women running

Women's Cross Country

Carl Sandburg College has had individuals run cross country on and off since 1971. In 2005, the program was rejuvenated and qualified for the NJCAA national meet for the first time in program history. In 2006, Brophy qualified for the national meet in El Paso, Texas. In 2007, Jessica Hanson and Kari Findley qualified for the national meet that was held at Rend Lake College. The team has also qualified for the national meet in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Home meets are held at Lake Storey Park, which borders the north side of the Main Campus in Galesburg.

Region IV runner-up
2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018
NJCAA Division I Championship Meet
2005 (24th), 2008 (28th), 2009 (35th), 2011 (30th), 2018 (30th)

2021 Women's Cross Country Roster
2021 roster
Name
Year
Hometown/Country
High School
Kelynn Boyle So. Amboy, Ill. Amboy
Babra Viola Jepkirui Fr. Kenya St. Teresa Girls' Secondary
Mercy Jerono Fr. Kenya Sing'Ore Girls Secondary
Faith Kiprop Fr. Kenya AIC Kessup Girls
Benie Mbanani Fr. Galesburg, Ill. Galesburg
Addyson Neal Fr. Trivoli, Ill. Farmington
Mary Njeri Njuguna Fr. Kenya Turbo Girls Secondary
Lily Sharum Fr. Trivoli, Ill. Farmington

Head coach: Rodney Blue
Assistant coaches: Anastasia Beetler, Gene Beetler, Dylan Brooks, Andrea Gordon

2021 Women's Cross Country Schedule

Last updated: Nov. 1

2021 schedule
Date
Time
Event
Course
Location
Results
Saturday, Aug. 28 W: 10:30 a.m.
M: 11:15 a.m.
Dual vs. Sauk Valley Sandburg Galesburg Results
Friday, Sept. 3 W: 5 p.m.
M: 5:45 p.m.
WIU Early Bird Spring Lake Park Macomb 2nd
Saturday, Sept. 11 W: 10:30 a.m.
M: 11:30 a.m.
Fighting Bee Invitational Crow Creek Park Bettendorf, Iowa 2nd
Friday, Sept. 17 W: 5 p.m.
M: 5:45 p.m.
Bradley Intercollegiate Detweiller Park Peoria 9th
Friday, Oct. 1 W: 4 p.m.
M: 4:45 p.m.
Heartland Invite Maxwell Park Normal 5th
Saturday, Oct. 9 W: 10:30 a.m.
M: 11:15 a.m.
Sauk Valley Invite Sauk Valley Dixon 2nd
Saturday, Oct. 16 W: 10:30 a.m.
M: 11:15 a.m.
Pre-Region Showdown Kishwaukee Malta 1st
Saturday, Oct. 30 W: 10:30 a.m.
M: 11:15 a.m.
Region IV Championships Kishwaukee Malta 2nd
Saturday, Nov. 13 M: 10:15 a.m.
W: 11:45 a.m.
NJCAA Division II Championships Pole Green Park Richmond, Va. 22nd

 

Coaching Staff

 Rodney Blue portrait

Head Coach

Rodney Blue
rblue@sandburg.edu
309.341.5250

Rodney Blue was hired as the Carl Sandburg College cross country coach in February 2015.

Blue has 25 years of coaching experience, with time spent at the elementary, junior high, high school, and college levels. He spent the 2011-2012 seasons with the Chargers as an assistant, and he was an assistant for Knox College’s track teams during the spring 2012 season.

Blue spent 2008-2010 as the head coach of the Galesburg junior high cross country program, and his 2010 girls team recorded the only undefeated season in its history. As sprint coach for the Galesburg High School boys track and field team during the 2008-2009 seasons, Blue helped the Silver Streaks finish fourth in Class 2A at the 2009 state meet. Their 4x400-meter relay also set a school record and was the state runner-up that year.

Prior to his time in the Galesburg area, Blue was an assistant at East Moline United Township High School from 1999-2002, aiding the Panthers’ boys track teams, as well as the boys and girls, cross country programs. He also spent time as a coach at the elementary level in the Rock Island/Milan School District.

An accomplished runner in his own right, Blue held the 400-meter record at GHS for 20 years and finished 10th in the event at the 1976 state meet. He also helped set school records in the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 during his high school career and was inducted into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Assistant Coaches

Anastasia Beetler, Gene Beetler, Dylan Brooks, Cameron Woodbury