Bit Klecker

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Position:
Distance
High School:
Hopkins HS
Hometown:
Hopkins, Minn.

PRONUNCIATION

2021 Cross Country • Redshirt Senior Season: Named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree • opened the season with a 90th place finish in the women’s gold 6k race at the Roy Griak Invite in a time of 23:02.6 • placed first on the team and 25th overall in the women’s open 5k race at the Joe Piane Invitational, crossing in 18:07.5 • in her final appearance of the season, posted a personal best 6k time of 22:24.3 in the women’s “B” race at the Nuttycombe Invite.

2020 Cross Country • Redshirt Junior Season: Named USTFCCCA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • helped the Gophers to a fifth-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, finishing 237th overall and seventh on the team in 23:03.5 in her NCAA debut • made Big Ten Championships debut, finishing 52nd overall and seventh on the team in a season-best 21:54.4.

2021 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Competed at four meets • made B1G debut, placing 14th in the 3,000m in 9:40.27 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships • ran a career-best 9:37.39 to place ninth in the 3,000m at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational • ran a career-best 17:03.06 to place third in the 5,000m at the Husker Triangular.

2021 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • ran a career-best 35:09.16 to place 15th in the 10,000m and finished 32nd in the 5,000m (17:41.59) at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships • ran a career-best 11:08.92 to place seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase at the M City Classic • ran a career-best 16:46.48 in the 5,000m at the Illini B1G Relays • ran on the sixth-place 4x1,600m relay team at the Illini B1G Relays.

2019 Cross Country • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • earned first letter in cross country • ran six races • ran a career-best 6K time of 21:54 as runner-up at Jack’s Run • ran a career-best 5K time of 17:48.39 in the open race at the Notre Dame Invitational • finished as runner-up at Rocky’s Run (23:31).

2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • ran six races • ran a career-best 5:01.55 in the mile at the Minnesota Cold Classic • ran a career-best 9:54.84 in the 3,000m at the ISU Classic • ran a career-best 17:53.72 in the 5,000m at the Jack Johnson Classic • indoor season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2020 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: The 2020 outdoor track & field season was canceled on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2018 Cross Country • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • ran five races • ran a season-best 6K time of 23:23.0 as the ninth Gopher in 12th overall at Jack’s Run.

2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Ran four races • ran a career-best 5:13.05 in the mile at the Jack Johnson Classic • ran a career-best 10:26.90 in the 3,000m at the Minnesota Open.

2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • ran four races • ran a career-best 4:47.41 as runner-up in the 1,500m at the Minnesota Twilight • ran a career-best 11:34.71 as runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Lady Bear Twilight.

2017 Cross Country • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2017 cross country season, racing unattached at five meets.

2018 Indoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Ran five races while competing unattached.

2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Ran four races while competing unattached.

High School: A 2017 graduate of Hopkins High School where she ran for coach Mike Harris • cross country and track & field letterwinner for the Royals • three-time all-conference and two-time all-section honoree in cross country • three-time Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Championship individual qualifier • two-time all-conference, three-time all-section, and 2015 all-state honoree in track & field • 2015 Lake Conference champion in the 1600m • ranks second in school history in the 1600m (4:59 in 2015) and 3200m (10:56 in 2017) • placed eighth in the 1,600m (5:02.18) at the 2015 Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championship as a sophomore • ran on Hopkins' fifth-place 4x800m relay team at the state meet as a freshman in 2014.

Personal: Daughter of Janis and Barney Klecker • has five siblings, Mary, John, Sarah, Joe, and James • full name is Elizabeth Ruth Klecker • Graphic Design and Journalism major • father Barney ran cross country and track at UW-Stout and mother Janis ran cross country for the Gophers • joined older sister Sarah in competing for the Gophers • brother John ran cross country and track at Augustana College, sister Mary ran cross country and track at Augsburg College, and brother Joe ran cross country and track at the University of Colorado • enjoys film and digital photography • graduated high school with academic honors.

Klecker's Cross Country Postseason Appearances
Year	Big Tens	Midwest Regional	NCAA Championship
2017	Redshirt	Redshirt	Redshirt
2018	DNC	DNC	DNC
2019	DNC	DNC	DNC
2020	52nd, 21:54.4	N/A	237th, 23:03.5
2021	DNC	ALT	ALT

Klecker's Cross Country Career Bests (2021-22 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
5K	17:48.39	Notre Dame Invite (10/4/19)
6K	21:54	Jack's Run (10/25/19)
Klecker's Indoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
Mile	5:01.55	Minnesota Cold Classic (2/21/20)
3,000m	9:37.39	Hawkeye B1G Invitational (2/13/21)
5,000m	17:03.06	Husker Triangular (1/16/21)
Klecker's Outdoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
1,500m	4:47.41	Minnesota Twilight (4/24/19)
5,000m	16:46.48	Illini B1G Relays (4/23/21)
10,000m	35:09.16	Big Ten Championships (5/14/21)
3,000m Steeplechase	11:08.92	M City Classic (5/1/21)