The final indoor track and field event for Iowa State will take place this weekend with only one of its team members competing. Senior distance runner Lisa Koll is the lone qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Koll has had some well documented accomplishments in this current indoor track season, especially in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Koll earned an individual Big 12 title in both events earlier this season en route to breaking the Big 12 meet record in both events. Those times are still currently the fastest in Division I indoor track and field this season. 

Koll’s efforts earned her Big 12 postseason honors in women’s track as Koll was selected as the top performer by the Big 12’s track and field coaches, becoming the first Iowa State woman to earn such an honor. Throughout the season Koll was a two-time Big 12 women’s track Athlete of the Week and added another award to the shelf this week by being named the Midwest Region Track and Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association. 

Koll’s efforts at the 2010 ISU Classic, one of Iowa State’s largest and most prestigious track events of the year, lifted her into a new level of performance. Her time of 15:29.65 in the 5,000 meter run became the second fastest time by any collegiate athlete on any track in the event.

So how does Lisa Koll face being the only Cyclone runner to qualify for the NCAA Championships? It’s simply business as usual.

“I’m really not changing up training much,” Koll said. “I’m just getting excited for this weekend.”

A previous runner-up in the 5,000 meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championships adds to the expectations for Koll along with the stellar field of competition that will line up beside her this weekend inside Randal Tyson Track Center at the University of Arkansas. The 3,000 and 5,000 meter events will consist of 17 of the fastest Division I indoor track athletes. 

Koll’s time in the 3,000 meter run is nearly eight seconds quicker than second ranked Sheila Reid, a junior from Villanova. Her record setting time of 15:29.65 in the 5,000 meter run is nearly 12 seconds faster than her nearest competition as well, Nicole Blood, a senior competing for the University of Oregon.

Even though this event will signify the end of the indoor portion of the track and field season, Koll doesn’t see this at all as the end.

“I’m going to try to run better than I have before and compete to where the field competes and just hopefully keep progressing and use it as a springboard for outdoors,” Koll said. 

The outdoor season is where Koll is at her full strength in the 10,000 meter run. Koll holds the women’s collegiate record and is also the only three-time Big 12 champion in the event. With the outdoor season looming, Koll still remains focused on the event at hand, the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships that begin Friday, March 12.

“Obviously I’m going to go out and I’m going to try to win, whatever that takes I’m going to try to do it,” Koll said. 

With an attitude like that and more than enough talent to back it up, the rest of the runners better by ready for Lisa Koll.