Cross Country/Track & Field Adds Former All-American, Sarah Anderson, to Coaching Staff
8/5/2025 2:29:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Track & Field
A Grand Rapids, Mich.-native and former standout at Western Michigan, Michigan State returns to the Mitten to help lead the Chippewas
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Cross Country and Track & Field announced the hire of former NCAA All-American Sarah Anderson as an assistant coach, focused on the distance and mid-distance groups for 2025-26.
Â
"We are super excited to add Sarah to our staff," Head Coach Jenny Swieton said, "she has experience competing in the MAC and the Big Ten, along with experience coaching at a high level. Being from Michigan, she knows how special CMU is as well."
Â
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-native returns to her home state after three years as an assistant with Cincinnati. The Bearcats logged a wealth of success in its distance unit during Anderson's tenure as school records were broken in 10 different events across cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field, including the American Athletic Conference record in the indoor DMR.
Â
Most recently, Anderson's training led to Cincinnati Cross Country's best individual finish in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, with Claire Curtsinger's 13th-place performance in 2024.
Â
Anderson produced her All-American performance as a Spartan in the 1,500 meters at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and added a nod as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar en route to her master of arts in education.
Â
Her collegiate career began at Western Michigan, where she collected three consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships in the 800 meters: the 2018 outdoor, 2019 indoor and 2019 outdoor. She added a silver medal in the 2019 indoor mile and All-MAC second-team performances in the distance medley relay and outdoor 4x400 relay in 2018.
Â
She graduated from Western Michigan with a bachelor of science in exercise science in 2019.
Â
Anderson began her coaching career as an assistant for Charlotte in 2021-22, headlined by a Conference USA Championship in the men's indoor season and a men's cross country national qualifier in Paul Arredondo.
Â
The 2025 CMU Cross Country season begins Aug. 29 hosting the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Mich.
Â
Â
Â
"We are super excited to add Sarah to our staff," Head Coach Jenny Swieton said, "she has experience competing in the MAC and the Big Ten, along with experience coaching at a high level. Being from Michigan, she knows how special CMU is as well."
Â
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-native returns to her home state after three years as an assistant with Cincinnati. The Bearcats logged a wealth of success in its distance unit during Anderson's tenure as school records were broken in 10 different events across cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field, including the American Athletic Conference record in the indoor DMR.
Â
Most recently, Anderson's training led to Cincinnati Cross Country's best individual finish in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, with Claire Curtsinger's 13th-place performance in 2024.
Â
Anderson produced her All-American performance as a Spartan in the 1,500 meters at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and added a nod as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar en route to her master of arts in education.
Â
Her collegiate career began at Western Michigan, where she collected three consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships in the 800 meters: the 2018 outdoor, 2019 indoor and 2019 outdoor. She added a silver medal in the 2019 indoor mile and All-MAC second-team performances in the distance medley relay and outdoor 4x400 relay in 2018.
Â
She graduated from Western Michigan with a bachelor of science in exercise science in 2019.
Â
Anderson began her coaching career as an assistant for Charlotte in 2021-22, headlined by a Conference USA Championship in the men's indoor season and a men's cross country national qualifier in Paul Arredondo.
Â
The 2025 CMU Cross Country season begins Aug. 29 hosting the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Mich.
Â
Â
Amy Folan Podcast: Welcoming the MacKinnons
Thursday, January 16
MAC Championships Interview: Emily Paupore
Saturday, November 02
2023 MAC Women's XC Championships - Emily Paupore
Saturday, October 28
2023 MAC Cross Country Championships - Jenny Swieton
Saturday, October 28