also swam on the 4 x 100 Medley Relay and 4 x 50Freestyle Relay . She did not place in any individual event, however the 4 x 100 Medley Relay did earn a placing of 12th.Late in the 1999 Long Course season at the National State Games of America, Crutcher earned her first national title in swimming as a 14 year old. She was a member of the winning 4 x 100 Freestyle and Medley relays, both of which broke national records for the 13-14 age group. Crutcher also placed in the top 10 in four other events.High school
As a
freshman at Belton Senior High (Belton, MO) Crutcher (coached by Robert Cole) entered the 2000 State Meet in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke. Crutcher failed to qualify for finals in either event.In Crutcher’s
sophomore year she broke all the high school swimming records (except the 100 yard breaststroke), including hers from the previous year. In the 100 yard backstroke Crutcher swam to a second place finish at the State Meet with a time of 57.97.After 2001 Crutcher did not return to high school swimming and instead continued on with the club team Kansas City Dolphins. In August 2001 she again medaled at the National State Games of America in individual pursuits.
In May 2003 Courtney Crutcher graduated with
honors from Belton Senior High.College and beyond
In the spring of 2003 Crutcher, now a 17-year-old senior, signed with the
University of Findlay (Ohio). Crutcher resigned her swimming full ridescholarship prior to completing one full season at Findlay sighting fatigue and burnout as reasons. In 2004 Crutcher returned to USA Swimming with the club team Kansas City Blazers. Crutcher re-qualified forUnited States Masters Swimming nationals in a variety of events and distances. However, early in the long course season Crutcher found she had a tear in the labrum of her right shoulder, successfully ending the attempt at a comeback career.Triathlon
The triathlon life
After graduating
college in May 2006 Crutcher competed in her first triathlon, Heritage Park Triathlon. She finished in the Top 10. Within her first year of competition Crutcher completed eightmultisport events.In September 2006 raced HalfMax- the USA's Half Iron National Championships (1.2 mile swim/ 56 mile bike/ 13.1 mile run), in Innsbrook, MO. On September 16, 2006, Crutcher went on to win the women’s 18-24 age group earning a national championship title in the Half Iron man.External links
* [http://www.mshsaa.org/ Missouri State High School Athletic Association]
* [http://www.usms.org/ information]
* [http://www.halfmaxchampionship.com/results.php 2006 Half Iron Man Championship Results]
* [http://athletics.findlay.edu/ University of Findlay]
* [http://sponsorship.trisports.com/html/courtney_crutcher.html TriSports.com]
* [http://athlinks.com/ Athlinks triathlete results pages]
* [http://definedfitnesstraining.com/crutcher.html Athlete Profiles]
* [http://www.sponsorhouse.com/Members/CourtCrutcher Athlete information]
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