Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Andrew Rock has announced the addition of Elle Thorson to the track & field staff on July 28, 2025.
“I am thrilled that Elle has joined the track and field staff in a full-time role here. Elle has the unique experience of having competed at the Division I level but also knows our program really well as she was able to finish her athletic career competing for our team last year,” said Rock. “Elle has a broad range of knowledge, having been a heptathlete and that will serve her well here.”
Thorson’s assistant duties include coaching the horizontal jumpers, multi events and assisting with hurdles. She completed her collegiate career this past winter with the Royals, using her final year of indoor eligibility. During that time, she set the pentathlon program record while also becoming a national qualifier. She was named MIAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year after being the first Royal in program history to be a MIAC Champion in the pentathlon.
“I'm very excited to join the Bethel Track and Field coaching staff. It’s an honor to work alongside such a successful team and contribute to a program that’s grounded in excellence, faith, and community,” said Thorson. “I’m especially looking forward to working with the jumps and multi-event group, helping student-athletes grow not only in their performance, but in their confidence and character both on and off the track.”
Prior to Bethel, Thorson was a four-time track & field letter recipient at the University of North Dakota. She ranks sixth all-time in the pentathlon after scoring 3,557 points at the 2023 Summit League Championships, where she placed fifth. For the Fighting Hawks, she placed top 10 in the pentathlon at three indoor conference championships and four top-10 finishes in the heptathlon, including a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Summit League Outdoor Championships.
A native of Red Wing, Minn., she was a three-sport athlete participating in volleyball, basketball and track & field at Red Wing High School.
Thorson graduated from North Dakota with a Bachelor's degree of science in kinesiology. She is currently worked towards her master certificate of leadership at Bethel.
