As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the Prairie Stars' Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one student-athlete, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics. 

This week, UIS recognizes Taryn Christy as one of the 15 standout student-athletes who helped define the Prairie Stars' Division II era. A generational distance runner for UIS cross country and track and field from 2018-22, Christy built one of the most decorated and influential careers in program history, setting the standard for competitive and academic excellence.

The Geneva, Ill., native was a trailblazer for Prairie Stars distance running, becoming the first women's runner in UIS history to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. She remains the only UIS student-athlete to earn All-American honors in all three disciplines.

Over her career, Christy earned three All-American awards, was an eight-time All-GLVC performer, and captured two GLVC Individual Championships. She also collected two GLVC Freshman of the Year awards and two GLVC Runner of the Week honors, quickly establishing herself as one of the top distance runners in the conference from the moment she arrived on campus.

Christy's rise began immediately during her freshman year. In the spring of 2019, she delivered one of the most significant moments in UIS track and field history by winning the 10,000m GLVC Championship, becoming the first conference individual champion in the UIS women's track & field program's history. The victory marked Christy's first collegiate title and set the tone for what would become a record-setting career.

That momentum carried into the fall 2019 cross country season, which proved to be another historic milestone for the Prairie Stars. Christy became the first NCAA Division II national qualifier and first USTFCCCA All-American in UIS cross country history, earning all-region and all-GLVC honors along the way. After placing fourth at the NCAA Midwest Regional, she went on to finish 36th at the NCAA Division II National Championships, cementing her place as one of the top distance runners in the nation.

During the 2020 indoor track season, Christy became the first Prairie Star to qualify for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, advancing in the 5,000m with a converted time of 16:54.34, which ranked 13th nationally that season.

The NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships were canceled due to COVID-19 just one day before the scheduled competition. In place of the championship, Christy earned USTFCCCA All-American honors, becoming the first UIS track and field student-athlete to receive an All-American accolade.

Christy's All-American recognition came during her sophomore season, in which she earned all-GLVC honors after finishing second in the 3,000m and third in the 5,000m at the conference championships. She also posted multiple national-caliber performances throughout the season, including setting program records in both events.

Across cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, Christy consistently competed among the nation's best. Her collegiate personal bests included times of 16:28.95 in the 5,000m, 34:48.34 in the 10,000m (GLVC Championships Record), and 20:56.3 in the 6,000m cross country race, ranking her among the top performers in UIS history in every distance discipline.

Christy's excellence extended beyond competition. In the classroom, she built a resume as impressive as her athletic accomplishments. She is the first three-time Academic All-American in UIS athletics history, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She was also a four-time GLVC Academic All-Conference honoree, a three-time Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar, and the UIS Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2021-22.

Christy's record-setting career helped establish the foundation for the next generation of Prairie Stars distance runners. While several of her marks have since been challenged and surpassed as the program has grown, her legacy remains firmly intact as the athlete who first opened the door to national success for UIS women's cross country and track and field.

Through championship performances, national breakthroughs, and unmatched academic achievement, Taryn Christy left a lasting imprint on Prairie Stars Athletics. Her career stands as one of the defining chapters of UIS' NCAA Division II era and a benchmark for excellence across sport and scholarship.

Explore the growing list of NCAA Division II 15 Years Anniversary honorees celebrating the legacy of Prairie Stars Athletics.