Gracen Key has helped elevate the Fort Lewis College women’s cross country and track and field programs to new heights, guiding the Skyhawks to multiple NCAA Championship appearances, All-America honors and school records.
In cross country, Fort Lewis placed 20th as a team at the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships behind a pair of First Team All-America performances from Hannah Hartwell, who finished fifth, and Linda Weigang, who placed 10th. Hartwell, Weigang and Althea Griffith also earned All-RMAC honors that season. The Skyhawks returned to the NCAA Championships in 2025, finishing 21st as a team while Hartwell placed fourth nationally for another First Team All-America honor. Hartwell and Alliyah Molina earned All-RMAC recognition.
The Skyhawks have also reached new heights on the track under Key. During the 2025 indoor season, Hartwell became the first indoor All-American in program history, placing third in the 5,000-meter run to earn First Team All-America honors. She also finished 10th in the 3,000 meters for Second Team All-America recognition and earned All-RMAC honors with a third-place finish in the event at the conference championships. Outdoors, Molina earned All-RMAC honors with a runner-up finish in the 10,000 meters.
Fort Lewis continued its national success during the 2026 indoor season. Hartwell earned Second Team All-America honors in both the 5,000 meters, placing 10th, and 3,000 meters, finishing 14th. The distance medley relay team of Eliana Angelino, Janaya Mancell, Caroline Laughlin, and Molina became the first relay in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships and earned Second Team All-America honors. Hartwell also contributed to the relay during the qualifying process. Molina added All-RMAC honors with a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters.
During Key’s tenure, the Skyhawks have established indoor school records in the mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and distance medley relay, along with outdoor records in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Key joined the Fort Lewis staff after spending the 2023-24 academic year at fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference institution Western Colorado University. Under her guidance, the Mountaineers continued their success on the national stage, with the women placing fourth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and 22nd at the indoor track and field championships while producing numerous All-Americans across cross country and indoor and outdoor track. The men placed fifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and 10th at the indoor championships while adding All-America honors during the outdoor season.
Before joining Western Colorado, Key was an instrumental member of the coaching staff at her alma mater, West Texas A&M. She served as a primary recruiter for the cross country and track and field programs, significantly expanding the roster on both the men’s and women’s sides. Key also assisted with program operations, team travel and coordination while helping host high school and collegiate meets.
As a collegiate student-athlete for the Lady Buffs, Key was part of the 2020 Lone Star Conference indoor track and field championship team, placing fifth in the mile. She also contributed to a pair of LSC runner-up finishes in cross country in 2019 and 2020. In her first season coaching the cross country programs, West Texas A&M’s women’s team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2013.
Key earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Texas A&M in 2021 and is certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
