Minnesota State University-Mankato Women's Cross Country

Associate Head Coach - Chris Parno        Education: University of Minnesota Duluth (B.S. Physical and Health Education, 2010) Augustana University (Masters – Sports Administration and Leadership, 2012)        Competing Career: 2009 NSIC Champion 400m Hurdles 7-time NSIC All-Conference (heptathlon, decathlon, 400mh) Former UMD school record holder (heptathlon)        Coaching History: Minnesota State, 2012-Present Augustana University, 2010-2012 Parno By-The-Numbers at Minnesota State 1 NCAA National Team Championship 4 NCAA National Team Runner-up 3 Olympians 24 Individual/relay NCAA National Champions 21 Individual/relay NCAA National Runner-Ups 225 NCAA All-Americans (176 first team, 49 second team) 4 USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year 4 USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year 6 USTFCCCA National Championship High Point Scorer Award 13 USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year - Central Region 12 NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year 39 NSIC Team Conference Championships (indoor, outdoor) 116 NSIC Individual/Conference Champions 41 NSIC Relay Conference Champions 516 All-NSIC performances 548 NCAA national qualifying performances (provisional/auto) 27 Drake Relay Championships DII Record – Women’s 4x200m (1:34.87) DII Record – Denisha Cartwright 60mh (7.93) DII Record – Myles Hunter 60mh (7.53) DII Record – Denisha Cartwright 100mh (12.60) Chris Parno enters his 14th season as the Associate Head Coach for Track and Field at Minnesota State University, where he leads the men’s and women’s sprint, hurdle & relay groups and serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Under his leadership, Maverick sprinters and hurdlers have achieved unprecedented success, consistently rewriting school records and establishing MSU as a national powerhouse in the sprints and hurdles within NCAA Division II. Parno’s coaching philosophy blends technical instruction with a strong developmental approach, resulting in numerous All-American performances and National Champions. His impact extends beyond the collegiate level—as a respected educator in the coaching community, Parno serves as a lead instructor for USA Track & Field’s Level 1 certification program and contributes as an instructor for both Level 2 and Level 3 courses. His commitment to the sport and coach education has positioned him as a sought-after mentor and clinician nationwide. Coaching Honors:  -2026 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2025 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2024-2025 NSIC Indoors Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2024 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2023-2024 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2023-2024 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2023-2024 NSIC Indoors Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2023 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2023 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2022-2023 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2022 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2022 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2022 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2021-2022 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2021-2022 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2021-2022 NSIC Indoors Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2021 NSIC Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2020-2021 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year -2020-2021 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2019-2020 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist (top 3) -2019-2020 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year  -2019 USTFCCCA Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2018-2019 NSIC Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year  -2018-2019 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2018-2019 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year  -2017-2018 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2016-2017 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2015-2016 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2015 USTFCCCA Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region -2014-2015 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region Coaching Certifications: -USATF Level 1 Certification (2011) -USATF Level 2 Sprint/Hurdle/Relays Certification (2015) -USATF Level 2 Jumps Certification (2016) -USATF Level 3 Sprints/Hurdles/Relays (2017) -USATF Emerging Elite Sprints/Hurdle/Relay Clinic (2014) -USATF Instructor Training (2018) -IAAF Level 5 Sprints Certification (2017) -USTFCCCA Technical Certification (2011) -USTFCCCA Track and Field Program Management Certification (2013) -USTFCCCA Sprint, Hurdle, and Relay Event Specialist (2013) -USTFCCCA Combined Events Specialist (2014) -USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Advanced Endorsement (2015) -USTFCCCA Short Sprints Masters Endorsement (2017) -USTFCCCA Hurdle Masters Endorsement  (2018) -Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) Level 1 (2018) -ALTIS Short Sprints Course (2020) -ALTIS Short Hurdle Course (2021)   Coaching Education Instructor USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification (lead instructor) August 2021, August 2021, November 2021, January 2022, May 2022, June 2022, November 2022, March 2023, August 2023, October 2023, December 2023, March 2024, June 2024, February 2025, November 2025, March 2026 USATF Level 2 Coaching Certification Instructor July 2022 July 2023 December 2025 (Lead Instructor) USATF Level 3 Coaching Certification Instructor December 2023 December 2024 USTFCCCA – Technical Certificate Instructor February 2019 USTFCCCA – Advanced Hurdle Course Instructor December 2025 Symposium/Clinic Presentations: -2016 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic -2017 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic -2018 Illinois Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic (ITCCCA) -2018 Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic – Madison, WI -2018 North Dakota Coach Clinic (NDHSCA) -2018 USTFCCCA National Convention – San Antonio, TX -2020 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic -2020-2025 Zoom Coaching Clinic Series – Mankato, MN -2020 National All-Sports Virtual Coaches Summit - Online -2020 Championship Virtual Track Coaches Clinic - Online -2021 Indiana Virtual Coaches Clinic - Online -2022 Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic – Madison, WI -2022 Virtual Speed and Power Clinic (VSPC) - Online -2022 Illinois Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic (ITCCCA) -2023 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic -2023 Gold Medal Coaches Summit - Online -2023 USTFCCCA National Convention - Denver, CO -2024 North Polk Alleman Track and Field Clinic - Des Moines, IA -2024 Indiana IATCCC Clinic - Indianapolis, IN -2024 Gold Medal Coaches Summit - Online -2024 Missouri High School Coaches Association HS Clinic – Columbia, MO -2025 Iowa Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Clinic – Ankeny, IA -2025 Glazier Track and Field Coaches Clinic - Online   Publications/Podcasts -Techniques Magazine – Short Sprint Rhythm – November 2017 -Techniques Magazine – Young Coaches Roadmap – November 2018 -Simplifaster – Freelap Friday Five – 2017 -Simplifaster – When and When Not to Use Track Drills – 2018 -Simplifaster – Hurdle Technical Drills Simplified – 2019 -Gill Athletics: Track and Field Connections Podcast - 2020 -Simplifaster – Pet Peeves of Track and Field – 2021 -Championship Productions – Sprint Starts and Acceleration Series - 2021 -Championship Productions – Front-side Mechanics & Maximum Velocity in Sprinting Series - 2021 -Championship Productions – Developing Great Hurdlers Series – 2021 -Championship Productions – Speed of the Stick – Building High Performing Relays Series – 2021 -On The Track Podcast w/ JT Ayers – 2022 -USATF Track Coaches Magazine - Coaches Round Table 2023 -LANE LINES – Track and Field Newsletter – 2023    -Volume 1 – “You Only Know What You Know”    -Volume 2 – “The Pre-Meet/Meet-Day Warm-up”    -Volume 3 – “Just keep swimming.”    -Volume 4 - “Testing in Track and Field: Is It Truly Beneficial?”    -Volume 5 – “What Happens When the Boat Starts to Sink”    -Volume 6 – “Learn the Systems & Apply in The Trenches”    -Volume 7 – “The Battle of Absolutes”    -Volume 8 – “The Two Paths of Coaching: Buy Talent or Build It    -Volume 9 – “Upstream Coaching: Fixing Causes, Not Just Symptoms” -CoachTube    -Hurdle Drills Webinar - 2023    -Sprint Drills Webinar - 2023    -Training Large Groups Webinar - 2023 -Companions of the Compendium Podcast - 2024 -UrAvgCoach Podcast - 2025   Parno and his wife Sarah reside in North Mankato with their children August and Madelyn.      

Blue has mentored student-athletes to eight national NCAA national championships during her tenure at Minnesota State. In 2004 she helped pole vaulter Amanda Frame to the first national track and field title for MSU womens track when she claimed the NCAA Division II indoor TF championship. Frame gained another indoor national title in 2005 and Katelin Rains earned three consecutive indoor pole vault national titles (2007, 2008 and 2009) and an outdoor title (2009) before Lauren Stelten captured NCAA DII indoor and outdoor championships in 2011.  Blue was named the in 2008 and after leading the Mavericks to a league indoor NSIC championship.  She also earned honors. Blue played an integral planning and organizing role in Minnesota State successfully hosting the 2008 and 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. A 1998 graduate of North Dakota State University, Blue was a member of the 1995 and 1996 NCC indoor and outdoor championship teams. A four-time all-conference runner in the 800-meter run, Blue also qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in 1997 and 1998. In the spring of 2001, Blue received a masters degree in sports administration from MSU. In addition to her coaching duties, she currently teaches in the MSU Human Performance department. An avid runner, Blue has competed in several marathons (including Boston) and captured the women's title at the 2010 Mankato Marathon. Blue and her husband, MSU assistant mens hockey coach , reside in North Mankato, Minn., with their son Carter.   Jen Blue Head Coach, Men's & Women's Cross Country/Director of Track and Field Operations Distance Hired to lead the Mavericks in 2000-01, is in her 15th season as the head cross country and track and field coach at Minnesota State.  A USATF Level 1 certified coach, Blue has mentored student-athletes to eight national NCAA national championships during her tenure at Minnesota State. In 2004 she helped pole vaulter Amanda Frame to the first national track and field title for MSU womens track when she claimed the NCAA Division II indoor TF championship. Frame gained another indoor national title in 2005 and Katelin Rains earned three consecutive indoor pole vault national titles (2007, 2008 and 2009) and an outdoor title (2009) before Lauren Stelten captured NCAA DII indoor and outdoor championships in 2011.  Blue was named the in 2008 and after leading the Mavericks to a league indoor NSIC championship.  She also earned honors. Blue played an integral planning and organizing role in Minnesota State successfully hosting the 2008 and 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. A 1998 graduate of North Dakota State University, Blue was a member of the 1995 and 1996 NCC indoor and outdoor championship teams. A four-time all-conference runner in the 800-meter run, Blue also qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in 1997 and 1998. In the spring of 2001, Blue received a masters degree in sports administration from MSU. In addition to her coaching duties, she currently teaches in the MSU Human Performance department. An avid runner, Blue has competed in several marathons (including Boston) and captured the women's title at the 2010 Mankato Marathon. Blue and her husband, MSU assistant mens hockey coach , reside in North Mankato, Minn., with their son Carter.  

Assistant Coach Ben Held Head Coach Men's Cross Country        Education: St. Cloud State University (B. S. Social Studies, 2012) Black Hills State University (Masters – Strategic Leadership, 2016)        Competing Career: 2x All North Central Conference Team (hurdles) 2x All NSIC Conference Teams (hurdles)        Coaching History Minnesota State 2018-Present Notre Dame College 2016-2018 Black Hills State, 2013-2016 St. Cloud State 2011-2013 Held By-The-Numbers 1 NCAA DII National Team Championship 4 NCAA DII National Team Runner-Ups 2 NCAA DII National Third Place Finishes 1 NCAA DII National Champion (Steeplechase) 1 NCAA DII National Runner-Up (Pole Vault) 19 NCAA DII All-Americans 168 NCAA DII National Qualifiers 19 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Central All-Region Student-Athletes 5 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Atlantic All-Region Student-Athletes 7 Minnesota State School Records 11 Notre Dame College School Records 14 Black Hills State School Records 59 First Team All-NSIC Athletes 10 First Team All-MEC in Jumps & Multi Events 30 First Team All-RMAC Athletes Ben Held enters his eighth-year coaching with the Mavericks in 2025-26. Hired in the summer of 2018, Held is in his seventh season as the men's head cross country coach at Minnesota State and his eighth year as an assistant track & field coach where he also coaches the pole vault and high jump. In his eight years with the Mavericks, Held has coached 19 NCAA DII All-Americans, 168 NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying marks, 19 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Central All-Region Honors in the pole vault and distance events, 27 NCAA DII All-Academic Honors, 59 First Team All-NSIC Honors, seven Minnesota State school records, and helped the men’s team capture their 27th consecutive NSIC Conference Championship as well as a women’s 2022 NCAA DII Indoor National Title, four National Runner-Ups and two 3rd place finishes. Prior to assisting with the Mavericks in 2018-19, Held was an assistant coach for two years at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Notre Dame College, Held led his student-athletes to six NCAA DII provisional qualifying marks, five NCAA DII USTFCCCA Atlantic All-Region honors in the jump events, 10 First Team All-MEC in jumps & multi-events and 11 Notre Dame College school records He also spent 2013-16 as a graduate assistant at Black Hills State, where he earned a master's degree while helping coach an NCAA DII national champion in the steeplechase and was a member of a staff that developed six All-Americans, 30 First Team All-RMAC performers and had 14 individuals established school records. Held is a 2012 St. Cloud State grad who competed in the hurdles and was a multiple time all-conference athlete. After his athletic career, he coached the hurdles at SCSU for two years. Coaching Certifications USATF Level 1 Certification USTFCCCA Technical Certification USTFCCCA Jumps Certification USTFCCCA Endurance Certification USTFCCCA Combined Events Certification USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning Certification ALTIS Pole Vault Certification ALTIS Endurance Events Certification ALTIS Javelin & Hammer Certification RPR Level 1 Certification   .