Leif Swanson, a senior distance runner from Spokane, Washington, has been a member of the WSU track and field and cross country programs since 2021. A graduate of North Central High School, Swanson has specialized in multiple events ranging from the 1500 meters to the 10,000 meters.
In the 5000 meters, Swanson recorded a time of 14:03.63 at the 2024 Stanford Invitational, securing a second-place finish. He showed versatility when he set a personal best of 3:50.78 in the 1500 meters at the 2023 Bryan Clay Invitational. He set his 10,000-meter best of 30:02.57 achieved at the 2023 Mt. SAC Relays. He was able to perform at a high level across multiple events.
In cross country, Swanson has been a consistent contributor to the Cougars’ success. He achieved a personal best of 23:44.2 in the 8K at the 2024 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and clocked 30:19.9 in the 10K at the 2023 NCAA Division I West Region Cross Country Championships.
