Oklahoma State University Athletics
Siri Alfheim Takes Second in the 5,000-Meter Run
February 22, 2002 | Track I
Feb. 22, 2002
LINCOLN, Neb. - Oklahoma State's Siri Alfheim ran an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 16 minutes, 15.05 today at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Neb.
Alfheim passed Molly Austin of Colorado on the last lap to capture second-place. Austin won the Big 12 title in cross country last fall. Colorado's Jodie Hughes defended her title from a year ago by running a time of 16:14.00.
"I did not think I could run that fast, but coach (Catrina) Acosta told me I could. I just tried to hang on. The last 1,000 meters is always the toughest and I just want to thank everybody for cheering me on and gettin me over the hump," Alfheim said.
Alfheim was the first Cowgirl to score in relation to the team standings. The senior netted eight points and momentarily moved the Cowgirls into tenth place, but dropped to 12th after the distance medley relay, the final event of the day. Nebraska is the current leader with 43 points.
The Cowgirls still have Alexandra Lindquist and Valentina Medina to compete in the finals of the mile run tomorrow. Alison Erzinger won her heat in the 600-yard dash and would have been seeded fourth in the the finals, but she was disqualified for moving around in her lane.
