Upcoming Event: Cross Country at Aggie Duels (Men) on September 5, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. CT
8:15 a.m. CT
Cross Country
at Aggie Duels (Men)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Cross Country
Bearss, Anna
Anna Bearss
- Title:
- Co-Head Cross Country Coach, Assistant Coach - Distance
- Email:
- anna.bearss@ou.edu
University of Oklahoma Head Track and Field/Cross Country coach James Thomas announced the addition of Anna Bearss as Co-Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach for distance in January 2024.
Bearss aided the women's distance efforts during the 2024 track and field season and enters her first cross country campaign this fall.
Bearss spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Drake University where she served as the associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for distance events. In the fall of 2023, the women’s cross country team notched its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. On the track, Bearss coached senior Brooke Mullins to a new school record in the indoor mile (4:46.01) and the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:08.10). Mullins was named the Drake Relays Champion, MVC Outdoor Champion and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary round in the steeplechase. During her first season, Bearss assisted the women’s cross country squad to third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, the team’s best finish since 2000.
A year prior, Bearss spent one season at the University of Akron as the head women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. Under Bearss guidance, the Lady Zips finished third at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championship, their best finish in over a decade, and won both the indoor and outdoor track and field MAC Championship titles.
From 2018-21, Bearss coached women’s distance and middle-distance athletes at South Dakota State University, where her athletes earned conference titles and honors, broke school records and qualified for NCAA West Preliminary rounds.
A native of Rochester, Ind., Bearss kickstarted her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Indiana State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science in 2018. Bearss went on to earn a master’s in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
Bearss aided the women's distance efforts during the 2024 track and field season and enters her first cross country campaign this fall.
Bearss spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Drake University where she served as the associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for distance events. In the fall of 2023, the women’s cross country team notched its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. On the track, Bearss coached senior Brooke Mullins to a new school record in the indoor mile (4:46.01) and the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:08.10). Mullins was named the Drake Relays Champion, MVC Outdoor Champion and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary round in the steeplechase. During her first season, Bearss assisted the women’s cross country squad to third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, the team’s best finish since 2000.
A year prior, Bearss spent one season at the University of Akron as the head women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. Under Bearss guidance, the Lady Zips finished third at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championship, their best finish in over a decade, and won both the indoor and outdoor track and field MAC Championship titles.
From 2018-21, Bearss coached women’s distance and middle-distance athletes at South Dakota State University, where her athletes earned conference titles and honors, broke school records and qualified for NCAA West Preliminary rounds.
A native of Rochester, Ind., Bearss kickstarted her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Indiana State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science in 2018. Bearss went on to earn a master’s in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
Highlights: OU Women's Cross Country at Big 12 Championships
Friday, October 28
Highlights: OU Men's Cross Country at Big 12 Championships
Friday, October 28
Faith and Running
Monday, November 30
The Year That Was - Cross Country
Monday, March 23
