ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
 
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
 

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Today's senior spotlight is Tasha Bennett, a distance runner on the Golden Bear track and field team. The New Prague, Minnesota native is a double major in biology and chemistry and was awarded NSIC All-Academic honors this winter. She competed in a variety of indoor and outdoor races and compiled 22 top-ten finishes throughout her time on the track. Bennett was also a part of the cross-country team at Concordia, where she ran the 5K (20:25.9 PR) and the 6K (24:24.1 PR) in the fall.
 
Bennett set a handful of personal records in 2018 during the indoor season, starting with the 3000 at the Minnesota State Invitational where she finished in 11:58.72 and placed 14^th. At the MSU Open and Multi, she ran the 600m in 1:49.69 and broke another PR in the 5000 a week later with a time of 20:17.86 at The Showcase. During her junior season of indoor, she collected a new PR in the one mile (5:40.63) and in the 1000 (3:12.78) which earned her an eighth-place finish at the Parent's Day Open. She collected another eighth-place finish this season, this time in the 800m, after she ran a new best time of 2:30.31.
 
On the outdoor track, Bennett contributed to CSP in the 800, 1500, 5000, and 3000S. At the MSU Spring Winter Invitational in 2018, the distance runner placed sixth in the 5000 with a time of 20:02.80 (PR). She was a strong performer in the 3000S, with her top finish being at the 2019 Emporia State Relays where she placed fourth. Later that year, Bennett improved her 3000S PR to 12:14.21 to take eighth at the Lady Bear Twilight, hosted at Sea Foam Stadium. Her best time in the 1500 occurred a week later, running it in 5:04.69 at the Minnesota Women's Twilight.
 

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Head Coach Sam Johnson on Tasha Bennett:
"Tasha contributed to both the cross-country team's success and in the middle distance events on the track during the indoor season this winter. In this her first year on the track and field leadership council, she provided a level of organization and management strengths that were needed and unique to the group."
 

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TASHA BENNETT– IN HER OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing­ your sport?
TB: I was 14 when I started running track and 16 when I started cross country.

CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
TB: Because I really enjoyed the coaches and team and they had the major I was originally planning to go into.
 
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
TB: The numerous car/van jam sessions we did on the way to/from workouts or meets.

CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
TB: I'm going to miss the people the most. Everyone is so supportive and no matter the sport or major you always have supporters and friends from different areas.
 
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
TB: To work in a research lab for a couple of years before going back to school to get my PhD in either Microbiology or Pathology.
 
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
TB: I see myself starting a family, happily married, graduated with my PhD and working in a research lab, while still racing competitively in road races.
 
CSP: Who is a staff member or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
TB: My coaches JB (Jonathan Breitbarth) Peeps (Pieper), Buns and Sam Johnson. They all were able to give me different perspectives on my training and life advice while always supporting my running especially when I was always changing event focuses every season!
 
CSP: Who is your role model?
TB: My older sister because she helped me figure out what I wanted to do for a career but also always helped me to study for my classes and supported me in every life decision I made.
 
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
TB: I learned that no matter what life throws at you, your sport, teammates, and God will always be there supporting you.

CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
TB: I would tell them that no matter what happens during freshman year or any year don't give up. The training (if an athlete) and schooling is VERY different compared to what you have done before and you will struggle at some point but never fear asking for help and don't ever give up because once you make it through your four years you will be so proud of yourself and everything you've accomplished. Oh and don't forget to go to class everyday! Just because lectures might be posted online doesn't mean you will understand it and it is very important to be in class and present because that level of effort will make a huge difference.
 
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
TB: Katie Moynihan from the lacrosse team because she faced a lot of challenges over her four years at CSP but she was always at practice or games supporting or grinding away. Over the four years at CSP together I got to know her better as a friend and even became roommates with her one year!
 
CSP: Do you have a final personalized message you'd like to share with cspbears.com readers?
TB: CSP athletics is a special program with supportive people and the CSP track and cross country teams will always hold a special place in my heart for years to come. I know that I will be walking away with some of the greatest friendships I will have in my life and I would never trade my 4 years at CSP for any other school.