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Track and Field
Bryan Clay Invite
Iowa State University Athletics
Stack Adjusts to Role as Frontrunner
04.26.2011 | Track and Field
AMES, Iowa –Iowa State distance runner Dani Stack has made a name for herself in collegiate track and field. The junior ran the seventh-fastest collegiate 5,000-meter run time of the season April 15 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. Earlier in the season, she ran what is now the nation's 11th fastest collegiate 10,000-meter time at the Stanford Invitational.
“Dani came back from summer training very motivated and it shows when she competes,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. “Watching her train, I think she continues to improve on a daily basis.”
Success on the track hasn't come as a surprise. Stack began her standout season as one of the top-seven runners for the Cyclones during the 2010 cross country season, finishing 14th at the NCAA West Regional Championship. That performance earned her a spot on the Cyclones' squad that would go on to finish eighth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
From there, the Mankato, Minn. native became one of the athletes to watch during the indoor season, taking fifth in the 5,000-meter run at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, earning a spot on the league podium for the first time as a collegian.
“She had a difficult end to the cross country season back in November at NCAAs, which I think is part of what motivated her to work even harder during the track season,” Ihmels said. “We came into this season with the goal of having her run the 10,000-meter run at NCAAs in June.”
And competing at the NCAA Championships in the 10K is certainly the goal Stack is aiming for.
“The plan is to focus more on the 10K than the 5K as we get later into the season,” Stack said. “I know I can compete on the national level now so I'm hoping to do well nationally this year and become an All-American.”
At Stanford, in the first meet of the outdoor season, Stack posted a personal-best, 33:35.52 in the 10,000-meter run. In addition to being the 11th-fastest collegiate 10K time in the nation, the mark is also currently the second-fastest time in the Big 12 behind Stack's Iowa State teammate Betsy Saina.
Nearly one month later, the Minnesota junior posted another big mark, this time in the 5,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays. Stack's time of 15:55.69 was a personal-best by nearly two minutes. With the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships quickly approaching, Stack currently holds the second-fastest time 5,000-meter time in the conference.
“I have a lot more confidence coming into races now,” Stack said. “I go into races knowing I can run with the girls I'm up against rather than going to the line knowing I'm fit but not knowing how well I would perform against them.”
In addition to earning multiple national rankings, Stack is now second on the Iowa State Outdoor Track All-Time Performer List, sitting only behind former Iowa State distance standout Lisa Koll, who holds the 5,000-meter run school record at 15:17.76.
“I was really excited to run 15:55,” Stack said. “I'm not entirely sure it's hit me yet. The plan at Mt. SAC was to run under 16 minutes, and once I heard them announce my time after I finished the race, it was surreal. Mt. SAC had the perfect conditions for a fast race, so I'm glad it turned out that way.”
Stack will compete next at the Drake Relays this weekend in Des Moines.
“Dani came back from summer training very motivated and it shows when she competes,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. “Watching her train, I think she continues to improve on a daily basis.”
Success on the track hasn't come as a surprise. Stack began her standout season as one of the top-seven runners for the Cyclones during the 2010 cross country season, finishing 14th at the NCAA West Regional Championship. That performance earned her a spot on the Cyclones' squad that would go on to finish eighth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
From there, the Mankato, Minn. native became one of the athletes to watch during the indoor season, taking fifth in the 5,000-meter run at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, earning a spot on the league podium for the first time as a collegian.
“She had a difficult end to the cross country season back in November at NCAAs, which I think is part of what motivated her to work even harder during the track season,” Ihmels said. “We came into this season with the goal of having her run the 10,000-meter run at NCAAs in June.”
And competing at the NCAA Championships in the 10K is certainly the goal Stack is aiming for.
“The plan is to focus more on the 10K than the 5K as we get later into the season,” Stack said. “I know I can compete on the national level now so I'm hoping to do well nationally this year and become an All-American.”
At Stanford, in the first meet of the outdoor season, Stack posted a personal-best, 33:35.52 in the 10,000-meter run. In addition to being the 11th-fastest collegiate 10K time in the nation, the mark is also currently the second-fastest time in the Big 12 behind Stack's Iowa State teammate Betsy Saina.
Nearly one month later, the Minnesota junior posted another big mark, this time in the 5,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays. Stack's time of 15:55.69 was a personal-best by nearly two minutes. With the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships quickly approaching, Stack currently holds the second-fastest time 5,000-meter time in the conference.
“I have a lot more confidence coming into races now,” Stack said. “I go into races knowing I can run with the girls I'm up against rather than going to the line knowing I'm fit but not knowing how well I would perform against them.”
In addition to earning multiple national rankings, Stack is now second on the Iowa State Outdoor Track All-Time Performer List, sitting only behind former Iowa State distance standout Lisa Koll, who holds the 5,000-meter run school record at 15:17.76.
“I was really excited to run 15:55,” Stack said. “I'm not entirely sure it's hit me yet. The plan at Mt. SAC was to run under 16 minutes, and once I heard them announce my time after I finished the race, it was surreal. Mt. SAC had the perfect conditions for a fast race, so I'm glad it turned out that way.”
Stack will compete next at the Drake Relays this weekend in Des Moines.
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