Koll’s Distance Domination Earns High Praise, National Female Track Athlete of the Year Honors

Iowa State senior became first to sweep 5000, 10k events at single NCAA Championships since 1998.

June 17, 2010



NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Thursday that Iowa State senior Lisa Koll has been named the 2010 National Female Track Athlete of the Year for Outdoor Track & Field in Division I as voted by the nation’s coaches.



Koll completed her collegiate career in fine fashion last weekend at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., scoring national titles in the 5000 and 10,000 meters by wide margins. Koll became only the fourth female in NCAA history to notch, the 5k-10k double, joining Amy Skieresz (Arizona, 1997-98), Stephanie Herbst (Wisconsin, 1986), and Betty Jo Springs (North Carolina State, 1983).



Koll’s 10k victory of 32:49.35 on Wednesday gave her the second NCAA title of the event in her career. Koll cruised to victory after breaking from the pack at the 7000-meter mark and won the race by over 20 seconds. On Friday, Koll returned for the 5000 and led nearly wire-to-wire in a 15:23.80 victory, the third-fastest time recorded by a collegian. Again, Koll dominated the field in crossing the finish line 30 seconds before the next competitor.



Earlier in the season, Koll claimed the 5k-10k double at the Big 12 Championships, again by wide margins. In March at the Stanford Invitational, Koll clocked a collegiate-record of 31:18.07 in the 10,000 – a mark that also stands as the sixth-fastest ever by an American. Koll’s season and personal best time in the 5000 of 15:17.76 came on May 1 at the Cardinal Invitational. Koll also anchored the Cyclone DMR to a Drake Relays victory in April with a 4:31.8 1600-meter split.



Koll, a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, won four NCAA titles in her career.



Koll continues the Big 12’s distance-runner streak of National Female Track Athlete of the Year winners. Jenny Barringer of Colorado won a year ago and Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech won the award in 2008.



Koll has been in the running for The Bowerman since she was added to the watch list on March 2. The list of the 10 final candidates for The Bowerman will be announced Monday while the three male and three female finalists for the award will be announced the week of July 12.



The USTFCCCA’s National Male Field Athlete of the Year will be announced later Thursday, followed by more national awards spread through the next several days.



Past National Female Track Athletes of the Year:



2010: Lisa Koll, Iowa State

2009: Jenny Barringer, Colorado

2008: Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech

2007: Natasha Hastings, South Carolina

2006: Virginia Powell, Southern California



USTFCCCA 2010 National Award Winners, Division I, Outdoor Track & Field



MEN

National Track Athlete of the Year: Andrew Wheating, Oregon

National Field Athlete of the Year: Thursday, June 17

National Assistant Coach of the Year: Wednesday, June 23

National Coach of the Year: Friday, June 25



WOMEN

National Track Athlete of the Year: Lisa Koll, Iowa State

National Field Athlete of the Year: Friday, June 18

National Assistant Coach of the Year: Tuesday, June 22

National Coach of the Year: Thursday, June 24









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Tom Lewis

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

Communications Manager

1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750

New Orleans, LA 70163

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Email: tom@ustfccca.org

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