ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Concordia-St. Paul women's cross-country team opens its 2025 season at the Augie Twilight on Sept. 5 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Golden Bears will race at 8:30 p.m.under the lights at Yankton Trails in Sioux Falls.
This year's team features a mix of two returners and five newcomers to the cross country roster. It's a group that includes four freshmen and one transfer, focused on competing and developing as the season goes on.
"It's good to have new people who come in with varied experiences," Head Coach Jonathan Breitbarth said. "It's great that they are all similar in terms of good team, encouragers and individuals who really hold to our philosophy."
Meet the Team: Returners
The Golden Bears return two runners from last year's squad including senior Nyadio Chan, who finished last season with a personal best 6K time of 23:36.2 at the NCAA Central Region Championships.
"She came in her first year and even par to her second year where she was towards the back of a cross-country race, and her hard work is evident," Breitbarth said. "She is one that even though she's made big jumps she still surprises us."
As a result Chan was named as the Golden Bears Preseason Athlete to Watch heading into the 2025 season.
"It's fun watching her and I don't put any sort of forecast or expectations on her," Breitbarth said. "Because she always seems to surprise us anyways."
The other returning member of last year's squad is sophomore Elise Atkins, who ran a season best 6k race of 27:30.0 at the NSIC Championships close out the 2024 season. Atkins also set a personal best 1500m time of 5:42.89 during the outdoor track and field season at the Meet of the UnSaintly.
Meet the team: Newcomers
Four freshmen join the team to start the 2025 season, headlining the group of newcomers is Kayla Anderson. A newcomer to the cross-country team, Anderson is entering her second year at CSP having competed with the track and field team last spring. The distance runner finished off the track season by running a personal best time of 2:23.51 in the 8oom at the NSIC Outdoor championships. She also competed in the 600, 1000 and 1500 meter races for the Golden Bears.
"She was a cross-country runner in high school, went to state and thought she was more long sprints," Breitbarth said. "She really is a distance runner and a good quality distance runner."
One true freshman to look out for on this year's squad is Lauryn Rosenthal, who comes to CSP by way of Woodbury High School.
"Coming over from a quality program in Woodbury,"Breitbarth said. "She has the toolbox necessary to be successful."
The Golden Bears also added Elinor Handlin, a senior transfer from Cornell College, to the team in the offseason. Handlin is a distance runner who competed in a triathlon over the summer and is recovering from an injury, but looks to make an impact down the stretch.
"The key to that is making sure she's healthy before we race her too much early in the season," Breitbarth said. "The meets that really count are conference and regions, and I see the potential of her being back strong and ready to go at that time."
Addy Nelson and Kathryn Stroede also join the Golden Bears as incoming freshmen this season.
Meet the team: coaching staff
Anna Sajdak joins the Golden Bears coaching staff this season after competing as a runner from 2021-24. Sajdak earned NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors in 2023 and 2024, she also finished her senior season with a 6K time of 24:51.5 at the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships.
"It's good to have an assistant who is able to speak up and call out the blind spots," Breitbarth said. "And fill in a complete coaching experience for our student-athletes."
Schedule preview
After opening the season at the Augie Twilight in Sioux Falls, the Golden Bears will compete in the Roy Griak Invite. Serving as the team's de facto home meet the team welcomes the support of those in the area and invites them to come out.
The other regular season meets on the schedule are the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational in Eau-Claire, Wisconsin and the Lewis Invitational in Romeoville, Illinois.
The NSIC Cross-Country Championships are hosted by Wayne State and will take place on Oct. 24 in Wayne, Nebraska. The NCAA Central Region Championships are hosted by Missouri Southern and will take place Nov. 8 in Joplin, Missouri.
Conference outlook
Heading into the 2025 season defending champion Augustana was picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Golden Bears were picked to finish 16th in the poll, and will look to get stronger as the season goes on.
"I see us sneaking up and surprising teams at the conference championship, after we've has six, eight weeks of good training," Breitbarth said. "Conference and regionals are always the meets to focus on, and I see our group really building momentum into that."
