Shelby Romig: From Iowa State Champion to Collegiate Multidisciplinary Competitor
Shelby Romig has established herself as a versatile track and field athlete, excelling in hurdles, jumps, and sprints across high school and collegiate competitions. Born in Ankeny, Iowa, Romig’s career is defined by her 2021 Iowa Class 4A state long jump title, academic resilience, and transition to NCAA Division II athletics at St. Cloud State University. Balancing rigorous training with academic excellence, she embodies the modern student-athlete ideal, showcasing technical precision in horizontal jumps and hurdling alongside consistent performances in regional and national meets.
Early Career and High School Dominance
Shelby Romig’s athletic journey began at Ankeny High School, where she quickly emerged as a multidisciplinary talent. Coached within Ankeny’s robust track program, she specialized in the long jump and 100m hurdles while contributing to relay teams. Her breakthrough came in 2019 when, as a sophomore, she placed sixth in the long jump (16 feet 11.25 inches) and 13th in the 100m hurdles (15.80 seconds) at the Iowa Class 4A state championships14. These performances signaled her potential for higher-level competition.
By her senior year in 2021, Romig had refined her technique under the guidance of Ankeny’s coaching staff. At the Drake Stadium state meet, she clinched the Class 4A long jump title with a personal best of 18 feet ¾ inch (5.50 meters), a mark that remains Ankeny High School’s record513. Reflecting on her winning jump, Romig noted, “I knew when I hit the board that it was going to be a good jump”5. This victory not only solidified her reputation as a clutch performer but also earned her recognition as a key contributor to Ankeny’s highest team finish at state since 19975.
Romig’s versatility extended to relays, where she anchored the shuttle hurdle team to an eighth-place finish at the 2019 state meet (1:06.73)14. Her ability to balance individual and team events underscored her value to Ankeny’s program, earning her all-conference honors and recruitment attention.
Collegiate Career at St. Cloud State University
In 2021, Romig committed to St. Cloud State University, opting to focus solely on track and field despite her dual-sport prowess in softball14. Competing for the Huskies in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), she specialized in the long jump, 60m/100m hurdles, and sprints.
Technical Development and Event Progression
Under St. Cloud State’s coaching staff, Romig expanded her event portfolio. Indoors, she excelled in the 60m hurdles, recording a personal best of 9.02 seconds in 2025, and the long jump, where she reached 5.24 meters (17′ 2.25″)13. Outdoors, her 100m hurdles time improved to 14.80 seconds (wind-legal), while her long jump best stood at 5.11 meters (16′ 9.25″) despite variable wind conditions112.
Her collegiate progression is marked by consistency. At the 2023 NSIC Indoor Championships, she placed 19th in the long jump (5.19m) and competed in the 60m hurdles8. By 2025, she secured top-five finishes at meets like the Janis Rider/Doug Bolstorff Invitational (5.03m long jump) and the CSS Opener (5.02m)112.
Key Performances and Resilience
Romig’s collegiate journey faced setbacks, including a hamstring strain in 2022 that temporarily sidelined her14. However, her comeback highlighted her resilience. At the 2024 Maverick Premiere, she reset her 60m dash personal best to 8.46 seconds, demonstrating improved sprinting power3. She also anchored St. Cloud State’s 4x100m relay team, which clocked 51.97 seconds at the 2025 Meet of the UnSaintly1.
Academic Achievements and Balance
Romig’s academic prowess paralleled her athletic success. Majoring in nursing, she earned repeated inclusion on the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence, requiring a minimum 3.60 GPA7. Her ability to manage a rigorous STEM curriculum while training six days a week exemplifies her time-management skills, a trait she attributes to her high school experience: “Studying teaches discipline, which translates to better focus during competitions”5.
In 2025, she was among 43 St. Cloud State athletes recognized for academic excellence, underscoring her commitment to holistic development7. This balance reflects the ethos of St. Cloud State’s athletics program, which prioritizes scholar-athlete models.
Legacy and Impact
High School Inspiration
Romig’s state title and school record in the long jump inspired younger athletes at Ankeny High. Her name remains prominent in the school’s record books, with her 18′ 0.75″ jump surpassing predecessors like Bailey Massoth (14.15 in the 100m)213. Coaches cited her technical discipline—particularly her board accuracy and mid-air adjustments—as a blueprint for aspiring jumpers10.
Collegiate Contributions
At St. Cloud State, Romig’s versatility provided scoring depth in conference meets. Her ability to compete in hurdles, jumps, and relays offered strategic flexibility for the Huskies, particularly in multi-event competitions. Teammates and coaches praised her leadership, noting her role in mentoring underclassmen during the 2024–25 season37.
Challenges and Adaptations
Transitioning to collegiate track required Romig to adapt to higher training volumes and technical demands. Initially struggled with the 60m hurdles’ tighter spacing compared to high school 100m hurdles, she worked with coaches to refine her trail-leg mechanics and start precision8. Injuries, including the 2022 hamstring strain, necessitated collaboration with sports medicine staff, emphasizing preventive conditioning and recovery protocols14.
Future Prospects
As of 2025, Romig aims to breach the 5.50-meter (18′ 0.5″) threshold in the long jump and qualify for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Her academic trajectory toward a nursing degree positions her for post-collegiate opportunities in healthcare, though she remains open to coaching or sports administration roles14.
Conclusion
Shelby Romig’s career embodies the synergy of athletic grit and academic rigor. From her state-title-winning leap in Des Moines to her multidisciplinary contributions at St. Cloud State, she has redefined expectations for Iowa-bred track athletes. Her legacy lies not only in meters and seconds but in proving that small-town talent can thrive in collegiate arenas through perseverance and adaptability. As she approaches graduation, Romig stands as a testament to the enduring value of balanced excellence—a jumper, hurdler, and scholar whose trajectory continues to ascend.
Go Shelby!
