The 2010-11 academic year will mark the first of Mary Palmer's coaching career as she joins the UW-Stout men's & women's cross country and track & field programs as an assistant distance coach.

Palmer earned an undergraduate degree in Economics in 2009 from UW-Eau Claire where she was a standout athlete for the university's women's cross country and track and field teams, graduating as a co-captain of both programs and earning all-WIAC honors five times and All-American honors three times during her career.

Palmer led the women's cross country team to a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division III national championships in 2008 with a career best of 21-minutes, 34-seconds, for 6K,  placing 26th overall.

Palmer continues today with her training as she moves up to the marathon level of competitive racing. In October of 2009, she completed her first marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, placing 266th overall and 15th among women in a time of 2:46.21.

Palmer came to UW-Stout in January of 2009 to pursue her master's degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences, with a concentration in Human Nutritional Science, and is originally from Anoka, Minn.

Updated: July, 2010