Since she arrived at Iowa State, Betsy Saina has impressed in both cross country and on the track. In 2011, she was the Big 12 Conference champion in the 5,000-meter run during the indoor track season.

This season, she took it one step further. 

In April at the Peyton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., Saina won the 10,000-meter run, which included a field of many post-collegiate runners. With her time of 31:15.97, Saina captured the world’s fastest time at that point of the season.

Saina redshirted during the outdoor track season this past spring, but during the indoor season, she was the NCAA champion in the 5,000-meter run and finished third in the 3,000-meter run, earning her fifth and sixth All-American honors of her Iowa State career. 

Previously in cross country last fall, Saina finished ninth at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American status then, as well.

This weekend, Saina will run at the Kenyan Olympic Trials with the hope of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games, representing her country and Iowa State once again.