UHS grad races into OU Hall of Honor

Former Utica High School track standout Kristie (Kieffer) Slowke is among five Oakland University alumni being inducted into the school's Hall of Honor this year.

Slowke, who graduated from Utica High School in 1999 and Oakland University in 2004, will be inducted with her other four new members at a special ceremony January 24. 

"These student-athletes represent the elite of Oakland Athletics and we are very proud of what they have accomplished, not just here at Oakland University, but afterwards as well," OU Director of Athletics Tracy Huth said. "We are extremely excited to welcome these outstanding alumni to the Hall of Honor."

Slowke becomes the first-ever women's cross country runner to enter the Hall of Honor. 

She is the only runner to qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships and is a two-time Mid-Con Cross Country Athlete of the Year (2000 and '03). 

Slowke won two conference championships in 2000 and '03, capturing a program-best eight events in her career. She finished as a four-time All-Mid-Con selection and graduated from Oakland in 2004 with a degree in accounting. 

"In all my years of coaching here at Oakland, I have never had a more coachable student-athlete than Kristie," said OU cross country coach Paul Rice. "She was an incredible leader in our program, and her accomplishments really paved the way for where our program is now. Her legend to this day still inspires our current student-athletes."

For more information on the award and the ceremony, please see this link: http://www.ougrizzlies.com/genrel/102313aad.html