Coach Bridget Barney joins the MNU Track and Field / Cross-Country Staff in the fall of 2019 after spending 18 years coaching at the high school level. After graduating from college, Bridget was hired to coach distance athletes at Liberty High School under the mentorship of Coach Robert Marquart and the influence of Coach Tim Nixon who coached at Liberty for 39 years and led his nationally ranked team to two state titles. Nixon’s many honors and awards included Gatorade Coach of the Year, Missouri Cross Country Association Hall of Fame, and Liberty High School Hall of Fame. In the two years she coached at Liberty she gained invaluable experience in developing athletes physically and relationally to reach their full potential.
In 2004, Bridget and her husband formed a track and cross-country team that competes under the umbrella of Christ Prep Academy. Over the next 16 years the team grew to over 140 athletes, won 25 Track & Field National Championships (NCHS) and 102 Cross Country Invitationals and placed as high as 1st at Rim Rock for the boys and 8th for the girls. Thirty-four of their athletes were recruited and competed at 17 different colleges and universities at the NCAA Division 1, 2 and 3 levels and at the NAIA level. Several of these athletes earned NAIA All-Conference titles in their respective events. Eight of those athletes went on to become NAIA National Qualifiers and four went on to be NAIA All-Americans multiple times. The sixteen years coaching with CPA has allowed Bridget to grow in her knowledge in training, developing and encouraging athletes to succeed not only on the track but in many areas of life where dedication, hard work and perseverance are key.
Bridget attended William Jewell College and competed on the William Jewell track team. In her years on the team, Bridget was a member of the 4x800m that broke the school record and qualified for NAIA National Championship. She also set the school record in the 1000m open and was the indoor conference champion in the 600m open and the 4x400m relay. While there the women’s team won multiple conference championships. Bridget was inducted into the William Jewell College Hall of Fame in 2013 for her contributions on the track.
Bridget graduated from William Jewell with chemistry and secondary education degrees. She has had careers as a research and development chemist and as a chemistry teacher. She is currently an adjunct for the MNU chemistry department overseeing the Gen Chem labs.
In her free time, Bridget enjoys training for and running half-marathons, 5Ks and 10Ks. She volunteers with the Runner’s Edge Smart Pacing team to help runners reach their target goals by pacing them in their races. She also has a passion for climbing Colorado 14ers with her “Summit Sisters” each summer. But mostly she loves cheering on her husband and her four children in all their endeavors.
