Laura Roesler (2024) - Hall of Fame - University of Oregon Athletics

Laura Roesler

Induction:
2024
Class:
2014

Laura Roesler is one of the most decorated runners in the storied history of Oregon track and field. She earned 17 All-America awards, won five NCAA championships and three Pac-12 titles, and was named the 2014 women’s Bowerman Award winner as the nation’s top track and field athlete. A middle-distance specialist at 800 meters, she claimed three straight Pac-12 titles at that distance between 2012-14 to become just the second woman in conference history to win three titles in a row in the event. She was a member of four consecutive NCAA Indoor national champions for Oregon (2011-14) and four straight Pac-12 team title winners as well. As a freshman in 2011, Roesler placed third in the 800 at the Pac-12 Championships and was 10th at that distance at the NCAA Outdoor meet. She won her first national championship as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team at the 2012 Outdoor Championships. Roesler captured the first of her three consecutive Pac-12 800 titles in 2012 as well and was fourth in the 800 at the NCAA Outdoor meet. Roesler added another relay title on the 4x400 squad at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships. She was the runner-up in the 800 at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor championships and also won her second Pac-12 800 title. The 2014 senior season that produced the Bowerman Award began at the Indoor Championships, where she won her first 800-meter national title and ran on the winning 4x400 team. After winning her third straight conference crown at 800 meters, Roesler completed the rare indoor/outdoor sweep by capturing the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She set the school record indoors at 800 meters with a time of 2:01.32 and was also on the 4x400 teams that broke both the indoor (3:27.40) and outdoor (3:24.54) program records. Her collegiate best outdoors in the 800, 1:59.04 in 2014, still ranks No. 2 on the Oregon performance list. Roesler was also a second-team Academic All-American in 2014. After college, Roesler qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials and finished seventh in the 800 meters at the 2017 USATF Championships.