Koll Named NCAA Female Track Athlete of the Year

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 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.

"I think it speaks volumes for having someone to look up to," Koll said. "Having Jenny (Barringer) and Sally (Kipyego) to look up to and try to emulate over the years has been great for me. I think constantly being around athletes that were extremely successful and that worked really hard was contagious. I think it has been great to be a part of some great competition over the years, and being in a situation where you have to make yourself better in order to live up to the people around you."

Koll completed her collegiate career in fine fashion last weekend at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., scoring national titles in the 5,000 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 career title in the event. Koll cruised to victory after breaking from the pack at the 7,000-meter mark and won the race by over :20 seconds. On Friday, Koll returned for the 5,000 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 5,000 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 is also in the running for The Bowerman, an award given annually to the nation's top male and female track and field athlete. 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.

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

Players Mentioned

Lisa Koll

Lisa Koll

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics