ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict athletic department announced Sarah Oprondek as head track and field coach.

Oprondek, whose hiring was announced Wednesday (June 17), has most recently served as a track and field coach at Denison University for the past eight seasons. She began her tenure as an Assistant Coach with the Big Red in 2018-19 and was promoted to the Associate Head Coach in 2024. During her time at Denison, she worked primarily with the hurdles, jumps and the combined events. She also previously spent five seasons as an assistant on the cross country staff and has coached the pole vaulters.

"We are excited to welcome Sarah to Saint Benedict. Her experience, passion for track and field, and strong desire to see her student-athletes to achieve their goals set her apart in the interview process," stated Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks. "We are thrilled for her expertise, specifically in the sprints/hurdles, to really elevate Bennie track and field."

Oprondek has been a part of numerous top-five conference finishes for the Big Red men's and women's track and field teams at the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships, including a men's outdoor championship in 2023 where they scored in all 21 events with five individual champions and 12 All-NCAC performances. Oprondek and the rest of the Big Red staff were awarded Men's Outdoor NCAC staff of the year.

"I am so excited to be named the next Head Track & Field Coach at the College of St. Benedict," Oprondek said. "I look forward to continuing and building on the success and tradition that Coach Robin Balder-Lanoue has had, and am excited to able to work alongside of her and the rest of the coaching staff. Thank you to Kelly Anderson Diercks and the entire search committee for their continued support throughout the interview process."

Individually, during her time at Denison, Oprondek coached conference champions in the heptathlon, decathlon, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, high jump, 60-meter hurdles, 100/110-meter hurdles, and 400-meter hurdles. She also coached the men's multi school record holder and conference champion in 2024 to an All-Region and NCAA qualifier season.

Outside of her role at Denison, Oprondek has served as a coaching mentor for the Female Coaches Mentorship Program through the USTFCCCA for the past four years.

"We can't wait to have Sarah join our track and field staff," stated CSB Head Cross Country Coach Robin Balder-Lanoue. "Her passion and ability to connect with and develop student-athletes will be a great fit here at CSB."

Prior to her time at Denison, Oprondek served as a graduate assistant with the track and field and cross country programs at NCAA Division II Truman State University in Missouri. During her time with the Bulldogs, the men's and women's squads set program-best finishes at the Great Lakes Valley Conference cross country championships. Across both sports, Oprondek coached nine GLVC All-Conference honors and four USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams.

The Bennie track and field team is coming off fifth place finishes at both the MIAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Individually, Lauren Berg and Mary Kenney earned all-region honors. Berg became the highest-ever NCAA finisher for CSB in the 400-meter hurdles, with a school record time of 1:01.49 and a 15th place finish, earning second-team All-American honors. Kenney finished her Bennie running career as the MIAC Champion and school record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Her time of 10:56.27 was both a school and facility record, while ranking 34th nationally in NCAA Division III.

Oprondek was a three-year captain for the Benedictine University (Ill.) women's track and field team. She earned All-Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) honors on three occasions (javelin and pole-vault), while earning four honorable mention honors during her collegiate career.

Oprondek, a Fairbury, Ill., native, earned her bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Studies from Benedictine and her master's in leadership from Truman State.