Although the institution was not in the top level of collegiate sports, Spence Gracey performed well in NCAA Division II competition.

[3] A seventh-place run in the 5000 m at the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships brought Spence Gracey her first senior international selection.

[4] She came fourth at the high-profile Great Edinburgh Cross Country in early 2012, but suffered an ankle injury which, alongside Lyme disease, ultimately curtailed her season and caused her to miss the Olympic trials.

[7] She began to turn to road running that season and won some low level races and made her half marathon debut, though 82:57 minutes did not represent a fast time.

[4] The 2014 season was marred by a knee injury which required surgery on her patella – her kneecaps had not fully fused as a child and her running had caused inflammation.

[8] Spence Gracey returned to running towards the end of 2014 and early 2015 saw her improve to 72:39 minutes in the half marathon as runner-up at the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

Other outings were fourth at the Falmouth Road Race, second at the USA 10-mile championships, and runner-up at the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon.