Central Michigan University Athletics
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
She graduated from Western Michigan with a bachelor of science in exercise science in 2019.
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.
The 2025 CMU Cross Country season begins Aug. 29 hosting the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Mich.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
She graduated from Western Michigan with a bachelor of science in exercise science in 2019.
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.
The 2025 CMU Cross Country season begins Aug. 29 hosting the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial in Shepherd, Mich.
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