Karen Seiferth

Karen Seiferth has truly set a standard for consistent high level performance throughout her entire running career from high school and continuing to the present day. Her many accomplishments include:

Some of her high school and college achievements include:

• Running four years of Track in High School (as well as playing Basketball and Volleyball)
• Being the first female Track and Field Athlete to receive a scholarship at Ohio University where she was also a member of their first female Cross-Country team at Ohio University in her junior year in 1978.
• In the mid 80’s she was the assistant girls track coach for two years and then being a true pioneer as she was the head boys track coach for two years at her alma mater Athens High School in Ohio.
• Being inducted into her alma mater Athens (Ohio) High School Hall of Fame in 1998.

Karen’s State of Franklin Track Club service and accomplishments include:

• Johnson City Representative (1998-2000)
• Six (6) time Queen of the Road Winner (2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Membership coordinator from 2014 to present time in 2023.
• Several years as King & Queen Assistant Coordinator (with her husband Tim Seiferth)
• Most Improved Female Runner Award in 2007

She has been very active for many years in the Senior Olympic Games and is a national leading age group winner whose results include:

• Winning several Tennessee Senior Olympic Awards (including in 2008 winning an amazing seven gold medals -100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5K and 10K while breaking all seven 50-54 age group records held by three different women. She still holds the records in 400 at 1:10.88 and the 10K at 43:34.).
• In 2009 at the Palo Alto, California Senior Olympic Games she won the gold medal in the 1500 50-54 (still #5 on the all-time performance list). She also won the silver medal in the 400 and was 4th in the 800 (10th on the all-time performance list.)
• In 2011 at the Houston, Texas National Senior Olympic Games she won gold medals in the 1500 and 800 as well as silver medal in the 400.
• In 2013 at the Cleveland, Ohio National Senior Olympic she won bronze medals in the 800 and 4 x 100 relay.
• On September 18, 2022 at the Kentucky Senior Games, she competed and qualified for the 2023 National Senior Games scheduled for July 7-18, 2023 in Pittsburgh by placing:
• She was 2nd in W 65 – 400 meter dash in 1:27.49 and she and the 1st place finisher both broke the former record.
• She was 1st in the W 65 – 800 meter dash in 3:28.53 where she broke the former record.
• She was 1st in the W 65 – 1500 meter run in 6:57.36 where she also broke the former record.

Over time, Karen has held several Tennessee State Running Records for:

• 1 mile for age 61 at 7:06.
• 3K for age 59 at 13:21
• 2 miles for age 61 at 15:02
• 4 miles for age 61 at 31:14
• 8K for age 56 at 37:10

She has been a long-time leading competitor who as of November 2022 has run 402 races with numerous wins. A few examples include:

• Women’s Female Masters Winner at the very competitive 2008 Crazy 8’s in 35:33 held on July 12, 2008
• At the 2008 Santa Mile she ran a 5:56.4 at the age 51.
• On October 29, 2011 at the Haunted Half Marathon she broke her own personal best half marathon record time with a time of 1:35:05 at age 53.
• On May 5, 2018 she placed 2nd in her age group (out of 171) at the Flying Pig 10K.
• At the November 24, 2022 at the Johnson City Turkey Trot 5K she ran a 24:50 at age 65 and placed 1st in her division.
• There has been only six races that she’s run in where she didn’t place to receive an award.