2022 Hall of Fame
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.