The University of Akron Athletics
Cross Country
Anna Bearss
- Title:
- Women's Distance and Cross Country Coach
- Email:
- abearss@uakron.edu
- Phone:
- (330) 972-7964
Anna Bearss joined the Akron track and field staff in September of 2021 and is in her second season as head women’s cross country coach, assistant track and field coach at the University of Akron.
Bearss joins the Zips from Bradley where she arrived in 2021 after spending three years at South Dakota State, where she coached the women’s distance and middle-distance athletes and assisted with the men’s program.
Among her highlights with the Jackrabbits, Bearss helped lead South Dakota State to a sweep at the 2020-21 Summit League Championship, including the school’s first women’s title since 2008. Additionally, Leah Hansen won the individual Summit League crown, earning the first individual bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championship in the women’s Division I program history.
Under Bearss’ watch on the track, the Jackrabbit women set six school record in events ranging from the 800m to the 10,000m. During the 2021 season alone, school records fell in the 1,500m and 10,000m with individual Summit League titles claimed in the 800m, 5,000m and 10,000m. To cap off the season, Hansen (5,000m and 10,000m) and Ellie Frisen (1,500m) both earned bids to the NCAA West Preliminary.
Prior to her time with the Jackrabbits, Bearss was an undergraduate assistant coach at Indiana State from January 2017 to May 2018, working with long sprints and distance athletes. As a student-athlete, Bearss spent one year with the Tulsa cross country and track programs in 2014-15. She helped the Golden Hurricane to the 2014 American Athletic Conference title, earning all-conference accolades by finishing 12th at the meet.
A native of Rochester, Indiana, Bearss earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana State in 2018 and her master’s in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
7-5-22
Bearss joins the Zips from Bradley where she arrived in 2021 after spending three years at South Dakota State, where she coached the women’s distance and middle-distance athletes and assisted with the men’s program.
Among her highlights with the Jackrabbits, Bearss helped lead South Dakota State to a sweep at the 2020-21 Summit League Championship, including the school’s first women’s title since 2008. Additionally, Leah Hansen won the individual Summit League crown, earning the first individual bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championship in the women’s Division I program history.
Under Bearss’ watch on the track, the Jackrabbit women set six school record in events ranging from the 800m to the 10,000m. During the 2021 season alone, school records fell in the 1,500m and 10,000m with individual Summit League titles claimed in the 800m, 5,000m and 10,000m. To cap off the season, Hansen (5,000m and 10,000m) and Ellie Frisen (1,500m) both earned bids to the NCAA West Preliminary.
Prior to her time with the Jackrabbits, Bearss was an undergraduate assistant coach at Indiana State from January 2017 to May 2018, working with long sprints and distance athletes. As a student-athlete, Bearss spent one year with the Tulsa cross country and track programs in 2014-15. She helped the Golden Hurricane to the 2014 American Athletic Conference title, earning all-conference accolades by finishing 12th at the meet.
A native of Rochester, Indiana, Bearss earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana State in 2018 and her master’s in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
7-5-22
2024 Akron Zips Women's Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Athletes 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
2024 Akron Zips Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Coach - 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
2024 Akron Zips Men's Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Athletes 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
Akron Zips Men's Cross Country Media Day with Student-Athletes - 8/31/23
Thursday, August 31
