ISU senior Lisa Koll was able to participate in just one track meet during last year’s indoor season due to a season-ending foot injury, but what she accomplished in one meet this weekend at Lied Recreation Athletic Center put her into an elite group of runners.

Koll became the second-fastest American collegiate performer ever on any indoor track in the 5,000-meter run with Saturday’s performance at the ISU Classic. Koll, the previous record holder in the 5,000 meters, finished with a time of 15:29.65, setting a new track, school and personal record in the process. The only performance quicker than Koll’s was turned in by former University of Colorado runner Jenny Barringer last year with a time of 15:01.70.

Saturday’s performance in the 5,000 meters makes Koll an automatic qualifier for the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 12–13 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Koll is a native of Fort Dodge, just a short hour drive from Ames, where Barringer also lived as a child. Being an Iowa native in addition to her exceptional performances brings quite a following for Koll, who cherished the moment Saturday inside a packed Lied.

“It feels amazing. It makes last year worth it,” Koll said. “There were so many times last year when I questioned if it was even worth competing. So, to finally have that breakthrough race and have it here in front of everyone, it means so much to me.”

Koll’s nearest competitor was Kansas State’s Beverly Ramos, finishing with a time of 16:17.44. Iowa State’s Betsy Saina also competed in the event and earned a provisional qualifying berth for the indoor championships with a 16:40.49, good enough for eighth place.

ISU coach Corey Ihmels was thrilled with Koll’s accomplishment.

“For Lisa, this has been a long time coming,” Ihmels explained. “I wrote down on a sheet of paper 15:28, she ran 15:29, so I knew she could run fast. She wasn’t running and struggling to find herself six months ago and that just shows her determination and what kind of person she is.”

Senior Jenna Caffrey was able to break her personal record in the 60-meter hurdles, set earlier this year at the ISU Open. Caffrey’s time of 8.36 propelled her to a second-place finish in the hurdles and put her in a better position for the NCAA Indoor Championships later this year.

“I’m really excited,” Caffrey said. “I hit the provisional qualifier early, and this time shows I’m improving, and it didn’t matter if I finished last. I just wanted to lower my qualifying time.”

After all the record books have been rewritten after the ISU Classic, the women’s track team has the next two weeks off in preparation for a huge upcoming obstacle, the Big 12 Indoor Championships at their home track. The Indoor Championships will draw thousands of people to Harry Hoak Track, as well as some of the greatest track and field athletes in the country. The event will take place February 26–27 inside Lied Recreation Athletic Center.