A graduate of Octorara High School, Cierra Runge has been a competitive swimmer most of her life beginning with the Jennersville YMCA team that fueled her dream to make the US Olympic team. Throughout her formative years she trained at the highest levels including the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

In 2013, Cierra competed at the World Junior Swimming Championships and won four medals, including gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. She had outstanding performances at the 2014 US National Championships, the qualifying meet for both the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships and the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. Runge finished second in the 400-meter freestyle behind teammate Katie Ledecky, who set a world record at the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.

Cierra achieved her childhood dream by winning an Olympic gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay at the 2016 Rio Olympic games.

Cierra attended the University of California-Berkley as a freshman, then took a year off to focus on making the 2016 US Olympic team. She returned to collegiate swimming at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and finished her last two years of NCAA eligibility at Arizona State. During her collegiate career she set numerous records and won NCAA championships.

She is currently a member of the USA Swimming National team, Fitter & Fast Clinician, and Pitchfork Aquatics Coach. Cierra resides in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband Ben Burnell.