Freshman Ruby Stauber has made a name for herself as a top freshman middle distance runner in the 800m.
Stauber signed with LSU out of Plymouth, Minnesota, after graduating high school in the spring of 2016.
Her decorated high school career includes a U.S. Junior silver medal for 800m, two silver medals at the 2016 New Balance Nationals in both the indoor and outdoor 800m and being named Minnesota’s Gatorade Girls Track Athlete of the Year.
Stauber has carried that success over into her debut season at LSU.
She currently ranks second among freshman in the 800m with a time of 2 minutes and 3.87 seconds. That time is also currently ninth in the country, which is currently good enough to qualify for NCAA Indoor Championships.
However, there is still one more meet before conference championships start, so if Stauber wants to maintain her position, it is likely she will have to improve upon her time.
“It is exciting,” Stauber said, “I don’t want to get to set on it because anything can happen, and there is a possibility I couldn’t make it if I don’t run faster this weekend.”
Stauber is also racking up accolades in the Southeastern Conference, having been named SEC Women’s Freshman of the week twice.
Stauber was first given that honor after her debut performance at the Auburn Indoor Invitational after running the 800m dash in 2 minutes, and 4.56 seconds on Jan. 17.
She was once again given that honor after running her time of 2:03.87 at the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 11.
Stauber feels that the key to her great start as freshman has been brighter lights and better competition.
“I think just being in bigger meets,” Stauber said as one of the reasons for tremendous performances. “Being in races where there is other good people. So just having competition and being pushed, having Morgan [Schuetz] as a training partner has been beneficial as well.”
“It is more exciting, the bigger the competition, the bigger the opportunity.”
Stauber played a huge part in the Lady Tigers’ record setting performance in the distance medley relay at the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame University.
She ran the opening 1,200m leg of the race to help the Lady Tigers finish with a time of 10 minutes and 57.66 seconds. That time is 8 seconds faster than the previous record.
“It was really fun,” Stauber said. “I got to lead off so that was exciting for me. We put our team in a good spot to qualify for nationals, and getting the school record is pretty cool as well.”
With one more meet left in the season, Stauber is focused strictly on qualifying in the 800m for Nationals.
“I am excited for the meet this weekend,” Stauber said, “I am just kinda focusing on that right now. Our DMR is qualified for Nationals, so that is exciting, and hopefully I can qualify for the 800m as well.”
Stauber’s chance to qualify for the 800m dash at NCAA Championships is rare for a freshman.
In 2016, no freshman qualified to even run in the preliminary races for the 800m.
Whether Stauber qualifies for an individual race or not this year, her future as a Tiger is extremely bright.