Augsburg University Athletics

Tonnisha Russell was one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Augsburg’s women’s track and field program. In her four seasons, she earned NCAA Division III All-America honors five times, qualifying for NCAA national competition in each of the eight championships during her career. She earned 11 MIAC individual championships and earned All-MIAC honors 15 times. She was part of six individual and two relay school records in her career, including three which still stand -- a 7.08-second time in the indoor 55-meter dash, an 18-feet, half-inch effort in the indoor long jump and a 24.38-second time in the outdoor 200. In 2006, Tonnisha was named the MIAC’s Outstanding Female Indoor Track Athlete and also earned USTFCCCA Division III Central Region Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors. Tonnisha was a health and physical education major at Augsburg, and also served as a student-athlete trainer. She has continued her education in health, wellness and nutrition since graduating from Augsburg, and spent 11 years as an exercise specialist and health education for HealthPartners in Bloomington. She earned an award for outstanding leadership in health promotion from the Dakota County Department of Health. In 2019, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she currently works as a health management guide for Mobe Health and Wellness. Tonnisha and her husband, Joseph, have a four-year-old daughter, Arienne, and live in Phoenix.

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2006 co-Senior Athlete of the Year … One of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history … As of 2021, still holds three school records -- indoor 55-meter dash (7.08 seconds), indoor long jump (5.50m/18-feet-0.5) and outdoor 200-meter dash (24.38 seconds), setting six individual and two relay records during her career … Five-time NCAA All-American (2003 indoor 55-meter dash, 6th; 2005 indoor 55-meter dash, 6th; 2006 indoor 55-meter dash, 2nd; 2006 outdoor 100-meter dash, 4th; 2006 outdoor 200-meter dash, 5th) … Became first Augsburg track athlete since 1998 to claim multiple All-American honors at a single championship meet in 2006 … Qualified for all eight NCAA track championships in her career in 11 events … Won 11 MIAC championships (six indoor, five outdoor) and earned All-MIAC honors 15 times (nine indoor, six outdoor) … MIAC Athlete of the Week eight times … Earned MIAC Indoor Most Outstanding Performance honors twice … In 2006, named MIAC Outstanding Female Indoor Track Athlete and USTFCCCA Division III Central Region Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.