Hall of Fame
Sherrie Crang Geiger didn’t have to go far to find plenty of competition as a child. The only daughter in a family of five, she wasn’t intimidated by her brothers. Instead, she set out to match them – and, ultimately, best them in friendly family footraces.
By the time she was ready to graduate from high school and head to college, she had garnered attention throughout the Northwest. A Washington girl, she thought she would wind up in her home state or, possibly, in Oregon with its reputation for producing great runners.
Then she took a trip to Moscow and the University of Idaho. She was sold.
“Originally, being from Washington, I thought I would pick a state school or one in Oregon,” Geiger said. “However, with about a month until I needed to make a decision, the University of Idaho contacted me and I decided to visit and see what they had to offer.”
Geiger said after she met the head coach at the time, Roger Norris, she was impressed with the work that was being put into the program and she enjoyed the chemistry of the team.
“They seemed to be recruited from all around the world, but the chemistry was very cohesive and focused.” Geiger said.
After meeting Patsy Sharples, an elite runner from South Africa and a Vandal Athletics Hall of Famer, Geiger decided that if she wanted to reach the elite level of competition, training with Sharples and the rest of the Vandals made Idaho the obvious choice.
Geiger was more then on-point with her assessment of the team. Throughout her career at Idaho, she aided the cross country team to its 1982 Region 9 Team Title and assisted itto a 41-4 dual meet record, en route to the Mountain West Athletic Conference title.
Geiger also set the school record in the 5,000 meters in 1983 – a mark that stood until 2013. She also is the former record holder in the 1,500 meters, which now ranks fifth all-time in Idaho history. Her 3,000 meter time ranks second all-time behind Sharples by only two seconds – the third-best time is 19 seconds behind Geiger’s.
She was also a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier. In 1983 she finished 24th in the 5,000 meters at Houston, Texas, and in 1984 finished 30th in the 3,000 meters while competing at Eugene, Ore.. In addition, Geiger was a national champion in the 3,000 meters at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletes for Women Division II Track and Field Championships. Her finish helped lift the Vandals to second in the team standings.
Out all of her accomplishments, Geiger said the ones that mean the most to her were winning the national championship in the 3,000 meters and qualifying and participating in the first 5,000 meter race for women in the 1984 Olympic trials at Los Angeles, Calif. - all while wearing her Vandal uniform.
Geiger now resides in Camas, Wash., with her husbandof almost 25 years, Tom. They have two sons, Shane (24) and Sammy (12). Their oldest son followed in his mother’s footsteps and is a scholarship athlete in track and field/cross country at the to The University of Portland.
Geiger coached for a few years at Camas High School as the head cross country and assistant track and field coach. After her 2007 team placed fourth at the Washington State High School Cross Country Championship, she was honored as the Washington State 3A Coach of the Year. She is currently a health and fitness teacher at Skyridge Middle School.
She said competing at Idaho has helped her teach her students and athletes the important lessons and skills she herself learned along the way.
“It did so much for me,” Geiger said of her time competing for the Vandals. “It helped me stay focused, dedicated, work hard to achieve my goals, gain independence, as well as gain a ton of self-confidence in learning to succeed on my own – my experience at Idaho in athletics and school really helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Geiger said she had many great times at the University of Idaho, especially when they would log travel time in the van.
Geiger also talked about a bet she once made with one of the throwers on the team. She explained that the bet was if she qualified for the NCAA meet, her teammate would give her a piggy back ride for her cool down at the end of the meet. Geiger said she kept her word!
“I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with these incredible athletes and individuals,” Geiger said. “I guess I must have left a lasting impression after I completed my education at the University of Idaho.
- Allison Wagner, University of Idaho Athletic Media Relations
