Sarah Burnell

Sarah Burnell '14, is an assistant professor of physical education, the head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams, and an assistant coach for the men's and women't track and field teams (working with distance and middle distance runners).
 
Prior to her role as a professor and head coach at Grinnell, Sarah served as assistant cross country and track and field coach at Smith College in Northampton, Mass, Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, and at Grinnell shortly after her graduation.
 
Sarah's professional experience also includes time served as an assistant director of alumni relations at Otterbein University, coordinator of campus visits and events/admission counselor at Grinnell College, and coordinator of commencement and conferences also at Grinnell College. 

Sarah received her bachelors in anthropology at Grinnell in 2014 and attained her master's degree in exercise and sport science from Smith College in 2020. She holds a cross country specialist, level 1, and level 2 (endurance) certifications with the USATF. Additionally, Sarah has certifications from the USTFCCCA in performance nutrition for track and field and strength and conditioning coach certification. 
 
As a cross country runner and mid-distance specialist in track at Grinnell, Sarah consistently found success at conference and national levels. In cross country, she was a two-time Midwest Conference champion, four-time all-conference honoree and two-time participant in the NCAA National Championships. In track, Sarah was a multi-time conference champion in the 800, mile, 1500 and 4x400 relay and qualified for the NCAA National Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2014. Her third-place finish in the indoor mile and fourth-place finish in the outdoor 1500 earned her All-American honors in both events in her final year as a student-athlete.

Sarah was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Grinnell College in 2020.