Smith College Athletics

Burnell enters her second season as a graduate assistant coach with the Smith cross country and track and field teams. She will also be working to obtain her Master's degree in Exercise and Sport Studies.

Burnell graduated from Grinnell College in 2014. During her time with the Pioneers, she captained both the cross country and track teams and was a 4-time All-Conference runner and two-time conference champion in cross country. Burnell won the conference championship multiple times for the indoor and outdoor 800, the miles, the 1500 and the 4x400 relay. She competed at the NCAA Cross Country National Championship in both 2012 and 2013, placed third in the mile at the 2014 indoor championship, and placed fourth in the 1500 at the 2014 outdoor championships. She was a member of the Women's Athletic Leadership Council at Grinnell and holds multiple program records. 

After graduating from Grinnell, Burnell worked at her alma mater for two years, first in conference operations, planning commencement and other on-campus programs, and then in the admissions office. She was an assistant coach for Grinnell's cross country and track programs during this time. After accepting a position in alumni relations at Otterbein University near Columbus, Ohio, Burnell took the role of assistant coach for the Otterbein program, assisting the women's team to the 2017 NCAA Cross Country National Championship and multiple individuals to the indoor and outdoor 2018 NCAA Track & Field National Championships. 

Outside of coaching, Sarah continues to run competitively, competing in the Boston Marathon in 2016 and 2017.