Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
NCAA Championships (M&W)
Alfheim Crowned NCAA Champion
March 11, 2002 | Track I
March 11, 2002
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Oklahoma State's Siri Alfheim won the 5,000-meter run at the 2002 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, March 8 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
Alfheim, who finished second in the 5,000-meter run at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, ran a time of 16 minutes, 12.28 seconds. She finished ahead of Mellissa Gulli of Texas A&M and Jodie Hughes of Colorado, the Big 12 champion. Gulli and Hughes finished second and third, respectively.
Alfheim became the 14th All-American in school history and the first NCAA National Champion since Jackie Goodman earned the distinction in 1989.
"Siri won this for Oklahoma State. In the past it seems like nobody respected Catrina (Acosta), despite her being personally responsible for approximately 25 NCAA All-Americans. Maybe now that she has a national champion, this will silence the critics," assistant coach Clint Whitaker said.
The Cowgirls finished 22nd at nationals with Alfheim's championship after finishing 11th in the Big 12. They finished ahead of Big 12 runner-up Nebraska and six other conference schools. LSU won the team championship.
Valentina Medina competed in the mile run. Medina ran a time of 4:48.78, but did not qualify for the finals.
