Oklahoma State University Athletics
Piliusina Nominated for European Athlete of the Month
May 07, 2012 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
May 7, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. – After a record-setting performance in the 1,500 meters last month, Cowgirl track star Natalja Piliusina is one of 10 women nominated for the European Athlete of the Month award for April.
The international honor is given to one male and one female athlete each month and fan voting accounts for one-third of the total vote. OSU fans con vote for Piliusina by visiting http://www.european-athletics.org/athlete-of-the-month.html until May 16 at 5 a.m. Central Time, when the voting will close.
Piliusina is up for the award after her outstanding performance in the 1,500 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational on April 29. Her time of 4:09.51 ranks No. 1 among European athletes in the 1,500 meters, ranks No. 1 among NCAA athletes this season and set a new OSU school record by nearly four seconds.
“I think it's really exciting, and it's great publicity for us and great for her,” coach Dave Smith said of Piliusina's nomination. “She worked really hard and took a chance coming over here, and I think it really validates what she's doing. Right now, she's the leading 1,500-meter runner in Europe and she was seventh in the world after the (Payton Jordan Invitational), so it's really exciting.”
The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of track and field in Europe.
