ISU Second as Koll Ends With Historic NCAA Win

EUGENE, Ore. - The finish was picture perfect and when Lisa Koll crossed the finish line to win the 5,000-meter run, the fourth NCAA title of her career, she shed some tears before an adoring Hayward Field crowd of more than 11,000 fans Friday.

"On one hand I was so happy about ending my career this way, but on the other hand my career at Iowa State is over and there will be things that I will really treasure for the rest of my life."

Koll pushed the pace to win in 15:23.80, more than 30 seconds ahead of eventual runner-up West Virginia's Marie Louise Asselin, who was second in 15:53.93. Koll's time was the 11th fastest ever by a collegiate runner.

Oregon leads the women's team scoring with 30 points. ISU is second with 28. Iowa State's men are tied for 17th place with 10 points. Texas A&M leads the men's scoring with 36 points. Action end with competition Saturday.

Koll said her collegiate career had far exceeded her expectations. Now she will start on a professional career, beginning with the USA Championships in Des Moines in two week's time. She has her sights set on making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 meters.

"If you had told me when I came to Iowa State that I would be where I am now, I would have laughed at you," Koll said. "My goal this year was to run 31:45 and when I finished 12th in the NCAA Cross Country meet, I thought "how am I going to run 31:45 when I finish 12th in cross country."

Koll went on to run a collegiate record and become the sixth-fastest American all-time when she ran 31:18.07 on March 26 in Palo Alto, Calif. The veterinary medicine student at ISU finishes her career as an 11-time All-American and nine-time Big 12 champion.

Saturday's race had its drama. Koll's main challenger figured to be NCAA cross country champion Angela Bizzari of Illinois. At the NCAA indoor meet in March, Koll had won the 5,000-meters and came back to run the 3,000-meters two days later. Bizzari, who had not run the 5,000 indoors, ran on Koll's shoulder at the NCAA indoor in the 3,000 meters and then outkicked Koll for the title.

It was a similar setup Friday as Bizzari had not run 10,000 Wednesday and came into the race fresh. Koll immediately pushed the pace.

"We knew that we needed to run the first 3,000 in 9:10 if we were going to set a tough pace," Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. "Lisa went through in exactly that and it wasn't easy because it was really windy."

At the sound of the starter's gun, only Bizzari and Asselin stayed with Koll. Asselin fell off the pace at around the 3,000-meter mark. Bizzari sat right behind Koll but it became obvious that she was laboring to do so with each successive lap. With about 1,600 meters left, Bizzari dropped way off the pace and did not finish the race. Her will had been broken my the remarkable scholar from Fort Dodge who never won an Iowa prep title.

"It was great performance to cap an incredible career, you couldn't ask for anything more," Ihmels said.

Earlier, Iowa State's Hilary Bor finished third in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase to earn All-America honors for the third time in the event. It was a tough race and Bor had the scars to show for it as he struck several barriers during the race, which was won by Matt Hughes of Louisville in 8:34.18. Donn Cabral of Princeton was second in 8:38.90 and Bor third in 8:39.11.

"I made my move with 600 meters to go," Bor said. "But in the final lap I just didn't have enough. I was spent."