ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict athletic department celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025-26 athletic year in May with its annual student-athlete celebration. Twelve Bennies were announced as finalists for the annual CSB Athlete of the Year award, presented to the top athlete of the season in each sport.

Mary Kenney '26 (St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge) was selected as CSB cross country's finalist for the honor. 

Kenney was the team's highest finisher in five of six races this fall. She finished 26th at the MIAC Championships in November with a time of 23:34.7 and led the Bennies at the NCAA Regionals with a 47th-place finish. 

She ran the program's sixth-fastest time and a personal-best 22:27.8 at Linfield's George Oja Invitational and was named the CSB Athlete of the Week on Sept. 8 following a second-place finish at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational. 

Kenney concluded her career as the MIAC champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10;56.27), setting a school record and earning All-Region honors along the way. She earned All-MIAC honorable mention honors in the 5,000 meters (fourth) at the conference outdoor meet. 

She graduated in May with a 3.90 GPA in nursing. Kenney earned her second CSC Academic All-District honor and sixth Academic All-MIAC honor earlier this summer. She has been named USTFCCCA All-Academic four times and is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society. In addition to her work on the track and in the classroom, Kenney also volunteered at Anna Marie's Alliance (support for individuals experiencing relationship abuse), the Success Academy (Somali K-8 school) and the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees (CAIRO).

CSB finished eighth of 11 teams at the 2025 MIAC Championships. Saint Benedict was 16th of 30 teams at the NCAA Regional in the fall.