<p>Tori Long’s transition from high school to college track and field athlete was not seamless.</p>
<p>In August, the Davidson College freshman discovered the importance of proper technique just in the warm-up exercises alone.</p>
<p>“I didn’t realize what a difference there would be between high school and college track. The first indoor meet I went to I was shocked at how big it was,” said Long, a former Center Grove High School athlete who placed seventh in the 400-meter dash at the 2015 IHSAA State Finals.</p>
<p>“You see all these great athletes, and it’s just so neat to be in that environment. It’s D-I. It’s intense and it’s fun.”</p>
<p>Long spent the winter making a name for herself during Davidson’s indoor track season.</p>
<p>She established the Wildcats’ fastest times in four individual running events – the 200-meter dash (27.35 seconds) and the 300- (43.67), 400- (59.58) and 500-meter runs (1:20.0).</p>
<p>She also played a role in the Wildcats’ fastest relays of the indoor season, a 4:00.0 in the 4×400-meter relay and 12:11.61 in the distance medley relay.</p>
<p>Versatility is on of Long’s hallmarks. After all, she participated in six different events, including the 300-meter hurdles, at various points during her time at Center Grove.</p>
<p>"Tori is a dedicated athlete and a relentless worker. She works tirelessly at getting better and is very passionate about the sport,” Davidson coach Rory Carpenter said.</p>
<p>“She’s the kind of athlete any coach loves to work with and has a bright future ahead of her both as an athlete and as a person.”</p>
<p>Davidson opened its outdoor track season this past weekend at the 49er Classic, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.</p>
<p>Long finished as her program’s fastest in the 400, placing 18th (of 76 runners) in 58.37 seconds. She had the 79th-fastest overall time (of 120 runners) in the 200-meter dash with a 26.82.</p>
<p>Forty nine teams, including Anderson University and IUPUI, took part in the meet, which was only a 30-mile drive south from the Davidson campus.</p>
<p>The big-meet atmosphere is what Long looked forward to when she committed to Davidson. She is also a fan of the school’s academic offerings.</p>
<p>“It’s better here than I ever could have imagined. The people definitely make the experience here,” said Long, who holds Center Grove’s record in the 400 (57.88 at last year’s Shelbyville Regional).</p>
<p>“There’s such a diversity of people, which gives it a very interesting dynamic," she said. "It’s a special culture here.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Tori Long pullout" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>THE LONG FILE</p>
<p>Name: Tori Long</p>
<p>Age: 18</p>
<p>Born: Indianapolis</p>
<p>Family: Parents, Tad and Cathy; sisters, Abby, 21, and Olivia, 13</p>
<p>Favorite TV show: “I Love Lucy”</p>
<p>Favorite food: Tuna salad</p>
<p>Favorite movie: "Avengers: Age of Ultron"</p>
<p>Favorite athlete: Sonya Richards-Ross</p>
<p>Favorite team: Indianapolis Colts</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
