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Title IX Cross Country

TITLE IX SPOTLIGHT, Women's Cross Country

CSP celebrates the 50th anniversary of Title IX

12.20.22

By: Patrick Rydeen

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In honor of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the Concordia-St. Paul athletic department will be spotlighting its nine female athletic programs throughout the 2022-23 school year. The second spotlight is the CSP women's cross country program.

My mom's high school only had cheerleading, dance team, gymnastics club, and track and field (her senior year only). Just one generation later, because of Title IX, I was able to compete in three different sports at the college level. Now as a coach, I am proud to continue providing opportunities to young women, teaching them to be fierce competitors, and that they can accomplish greatness.
CSP hall of famer Janet Brownawell Smith '03
Women's Cross Country Team Pic 2022-23
The 2022 Concordia-St. Paul women's cross country team

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1994: Melissa Beise crowned UMAC Conference Champion
  • 1997: Team wins Concordia Invitational title and are UMAC Champions
  • 2000: Team finishes second in just their second NSIC Championships while also finishing second in NAIA Regional; Jodi Werman became first CSP runner to finish in the top-100 at NAIA National Meet
  • 2001: Janet Brownawell named NAIA Academic All-America First Team
  • 2002: CSP runners Emily Shoop and Janet Brownawell finish first and second at the NSIC Championships while Shoop was named NSIC Runner of the Year
  • 2020-21: Kara Lindberg named CoSIDA Academic All-America two years in a row
We are so thankful for Title IX. Cross country running has a significant element of finding ways to do something they have never done before. We celebrate going for the longest run of a person's life. We celebrate running a faster time they have ever ran. These celebrations take place within the context of a team all because of Title IX. Title IX provided an environment where women can grow through the support and challenge of teammates. The loving environment of a team provides women the opportunity to face doubt, fear, and uncertainty that comes with doing things they have never done before. We give thanks for all that Title IX has done for women's sports.
CSP head coach Jonathan Breitbarth
TEAM Huddle 2015 NSIC Championships
Golden Bears prepare to host NSIC Cross Country Championships for third time in 10 years in 2015
Title XI has allowed me to push the limits and go further than I had imagined. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that I have been given to compete at the collegiate level.
CSP sophomore Kelsey Thelen

ALL-UMAC SELECTIONS

  • Jodi Hanson (1992)
  • Pam Borden (1992)
  • Amy Olston (1992)
  • Dawn Gilles (1993)
  • Susan Predoehl (1993 & 1994)
  • Melissa Beise (1994)
  • Kari Breitkreutz (1997)
  • Sommer Schmitz (1997)
  • Jenny Danielsen (1997)

ALL-NSIC SELECTIONS

  • Jodi Werman (2000)
  • Kym Zhao (2000)
  • Janet Brownawell (2001 & 2002)
  • Sarah Keiser (2001)
  • Emily Shoop (2002 & 2003)
  • Sarah Mueller (2005)
  • Emily Stanzyk (2006, 2007, 2008)
  • Shae Wallin (2007)
Emily Shoop action
Sarah Keiser 2002 cross country
Molly Bethke and Emily Stanzyk 2007 NSIC Outdoor Championships
Shae Wallin 2007 NSIC Outdoor Championships
Kara Lindberg 2017 Crown

CSP HALL OF FAME

  • Janet Brownawell Smith, ‘03
  • Emily Shoop Bredeson, ‘04