College of Saint Benedict

Nov. 2, 2021 | MIAC Athlete of the Week

2021-22: Qualified for the MIAC Championships in the 200 free, 200 back and 200 IM ... earned All-MIAC in the 200 back after taking second and All-MIAC Honorable Mention in the 200 free and 200 IM after finishing fourth in both ... also earned All-MIAC honors after taking third with the 200 free relay and All-MIAC Honorable Mention after taking fourth with the 200 medley, 400 medley and 400 free relays ... set school records in the 200 free, 200 back and 200 IM at the conference meet ... set the 100 IM record at the St. Kate's Pentathlon ... also part of the record-setting 200 and 400 medley relays and 400 free relay, and the second-fastest 200 free relay in program history ... also swam career-best times in the 100 fly, 100 breaststroke, 100 back and 500 free as a senior ... won 14 events.

2020-21: Recorded a trio of personal-best times at the St. Kate's Quad to end the shortened 2020-21 season ... broke her own school record in the 200 IM in 2:09.73 ... also swam the third-best 200 free in CSB history (1:54.84) and the eighth-best 100 free (54.07) ... named the team's Co-MVP at the end of the season ... one won event and recorded six top-three individual finishes and six top-three relay finishes.

2019-20: Qualified for the MIAC Championships in the 200 backstroke and 200 and 400 IM ... earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention after taking fifth in the 400 IM and the 200 backstroke ... also finished seventh in the 200 IM ... moved into a tie for second in CSB history in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:07.33 at conference ... also tied her school record in the 200 IM ... part of the 800 freestyle relay that swam the fourth-best time in program history at the MIAC Championships ... swam career-bests in the 50 and 100 free, 200 backstroke and 100 breaststroke as a sophomore ... won the 200 IM at the Hamline Invite ... recorded nine top-three finishes.

2018-19: Qualified for the MIAC Championships in the 200 and 400 IM and 200 backstroke ... finished top eight in all three ... earned All-MIAC honors after taking third in the 400 IM ... took seventh in the 200 back and 200 IM ... set the school record in the 200 and 400 IM and swam the third-best 200 backstroke in school history at the MIAC Championships ... swam the fourth-best 100 IM in program history at the Macalester Pentathlon ... also swam the seventh-best 200 free time in school history at the conference meet ... part of the 400 medley relay team that swam the seventh-best time in program history and the 800 freestyle relay team that swam the fourth-best time in CSB history ... won three events at the Roger Ahlman Invite ... recorded 15 top-five finishes as a first year ... named the team's co-Rookie of the Year.

High School: Ana is a 2018 graduate of Anoka High School where she participated in swimming and diving for four years and Nordic skiing for one year. Birklid has many honors including nine section championships, three school records and second-place finish in the state of Minnesota in the 500 freestyle. She also participated in club swimming and five state championships. The proudest moment of her career was getting second place in the 500 freestyle her senior year and also breaking the Anoka High School record.

Personal: Birklid is the daughter of Scott and Heather Birklid and has two siblings, Cole and Caleb. Her brother Caleb also attended CSB/SJU. Her interests are sailing, hiking, climbing, and hanging out with friends. She is an integrative science major on a Pre-OT track at CSB/SJU. She looks forwards to being a collegiate athlete because she likes staying busy and being with the team.
Career Bests

Stroke	Year	Alt. Adj. Time	Meet	Date
50 Free	So.	25.88	Gustavus	1/25/20
100 Free	Jr.	54.07	St. Kate's Quad	3/6/21
200 Free	Sr.	1:54.05	2022 MIAC Championships	2/18/22
500 Free	Sr.	5:28.19	Macalester	10/29/21
100 Back	Sr.	1:02.46	St. Kate's Pentathlon	10/16/21
200 Back	Sr.	2:04.49	2022 MIAC Championships	2/19/22
100 Breast	Sr.	1:10.32	Gustavus	1/29/22
100 Fly	Sr.	1:05.59	St. Kate's Pentathlon	10/16/21
100 IM	Sr.	1:00.80	Rochester Invite	12/5/21
200 IM	Sr.	2:06.17	2022 MIAC Championships	2/17/22
400 IM	FY	4:35.28	2019 MIAC Championships	2/16/19