Ese Okoro kicked off the outdoor track and field season last weekend with a bang, as she ran the 400-meter hurdle event in a time of 57.77 seconds. Her performance was good for the fastest time nationally and sixth-fastest time in the world so far this season.

For her performance, Okoro was honored by being named Big 12 Athlete of the Week. It is the first time in the 2013-14 season that an ISU track and field athlete has been selected for the award.

Her nation-leading time was set last weekend at Arizona State’s Baldy Castillo Invitational, which was the first meet of the outdoor season for the ISU track and field squad.

Okoro out paced the rest of the field in the 400-meter hurdles, and crossed the finish line a full two seconds before the second place finisher. The time was just .34 seconds off Okoro’s personal best.

Okoro shared the Big 12 Athlete of the Week award with Oklahoma’s Liz Herrs and Texas Tech’s Le’Tristan Pledger.