It didn’t take long for Azalea Groleau to realize her running potential.
Back in middle school, Groleau's mother, Rachel, forced her to go out for the track and field team. Groleau resisted going to the first practice initially, and felt a combination of nerves and some intimidation when she did arrive. Those nerves didn’t last long. In a short time, Groleau was the new holder of her middle school’s mile record.
“I think I realized then, ‘I’m pretty good,’” Groleau said. “Sports are more fun when you’re good at them.”
Breaking records has become something of a habit for Groleau.
Since taking a redshirt year at Seattle U in 2021, Groleau has etched herself as one of the most prolific runners in Redhawks history in both cross country and track and field, and now holds records for both the fastest track 5k (16:46) and cross country 6k (20:28) in Seattle U history, as well as a school record in the DMR (Distance Medley Relay).
Groleau was part of the then-record-setting DMR team in the 2023 indoor season alongside her best friend Maya McCabe, who ran with Groleau at San Lorenzo Valley High School in California.
McCabe graduated high school two years before Groleau and committed to Seattle U. When it was Groleau’s turn to make a commitment, McCabe assisted with some of the most important recruiting in Redhawks history.
“She wanted me to make my own decision about where I wanted to go,” Groleau said. “But I know she really wanted me to come here and be with her.”
Groleau had met former Seattle U coach Kelly Sullivan as a sophomore in high school, and two years later, was able to fulfill her goal of running for a Division I program in a big city. She joined McCabe in Seattle, ultimately redshirting her first cross country season due to injury. When it was finally time for her first collegiate race in the 2022 track season, Groleau provided some foreshadowing of an epic career to come.
“I remember being super nervous, because I hadn’t raced in a year-and-a-half, I wasn’t sure if I still had it in me,” Groleau said. “But, I ended up running close to my high school PR.”
Four years after that first race and a whole lot of achievements later, Groleau is leading the charge in her final season for the Redhawks. But her feats extend far beyond a course, or the track. She is also training to be a nurse, which includes 12-hour long shifts each week at Providence Swedish Hospital.
“It definitely takes some time management,” Groleau said. “I have to stay really organized, and I have to work ahead a lot. When we’re on travel trips, I have to do homework, and I have to be studying. I remember my teammates quizzing me on drugs for the whole bus ride one time. You just kind of work it into the day.”
The demanding schedule can take its toll – but the discipline required to find the delicate balance between two unrelenting activities has elevated Groleau in both endeavors – with a little help from her teammates on those long bus rides.
“When you work really hard on something and it pays off, that keeps you going,” Groleau said. “I see a little bit of a parallel [between nursing and running].”
But a nursing exam still pales in comparison to standing on the start line before a big race.
“It’s just a different feeling,” Groleau said. “I don’t get nervous for exams and tests in the same way as I do for a race.”
A big asset in Groleau’s corner is head coach Jordana LeSavage, who helps navigate the challenging schedule.
“Jordana has been super supportive of me,” Groleau said. “She’s like, my number one fan, and has always been there for me when I need help on and off the track, and works with me through nursing school. We’re definitely a team, and I appreciate having a coach that I feel like is on my team.”
Once her final year at Seattle U is completed, Groleau has her options open – whether it’s nursing at Providence Swedish in Seattle, pursuing nursing elsewhere, or continuing her running career.
For now, she’s taking it day-by-day and serving in a leadership role for a young Redhawks team with potential.
“We don’t have team captains, but as a fifth–year I just try to set a good example, especially with such a young team,” Groleau said. “I just try to make it fun. We run a lot, and it gets hard sometimes, so just trying to keep a positive attitude and keep it lighthearted is my goal.”
Groleau will pursue regionals in her final cross country season, then finish off her career with track in 2026. For the record, she enjoys track and cross country both equally. If her final year is resemblant of her feats since she arrived on campus, Groleau may have a few more records to break at Seattle U.
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