Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Signee Natalie Cook Wins Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year
February 03, 2022 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State Cross Country and Track & Field signee Natalie Cook was named Gatorade's National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year, Gatorade announced Wednesday.
Cook is the first female athlete from Texas to win the award after becoming the first athlete in girls high school history to win both the Garmin RunningLane and Eastbay Cross Country Championships for the coveted individual national double.
In the former, Cook recorded the second-fastest 5K time in high school history, posting a time of 16:03.93 to win the individual championship. She also won the Texas 6A state championship race by a whopping 56 seconds on her way to helping her team win the team title in the process.
Cook finished the 2021 season with three races under 16:40 in the 5K. Only four other athletes in the country broke that mark just a single time.
The award honors the country's top cross country performer over the course of the season and puts Cook at the top of her class as she heads to Stillwater in the fall.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
Cook is the first female athlete from Texas to win the award after becoming the first athlete in girls high school history to win both the Garmin RunningLane and Eastbay Cross Country Championships for the coveted individual national double.
In the former, Cook recorded the second-fastest 5K time in high school history, posting a time of 16:03.93 to win the individual championship. She also won the Texas 6A state championship race by a whopping 56 seconds on her way to helping her team win the team title in the process.
Cook finished the 2021 season with three races under 16:40 in the 5K. Only four other athletes in the country broke that mark just a single time.
The award honors the country's top cross country performer over the course of the season and puts Cook at the top of her class as she heads to Stillwater in the fall.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
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