Following dominating performances in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs at last weekend’s Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, ISU senior Lisa Koll has been named the 2010 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Women’s Performer of the Year. Koll set Big 12 meet records in both events and currently holds the top times in both the 3,000 — 8:56.09 — and 5,000, at 15:29.65.

“It’s great not only for me individually, but for Iowa State and for distance running, too,” Koll said of the honor. “There’s a lot of great sprinters in the Big 12, and so for a distance runner to win it, that’s exciting and I hope that continues over the next few years.”

The only other Cyclone to ever receive Big 12 Performer of the Year honors for the indoor season is none other than Koll’s coach, ISU track and field coach and former Cyclone Corey Ihmels, who received the honor in 1997.

For her current status at the national level, Koll has also been named to the Bowerman’s Watch List, a list of potential recipients of the Bowerman Award, which recognizes the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track and field athlete. The list for the female award currently contains 10 of the top female athletes in the country, with three coming from the Big 12, including Koll and Texas A&M sprinters junior Jessica Beard and senior Porscha Lucas. The winner of the 2009 female Bowerman was Colorado senior Jenny Barringer, the only American collegiate runner to record a faster time than Koll in the 5,000-meter run.