Team Information

Coach

Scott Christensen has built Stillwater into a perennial powerhouse in Cross Country over the past 35 years. His teams have been ranked in the national top 10 eight times. They earned the 1997 High School National Championship title and his squads have captured multiple Minnesota State Championships. Four Stillwater alumni have broken 4:00 in the mile since leaving the program. Ben Blankenship (pictured) qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 1500 meter and placed 8th in the finals.

Scott has coached 13 Minnesota State Championship-winning teams and 27 individual Minnesota State Champions.

He was the USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist School junior team leader for the World Cross Country Team in 2003 and the senior team leader in 2008. He also serves as IAAF Olympic consult to Emerging World Distance Programs.

Here's a good article that sums up his philosophy. http://www.runnersworld.com/high-school/the-stillwater-system

For those wondering what we mean by The Machine, please read this MileSplit article about our 2017 MVP Nick Gag. http://mn.milesplit.com/articles/230804-run-write-repeat-a-finished-product

MN State Cross Country Meet Appearances

1976-6th, 1977-8th, 1978-10th, 1984-9th, 1985-9th, 1987-12th, 1993-9th, 1994-10th, 1995-1st, 1996-1st, 1997-1st, 1998-3rd, 2000-13th, 2001-6th, 2002-3rd, 2003-2nd, 2004-5th, 2005-2nd, 2006-9th, 2007-4th, 2009-5th, 2010-7th, 2011-1st, 2012-1st, 2013-3rd, 2014-3rd (tied with Hopkins 87 points), 2015-3rd, 2016-6th, 2017-2nd

Where We Practice