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.
Elissa Boll is a senior from the track and field team. The North St. Paul, Minnesota native contributed to the Golden Bears as a middle and long-distance runner at the start of 2018 where she ran a lifetime personal record in the one mile at the indoor Minnesota State Invitational where she placed 12
th with a time of 6:28.30. Since then, the graphic design major has become a three-time All-NSIC Academic Award winner and improved her PR's numerous times throughout her career, while also being a part of Concordia's cross-country team.
During the indoor seasons, Boll ran a PR of 2:42.69 in the 800m during her first competitive year at the Ted Nelson Classic (placed 15
th) and set a career best time (3:36.61) in the 1000m which landed her in the top-nine at The Showcase the following weekend. She was also apart of the 4x400 team to place seventh at the Stout Open in 2018 with a time of 4:48.92.
Her personal record in the outdoor 800m was set at the Drake Alternative (2018) where she finished in 2:42.94. That same year, she set a PR in the 1500m at the Tommie Twilight with a time of 5:36.69. In 2019, Boll ran with the 4x800m team at the Emporia State Relays where she and her teammates placed third with a time of 11:20.04. She concluded that year with a new PR time in the 400m at the Tommie Twilight with a time of 1:13.83.
This season, Boll competed primarily in the 3000 and the 5000 during the indoor season, which she set personal records for in both. Her best time in the 5000 occurred at the NSIC Indoor Challenge (Feb 15) where she placed 11
th with a time of 22:44.08. The following week, she broke her 3000 record at the Minnesota Cold Classic (Feb 21) with a time of 12:55.42 where she also placed 11
th.
Head Coach Sam Johnson on Elissa Boll:
"Elissa has always found joy in running, whether it be in training or competition. She embodied the term 'servant teammate' and was always there to support her team and teammates. We will not soon forget her willingness to volunteer extra time and energy to contribute to the team's culture and success."
ELISSA BOLL– IN HER OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
EB: I started running track my freshman year of high school and joined cross country my junior year.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
EB: I was involved in a lot of different activities in high school outside of running (such as choir, theater, art). During my recruitment process the coaches made a point to learn those aspects of my life in addition to my running. They would ask me how rehearsals were going and about certain projects I was working on. Having coaches who recognized and valued my interests outside of athletics and cared enough to take interest in them was one of many things that made Concordia the right fit for me. CSP's strong graphic design program and its city setting with post-graduation connection were other factors that contributed to my decision to become a Golden Bear.
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
EB: There are too many to pick from! Many of my favorite memories do however involve sprinting across golf courses and screaming at the top of my lungs to cheer on teammates as they raced.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
EB: I'll miss my teammates, exploring new trails on hop-in-a-vehicle days, and our inevitable fits of laughter at team dinners.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
EB: I hope to land a job working at a Minneapolis design firm or advertising agency, play my guitar more, finally teach my dog how to catch a frisbee, perfect my homemade cinnamon roll recipe, and attend as many races as I can to cheer on Golden Bear runners!
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
EB: Working as a senior designer or art director while adding more stamps to my passport, having bought a small house with a big yard for my future rescue dog, and coaching high school cross country if my schedule allows it.
CSP: Who is a staff member or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
EB: There are so many! Jonathan Breitbarth, Matthew Buns, David Pieper, John DuFresne, Dr. Mark Koschmann, Dr. Mark Schuler, and Shelly Schwalm all quickly come to mind. As coaches, professors, and mentors they've all contributed in various ways to my personal growth, whether that be as an athlete, designer, or follower of Christ!
CSP: Who is your role model?
EB: My grandpa has always been someone I've looked up to. I was even named after him too (my middle name). He was someone who lived generously, walked humbly, and never passed up the chance to teach those around him something new.
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
EB: Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly. I have had plenty of races, workouts, and runs that didn't go the way I wanted them to, but that doesn't mean there wasn't value in them. Good things still came out of that hard work and struggle. The lessons running has given me in determination, perseverance, accountability, and grit frequently spill over into other areas of my life and will undoubtedly continue to do so.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
EB: Know that things get better. I really struggled to find my place in college at first. I pray that you don't, but you'll probably have some really hard day, weeks, and months your first year. Just know that things do get better. There are so many people at Concordia that love and care for you and want to see you succeed!
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
EB: Erin Fallert from the volleyball team. We've gone to school together since 4th grade! Being her friend and watching her grow and find success in a sport that she loves to dearly has been such a cool thing. She sets the bar high for those around her, showing what a hardworking, patient, and resilient student athlete looks like.
