Ihmels is Big 12 Coach of the Year

IRVING, Texas - Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels has been selected as the 2011 Big 12 Cross Country Coaches of the Year, as voted by the league's coaches. Ihmels' women's team claimed its first Big 12 Championship in school history Saturday in College Station, Texas.

Three Cyclones earned All-Big 12 honors en route to a team score of 68. Three of Iowa State's first five finishers are native Iowans. Meaghan Nelson (second) hails from Cedar Rapids-Xavier. Morgan Casey (20th) is from Gooselake-Northeast and Taylor Peterson (27th) is from Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School.

"A lot of things could have gone either way Saturday but our team stepped up and when it was needed most our runners came through," Ihmels said. "I am flattered by the honor, but our victory was based on the effort of our whole team. Our squad has the most important symbol of its effort, the Big 12 Championship trophy."

Nelson, the Cyclones' top finisher, placed second in a time of 19:33.8, just three seconds behind first place. The Iowa State women have won three of the four team meets they have competed in this season. Under Ihmels, the women's team won the Midwest Regional Championship in 2010 and ran to the second-best NCAA finish in program history, placing eighth. Ihmels took over as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country in 2007.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Casey

Morgan Casey

Meaghan Nelson

Meaghan Nelson

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