Katelyn Tuohy signs pro contract with Adidas after record-setting collegiate career

Katelyn Tuohy, who gained national fame, including a Sports Illustrated cover, running for North Rockland High School before setting multiple collegiate track and field records and helping North Carolina State win three consecutive women's Division I cross-country team titles, announced via Instagram Wednesday afternoon that she has turned pro, signing with Adidas.

While a true senior with eligibility left in both indoor and outdoor track and field, her decision was not surprising,. A business major, Tuohy, an academic All-American, had finished all her undergraduate academic requirements early.

And there was little left for the 21-year-old to prove on the track after her performances last winter and spring.

Last winter, during a two-week span, she set the women's all-time collegiate indoor marks in the mile (4:24.26) and the 3,000 (8:35.2). Both were at The Armory, the famed New York City track and field complex where Tuohy distinguished herself as one of the country's all-time best high school runners.

Her 3,000 record occurred during the prestigious Millrose Games. Her mile record was during the Dr. Sander Invitational.

That run also gave her the women's collegiate indoor record for 1,500 meters as she hit that distance in 4:06.49.

That same season, she also captured both the women's 5,000-meter and 3,000-meter NCAA Division I women's indoor championships in a 24-hour period.

Then last spring she set the women's collegiate outdoor 5,000-meter record, clocking 15:03.12.

Late last month, Tuohy, the 2022 NCAA women's D-I individual cross-country champion, competed ill and finished fifth at the NCAA cross-country championship. But her placement, which came with her passing several runners late in the race, was huge in the Wolfpack winning their third straight team cross-country championship, That was by just a single point over Northern Arizona.

Tuohy leaves amateur sports as one of its most successful athletes. The 2019 Journal News/lohud Female Athlete of the Decade, had won multiple national Gatorade awards during her time in high school. Included was its most prestigious as she was named the country's top overall female high school athlete in all sports for the 2017-18 school year.

But those accolades, in some ways, seem a lifetime ago, particularly preceding all her collegiate accomplishments, which came after she had knee surgery soon after graduating from North Rockland in 2020.

In her Instagram post, Tuohy, who still holds multiple national high school records and who won Nike Cross Nationals three consecutive years while at North Rockland, thanked her Wolfpack family, saying she was "overwhelmed with gratitude for the support, guidance and encouragement" she'd received.

"The experience of being part of this team has been very special, shaping me not only as an athlete but also as an individual," she wrote. "The lessons learned, the friendships formed, and the moments shared will forever hold a special place in my heart."

Citing NC State's coaches, support staff, her teammates and others who'd been part of her time at the college, she added, "Thank you for making my dreams come true."

A memorable ending at NC State: Sick Tuohy doesn't win but leads hobbled NC State to 3rd straight NCAA cross-country title

In signing with Adidas, Tuohy, who was courted by several shoe companies, remains with the same firm with which she signed a name, image, likeness contract little more than a year ago.

"I'm looking forward to the next chapter and the opportunities that lie ahead," she concluded, offering final thanks to Adidas for signing her.

Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Katelyn Tuohy goes pro with Adidas, ending record-filled college career