General Information:
School: Bethel University
Founded: 1947
Location: St. Paul, Minn.
Enrollment: 6,200
President: Jay Barnes
Athletic Director: Bob Bjorklund
Team Nickname: Royals
Colors: Navy Blue and Vegas Gold
2009 Finish:
Conference meet: 2nd out of 12
Top Finishers: Kristin Mork - 11th place
Kayla Jelen - 26th place
Alex Potter - 41st place
Region meet: 8th out of 26
Top Finishers: Kristin Mork - 16th place
Kayla Jelen - 75th place
2010 Season Outlook:
Jim Timp returns for his sixth year with the women’s team in 2010. Returning to help assist in coaching after taking a one year sabbatical to work on her masters degree is Emily Anderson. Noticeably gone this year however is All American distance stars Marie Borner and Heather Jelen. Borner capped off her incredible college career by winning the NCAA indoor mile and both the 800m and 1500m at the NCAA outdoor meet in May. Marie was also awarded the Division III indoor and outdoor Athlete of the Year Awards and the prestigious Honda award which recognizes the top women athletes across the country regardless of sport for each division.
The women placed 2nd in conference, led by Marie Borner’s (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn. – pictured far left) first place finish, which earned her MIAC Athlete of the Year honors. This year’s team will be lead by co-captains Kristin Mork (Sr., Cambridge, MN – pictured 2nd from right) and Michelle Benson (Sr, Traverse City, MI). Other top returners include Alex Potter (Sr., Windom, MN – pictured 2nd from left), who finished runner-up to Borner in 2008, and Kayla Jelen (Sr., Sioux Falls, SD )
With an expected roster size of close to 30 runners, there will be many new faces on the squad this year. Much like last year, any number of new runners could emerge as a top contributor to the team. After a great team finish last year at the MIAC and NCAA Central Region meets, the women’s team looks to contend for the conference and regional titles, and to use their national meet experience to move up in the national meet.
