After taking time away from college and spending several months among professional runners in Flagstaff, Arizona, Molly Seidel has made the decision to return to Notre Dame and complete her final two seasons of eligibility, as announced by Notre Dame athletic communications on Tuesday.

According to UND.com's Megan Golden, Seidel spent the past few months in Flagstaff "reflecting on her time at Notre Dame....Throughout her high-elevation training, conversations with some of the country's most elite runners and many phone calls with associate head coach Matt Sparks, Seidel concluded her four championships are not enough."

SHE'S BACK! Four-time NCAA Champion @ByGollyMolly12 announced she is returning to Notre Dame!

MORE: https://t.co/1DcSjOYB29 pic.twitter.com/vKWy3mTC12

— Notre Dame XC/TF (@NDXCTF) October 18, 2016

"Molly's decision to return speaks volumes for the passion she feels for Notre Dame," Sparks said. "She had the opportunity to forego her final seasons of eligibility to make a good living as a professional runner. She will still be able to live out her dream as a professional athlete, but she feels like she has unfinished business left at the college level."

Seidel's hot streak began when she won the 10K at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The momentum continued in cross country when she claimed the NCAA Cross Country Championship title and later the NCAA indoor 3K and 5K championship. Unfortunately, Seidel suffered from injury during the 2016 outdoor season which prevented her from competing for the Irish.

She graduated in the spring with a degree in anthropology, but still has both indoor and outdoor track eligibility. The four-time NCAA champion expressed her excitement to return to the college ranks on her Instagram account.


"I've still got some work left to do at ND. Time to get #backtothegrind, see you in a few months South Bend," she wrote.