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TITLE IX SPOTLIGHT, Track & Field

TITLE IX SPOTLIGHT, Women's Track & Field

CSP celebrates the 50th anniversary of Title IX

6.23.23

By: Patrick Rydeen

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In honor of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the Concordia-St. Paul athletic department has been spotlighting its nine female athletic programs throughout the 2022-23 school year. The ninth and final spotlight is the CSP women's track & field program.

Title IX has had a huge impact on women’s athletics for over 50 years. I now stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me, those who did not get to compete, and those who fought for the opportunities that I have to compete at the highest level on the women’s track and field team at CSP.
CSP National Champion high jumper Arika Harbo
Women's Track and Field Team Pic 2022-23
The 2022-23 Concordia-St. Paul women's track & field team

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  • CSP track & field competed in the 60's and 70's before resuming competition with the opening of the Gangelhoff Center in the 1992-93 school year
  • First NSIC Individual ChampionS: Adejoke Adedeji (long jump), Erin Beucksler (pole vault), Sarah Keiser (mile run & 1000m), 2001-02 NSIC Indoor Championships
  • First NSIC Indoor Athlete of the Year: Emily Shoop, 2002-03
  • First NSIC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year: Arika Harbo, 2023
  • First NCAA Individual Participant: Janet Brownawell, 2003 Outdoor, 3000m Steeplechase
  • First NCAA All-American: Wakpor Ighovojah, 2016-17 Indoor, Pentathlon (Second Team)
  • First NCAA Champion: Arika Harbo, 2021-22 Indoor, High Jump
  • NSIC Elite 18 Award Winners: Kara Lindberg, 2018-19 & Rachel Westemeier, 2020-21
  • Top Team Finish in the NSIC Indoor Championships: Fourth Place (90 Points), 2002-03
  • Top Team Finish in the NSIC Outdoor Championships: Fourth Place (102 Points), 2003
From setting new school records, to increasing the list of national qualifiers, and now crowning our first national champion—CSP Women’s Track & Field has achieved incredible things. None of this would be possible without Title IX. My time and the relationships I built as a lady Bear will always be very special. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity for women to compete in sports to showcase our talents and strength.
CSP alum & former All-American Wakpor Ighovojah, '18'
Williams, Shady, Ighovojah, Burney 2017 NSIC Championships
Erika Shady, Gloria Williams, Wakpor Ighovojah and Kalle Burney pose on the podium at the 2017 NSIC Outdoor Championships hosted by CSP
Title IX has brought awareness and opportunities for women's sport across the country that otherwise may not have existed. In doing so, we as a society reap the benefits of using the platform of sport to positively impact the development of our young women and provide experiences that create memories which last a lifetime.
CSP head coach Sam Johnson

USTFCCCA ALL-AMERICANS

  • Arika Harbo, 2023 Outdoor, High Jump (First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2023 Outdoor, Heptathlon (First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2022-23 Indoor, High Jump (National Champion & First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2022-23 Indoor, Pentathlon (First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2022 Outdoor, High Jump (National Champion & First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2022 Outdoor, Heptathlon (Second Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2021-22 Indoor, High Jump (National Champion & First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2021-22 Indoor, Pentathlon (Second Team)
  • Christabelle Mulcahy, 2021 Outdoor, 100m Hurdles (Second Team)
  • Toni Canfall, 2020-21 Indoor, 60m (First Team)
  • Toni Canfall, 2020-21 Indoor, 200m (First Team)
  • Arika Harbo, 2020-21 Indoor, High Jump (Second Team)
  • Toni Canfall, 2019-20 Indoor, 60m
  • Toni Canfall, 2019-20 Indoor, 200m
  • Hannah Gustafson, 2019-20 Indoor, Weight Throw
  • Arika Harbo, 2019-20 Indoor, High Jump
  • Wakpor Ighovojah, 2018 Outdoor, Heptathlon (First Team)
  • Wakpor Ighovojah, 2017-18 Indoor, Pentathlon (Second Team)
  • Kalle Burney, 2017-18 Indoor, Pentathlon (First Team)
  • Wakpor Ighovojah, 2016-17 Indoor, Pentathlon (Second Team)

NSIC INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

  • Arika Harbo, 2023 Outdoor, High Jump & Heptathlon
  • Arika Harbo, 2022-23 Indoor, High Jump & Pentathlon
  • Arika Harbo, 2022 Outdoor, High Jump
  • Tia Donlan, 2022 Outdoor, Discus Throw
  • Arika Harbo, 2021-22 Indoor, High Jump & Pentathlon
  • Toni Canfall, 2020-21 Indoor, 60m
  • Katie Johnson, 2009 Outdoor, Long Jump
  • Katie Johnson, 2008 Outdoor, Long Jump
  • Amanda Mueller, 2006 Outdoor, 1500m
  • Amanda Mueller, 2005-06 Indoor, Mile Run
  • Sarah Deutsch, 2005-06 Indoor, Long Jump
  • Amanda Mueller, 2005 Outdoor, 800m
  • Emily Shoop, 2004 Outdoor, 1500m
  • Adejoke Adedeji, 2003-04 Indoor, Long Jump
  • Emily Shoop, 2003 Outdoor, 10000m
  • Janet Brownawell, 2003 Outdoor, 3000m Steeplechase
  • Adejoke Adedeji, 2003 Outdoor, Long Jump
  • Natalie Schmit, 2002-03 Indoor, 600m
  • Emily Shoop, 2002-03 Indoor, 1000m
  • Emily Shoop, 2002-03 Indoor, Mile Run
  • Erin Beucksler, 2002 Outdoor, Pole Vault
  • Adejoke Adedeji, 2002 Outdoor, Long Jump
  • Sarah Keiser, 2001-02 Indoor, 1000m
  • Sarah Keiser, 2001-02 Indoor, Mile Run
  • Erin Beucksler, 2001-02 Indoor, Pole Vault
  • Adejoke Adedeji, 2001-02 Indoor, Long Jump
Adejoke Adedeji 2002 St. Thomas Invite
Emily Shoop 2002-03 at UST
Wakpor Ighovojah 2015 Holst Invite
Kalle Burney 2017 Holst Invite
Hannah Gustafson Holst 2021

CSP HALL OF FAME

  • Christine Alsbury Piepkorn, '86
  • Janet Brownawell Smith, ‘03
  • Emily Shoop Bredeson, ‘04