Oklahoma State University Athletics
Natalie Cook and Alex Maier Named USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week
September 26, 2022 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – After sweeping the individual titles at the Cowboy Jamboree this past weekend, Oklahoma State cross country runners Natalie Cook and Alex Maier were named Women's and Men's National Athletes of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced Monday.
This is just the third time that both Division I National Athlete of the Week honors were won by the same school, with BYU and Wisconsin also accomplishing the feat in 2018.
Cook is the first Cowgirl in program history to be named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season after her victory at the Cowboy Jamboree, winning the women's 6K with a time of 20:17.1 in her first collegiate race. Her time is the sixth-fastest 6K time recorded on the new iteration of the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course and seventh-fastest 6K time in program history. Her victory was also the fifth overall by a Cowgirl in Cowboy Jamboree history as the Cowgirls took home the team title over a loaded field.
Maier's award is the first for the Cowboys since Isai Rodriguez won in 2021 following his performance at the 2021 Cowboy Jamboree. Maier took control of the men's 8K in the final 1,000 meters, defeating a field chalked with talent as all five top 5, eight top 10 and 14 top-25 teams competed at this year's Jamboree. His winning time of 23:16.9 was the second-fastest time in Jamboree history after Rodriguez in 2021.
"He doesn't get a lot of respect," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith said following the race. "People don't recognize how good he is and how well he's done recently. I think that field today contained maybe half of the men that have a chance to win the individual national championship and he handled them pretty well."
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
This is just the third time that both Division I National Athlete of the Week honors were won by the same school, with BYU and Wisconsin also accomplishing the feat in 2018.
Cook is the first Cowgirl in program history to be named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season after her victory at the Cowboy Jamboree, winning the women's 6K with a time of 20:17.1 in her first collegiate race. Her time is the sixth-fastest 6K time recorded on the new iteration of the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course and seventh-fastest 6K time in program history. Her victory was also the fifth overall by a Cowgirl in Cowboy Jamboree history as the Cowgirls took home the team title over a loaded field.
Maier's award is the first for the Cowboys since Isai Rodriguez won in 2021 following his performance at the 2021 Cowboy Jamboree. Maier took control of the men's 8K in the final 1,000 meters, defeating a field chalked with talent as all five top 5, eight top 10 and 14 top-25 teams competed at this year's Jamboree. His winning time of 23:16.9 was the second-fastest time in Jamboree history after Rodriguez in 2021.
"He doesn't get a lot of respect," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith said following the race. "People don't recognize how good he is and how well he's done recently. I think that field today contained maybe half of the men that have a chance to win the individual national championship and he handled them pretty well."
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
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