Koll Honored At Statehouse

DES MOINES -- Iowa State four-time All-American Lisa Koll was honored by the Iowa House of Representatives and the state Senate Monday at the State Capitol. Koll, who set the American Collegiate 10,000-meter record of 32:11.5 to win the Stanford Invitational April 4 in Palo Alto, Calif., was honored for her athletics and equally impressive academic record.

Koll, a Fort Dodge native, was introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly with ISU head cross country and track coach Corey Ihmels.

"It was a great experience for Lisa," Ihmels said. "The legislators were equally impressed with Lisa's academic credentials. I can't think of a finer representative of Iowa State University."

Koll, in her third year at Iowa State but just a sophomore in track eligibility, will graduate next month a year ahead of her class with a 3.97 cumulative grade point average in biology. She has been accepted into ISU's college of veterinary medicine and will compete in track while working toward her goal of being a veterinarian.

"I felt very honored," Koll said. "I knew it was going to be a big deal, but when all those people take the time to honor you when they have so many important thing to do, that is very humbling.

After getting back to Ames, Koll did a workout and then hustled over to Hilton Coliseum to be honored with fellow student-athletes at the Iowa State Student-Athlete Awards Banquet. Then, she went back to the books.

Koll, the defending Big 12 10,000-meter champion will run the 5,000 meters Thursday at the Drake Relays.