Lisa Koll has already established herself as one of the best female distance runners to come through Iowa State, holding multiple school records and Big 12 Championships. Now she wants to establish herself as the best in the nation.

Koll will have that chance this weekend as the lone representative for the Cyclones at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Koll will represent the Cyclones in both the 5,000- and 3,000-meter runs.

Koll will see some familiar faces as she walks to the starting line at the University of Arkansas. Big 12 rival and Texas Tech junior Sally Kipyego is a favorite in the 5,000 with the top-qualifying time, while Koll has the second-best time. Koll said she will not be intimidated, but sees this as a chance to establish herself among the best in the nation.

“I think [Kipyego] is really good – she is one of the best in the nation,” Koll said. “I’m excited, going in, to have that chance to race somebody that talented and has that much success.”

Along with the familiar faces she will be running against, Koll is not a newcomer to high-pressure meets or the national championship meets. Koll is an All-American in cross country and raced at cross country nationals this year, but head coach Corey Ihmels thinks this year may be different.

“I think she is training and racing on a completely different level. I think her confidence is high, and she has been able to really build off this fall,” Ihmels said. “She has been consistent – we haven’t missed any time due to injuries or illness – the ability to just day in and day out be able get through the grind and not have any interruptions.”

Beyond remaining injury-free and training at a high level, Ihmels thinks that Koll’s successful weekend at the Big 12 Championships has changed her perspective on things.

“I think the weekend at the Big 12’s changed her outlook on things,” Ihmels said. “It was the first time she has been able to go into a big meet where she was one of the better athletes and had to go do what was expected and that was to win.”

Although Koll may not be the favorite to win this weekend, she will be expected to have a very strong performance and definitely has an outside shot at winning the title in the 5,000 on Friday. Koll also hopes to have a strong showing in the 3,000 on Saturday when she enters the event ranking 16th.

Both Koll and Ihmels will not change anything heading into the championships, especially in the way Koll runs her races. Koll said her strategy was just to run her own race.

“I am just going to try and hang on and make my move when I can. I am just going to run my own race – that has been what I have been doing this whole year, and it seems to be working. Nothing special or different – there are just going to be more people watching.”