Interview with Lisa Koll

By Shannon Martin Morehouse

On April 4, 2008, 20-year-old Iowa State University student Lisa Koll shocked the running world when she broke the American collegiate record in the 10,000 meters in 32:11:13 at the Stanford Invitational. The three-time All-American native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, broke the previous record of 32:19.97 set my Alicia Shay (formerly Craig) in 2004.

Koll, who began running in eighth grade, defeated two professional runners competing in the Stanford Invitational: Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell, second- and third-place finishers at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon on April 20.

We caught up with the humble yet confident Koll to find out what she hopes to achieve at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field this July in Eugene, Oregon.

New York Road Runners: Congratulations on your awesome race at the Stanford Invite. Knowing that two professional runners were in the race, I bet you never guessed that you would win the race in an astonishing American collegiate record?

Lisa Koll: No, it never occurred to me that I could win the race. I knew that Blake and Magdalena were going to be in [the race], and they’re among the best in the country, so I wasn’t expecting to win. I entered the race with my own agenda—to go out and run it in under 32:45 [in order to qualify with the A-standard for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field].

I went out in 32:30 pace for the first half of the race and it just felt so easy, so for the second half, I just picked it up to see what would happen. I was pleasantly surprised with how it ended up.

NYRR: What was going through your mind when you passed Blake Russell and then Magdalena Lewy-Boulet?

LK: I was full of adrenaline. I’m confident in my own capabilities, so I just started running my own race. At that point, I had heard the announcer say that the American collegiate record was 32:19, so I decided to race against the clock and try to get the record. I would’ve been happy with the American collegiate record alone even if Blake or Magdalena would have won.

NYRR: What’s on the calendar for you for the rest of the season before the Trials? Are you returning to the Stanford track for the [Payton Jordan] Cardinal Invite next weekend?

LK: I’m actually not racing at the Cardinal Invite. We’re taking some down time. Last year, I was definitely over-raced, and things kind of fell apart at the end of the season. We’re being cautious this year and making sure I don’t race too much.

NYRR: Well, you certainly have the freedom not to race having achieved the qualifier already! Tell me a bit more about your history in the 10,000. I don’t recall seeing your name on any of the big invite rosters in the past couple of years. What was your previous PR?

LK: My previous PR was 35:30 or something. I raced it in the Big 12 Championships last year, and that was the only other time I competed in the 10,000 [she won that race in 35:36.60]. I didn’t see my performance in the 10K last year as a reflection of how well I could run it because it was a very hot day and it wasn’t a very tactical race.

NYRR: That’s really impressive that you broke the American collegiate record in the 10,000 the second time you ever raced the event. What do you attribute your success to?

LK: Everything is finally adding up. I’ve always been a high-mileage trainer and I upped my mileage even more this year. My summer training was more intense than ever before; I was up to 92 miles a week. My highest before was around 75. I took some risks with mileage, but have remained injury free, so I thought, “Why not?” I’ve been working out hard more often. All of these little adjustments have really paid off!

NYRR: How was your indoor season this year?

LK: Indoors was great. I think it was my indoor season that propelled me to do well in outdoors. I ran 15:52 [in the 5K] pretty much alone on my home track and that was the point where I started to realize that I could perform above my expectations. When I ran that, I thought I was in 16:05 shape, or 16:00 shape; I didn’t realize that 15:52 was going to feel so easy.

NYRR: If two years ago someone told you that you would be competing in the 2008 Olympic Trials, would you have believed them?

LK: No! I’ve always had the Trials on my mind, but it was something I imagined for 2012. I was definitely shocked by qualifying for the Trials so soon!

NYRR: You must be so excited; you’re going into the Track & Field Trials as probably one of the youngest competitors!

LK: [Laughing]. Yeah, I guess you’re probably right. It’s really exciting. It’s not only exciting for this year, but also for what the future has in store.

NYRR: What are you hoping to accomplish at the Trials this year?
LK: Obviously, I’d love to make the team. I’d like to run the Olympic A-standard of 31:45 at Nationals or at the Trials. I think it will happen at one of the two. So, my goal is to make Beijing. As lofty as that may seem, it can’t hurt to go for it!

NYRR: Absolutely! The marathon and the 10,000 meters are two very different events, but I’d have to say that it’s still promising that you were able to defeat Blake and Magdalena in the 10,000 meters a couple of weeks before they made the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon!

LK: [Laughing] Yeah, I realize that marathon training and 10K training are a lot different. I’m sure they were in marathon shape and not focusing on the 10K, but I think I still have more left in me too.

NYRR: When did you become involved in running?

LK: In eighth grade—I went out for cross country because some of my friends were. I had done some road races with my dad here and there, but I didn’t start taking running seriously until my freshman and sophomore years in high school.

NYRR: From that point, you knew you wanted to run in college?

LK: My freshman year I was pretty successful off of very little training, so when I started training harder, and saw continuous improvement, I decided that I wanted to run in college and keep getting better.

NYRR: Was there anyone in particular who inspired you when you were a high school runner?

LK: No. Running was a personal journey for me. Back then, I didn’t have specific goals, I just wanted to get better.

NYRR: And how has your approach to running changed since then?

LK: I was injured my freshman year in college and had to sit out during the track season. It was at that point when I realized how important running was to me. I made a decision that I was going to put as much time into running as I needed in order to be the best I could possibly be. I consulted more people; I started to read more about running; started familiarizing myself with successful runners and how they achieved their successes. That was a big turning point for me, between my freshman and sophomore years in college.

NYRR: I’m hoping you can settle some confusion I have. Some people tell me you’re a sophomore. Some say you’re a junior. Can you please clarify?

LK: [Laughing]. I am a junior in school, but I’m a sophomore in track because I didn’t run my freshman year. I’m graduating this year though. I finished my coursework for my biology major. Next year, I’m going to veterinary school at Iowa State, so I’ll still be running [on the school team].

NYRR: So, you’re pretty much a sophomore, junior, and senior in one!

LK: [Laughing] Yes, that’s true!

NYRR: One last question for you. What is your relationship with your coach, Corey Ihmels, like?

LK: It’s great—I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it weren’t for him. I can say that for a lot of people in my life as well, but he’s really helped me to go from a good runner to an elite runner. I really trust his judgment. He allows me to add my input to his input, so it’s a very good relationship. I’m very lucky to have him.

Interview conducted April 25, 2008, and posted May 6, 2008.