Kosuda and Koll Improve NCAA Bids

AMES, Iowa- Fifty-plus track and field athletes from all over the country hit provisional qualifying marks at the NCAA Qualifier hosted by Iowa State. The Cyclone women's squad closed out its 2007 indoor campaign with four NCAA provisional qualifiers.

Agata Kosuda stole the show at Saturday's meet with a record-shattering leap of 43-6 in the triple-jump. Kosuda broke the school record which she set last week at the Big 12 indoor championships. The junior's effort was the eighth-best jump in the nation. The Lublin, Poland, native was four centimeters short of the NCAA automatic qualifying mark.

“Agata performed very well today,” said ISU jumps coach Ron McEachran. “She really made things interesting when she had fouls on her first two jumps of the competition. For her third jump, the pressure was on to record a jump that could get her into finals and she did it. Agata did a fantastic job today and I was very proud of her. I think she has come along at the right time and she has a good shot to score points at the national championships.”

Freshman Lisa Koll upped her bid for a spot in next week's nationals. The Fort Dodge native climbed up the charts, running 16:15.65 in the 5,000-meter run. Koll's time smashes her previous career-best and school-record time by 10 seconds and, the effort is currently the 12^th-best time in the nation.

“Lisa ran an incredible race today,” said head coach Dick Lee. “She really had it set in her mind that she was going to run next week in Fayetteville Ark., it was her goal since the beginning of the season. Lisa's determination is amazing, and there is no doubt in my mind that she will perform well next week at nationals.”

Newcomer Lashawn Wright recorded a career-best time in the 60-meter dash. The freshman's effort of 7.54 seconds in the final round fell just a tenth of a second shy of the qualifying mark. Wright dominated the competition and finished first overall.

Senior Priya Hoze had in impressive outing at the NCAA Qualifier. The Milwaukee native recorded a season-best leap of 19-2 ? in the long jump. Hoze's career-best effort came in 2004 at the ISU Classic, where she finished fifth with a leap of 19-6.

60-meter hurdler Rebecca Williams will most likely receive an invitation to the NCAA indoor championships in Fayetteville, Ark. The senior did not compete in Iowa State's last chance meet but holds the nation's eighth fastest time of 8.19 seconds.

The NCAA national championships are up next for a handful of Cyclone squad members. The championships will be held on March 9-10 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Complete results will be posted at the conclusion of the meet.

Players Mentioned

Priya Hoze

Lisa Koll

Lisa Koll

Agata Kosuda

Rebecca Williams

Lashawn Wright

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Iowa State University Athletics