Rohde named CSUB cross country coach

BAKERSFIELD — There will be a new ’Runner at the front of the California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Roadrunner cross country team this fall as Fallbrook High graduate Maija Rohde takes over as coach. Rohde succeeds interim coach Robert Boyles, who remains at CSUB as assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach.

“This is an exciting time for the CSUB cross country program,” says Roadrunner Athletic Director Rudy Carvajal. “Maija is a bright young coach who we think is a great fit for our cross country team. We look forward to seeing her take her team through its first season of NCAA Division I competition.”

This will be Rohde’s first stint as a collegiate coach but not her first brush with the ’Runner cross country program. She was a standout student-athlete in both cross country and track and field at California State University, Los Angeles (CSLA), a conference rival of CSUB prior to the university’s recent move to the NCAA Division I level.

While at CSLA, Rohde was an NCAA II national qualifier in both indoor and outdoor track in addition to cross country. In fact, she helped lead the Golden Eagles to a fourth place finish at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships. She went on to earn All-American honors in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last spring.

Rohde graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2002 and ran varsity cross country for the Warriors for four years.