Senior distance runner Juliane Totzke sat down with the Northern Star to discuss her recent admission to Duke University’s pharmacology doctorate program and being back on the track this weekend after the distance runners had nearly a month off from competing.

Northern Star: Congratulations on your admission into the doctorate program at Duke. How was that feeling getting the phone call that you would be attending the school next year?

Juliane Totzke: It was a great feeling. I was really happy. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.

NS: Who was the first person you told after you were accepted into the program?

JT: Dr. [Marc] Adler from the chemistry department [told me]. He is also my academic research adviser.

NS: With the athletic calendar switching to the outdoor portion of the schedule, that opens up the chance for you to run the 10,000 meters, which your coaches have called one of your top events. Are you looking forward to possibly running that this spring?

JT: Definitely, but I don’t know for sure yet if I’m going to race it. Coach [Greg Hipp] and I have talked about some possibilities, but I think they want to see how things go with me in the 5,000 meters and then decide if they want to add me into the 10K. We might actually discuss it more this week.

NS: You are the NIU record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Depending on what you end up racing and focusing on more the rest of the season, do you feel there is a chance that you could possibly chase and break either one of your own records that you set?

JT: Yeah. I think that I’m in the best shape of my life. I think I’ll definitely be able to break both of my records if I get into the right races, and I’m really, really confident right now in my physical ability.