AMES, Iowa ?Running in the U.S has always been a dream for Iowa State sophomore Betsy Saina. The native of western Kenya lives and breathes cross country.
“I really enjoy cross country, a lot more than track and field,” Saina said. “With cross country, it's more of team participation whereas track and field is more of an individual participation.”
After being denied a visa more than once, it was hard for Saina to stay motivated and to keep on trying to chase her dreams at Iowa State. Throughout all the trials and tribulations of the delays, Saina waited for her opportunity. It was quite a journey. Once she made it to Iowa State, visa in hand, she put her best foot forward in an abbreviated freshman track and field season.
Last season, Saina placed second in the 5,000-meter run (16:15.74) at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. She was runner-up to teammate Lisa Koll in the 5000-meter run, (16:38.76) and the 10,000-meter run (36:34.94) at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship. That conference performance earned her 2009 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Freshman- of-the-Year honors. She wasn't finished. Saina raced to a seventh-place effort in the NCAA 5,000 final with time of 16:40.87 to earn All-America honors.
“My strength and training has improved, and I was really happy with my progress last season,” Saina said. “In Kenya, I ran cross country in high school, and I saw a lot of similarities of competition between here and home.”
With such an astonishing first year, it's a waiting game to see what else Saina has to offer Iowa State. With only one collegiate year behind her, Saina has given the Cyclones a taste of what she can do in an ISU uniform.
“She started in January of 2008 and she has definitely come along way,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. “It was such a big transition coming from Kenya to the United States. She has made great progress over this past summer and she is now settled in school. It's hard to set expectations for Betsy because her potential is limitless.”
“I really want to go to the NCAA meets, and later run internationally,” Saina said. “I have to continue to work hard, and keep getting better. I plan to have a degree in kinesiology. I want to continue to work in the United States. Later on I plan to go back home (Eldoret, Kenya) and train. I want to continue to build up my strength and keep getting better.”
With a new season underway, coach Ihmels has a sound approach to this year's expectations for the women's cross country team.
“Last season we had (All-Americans) Lisa (Koll) and Grace (Kemmey) red-shirt but this season they are the leaders,” Ihmels said. “We have a good mix of new talent and veterans, and I think their impact will make for a solid group. My expectation of the team is to blend in the old with the new.”
As the season begins there will be much to see. Saina, a freshman in cross country, has had such an amazing start to her Cyclone career. Now that Saina has had the training and has experienced the success of her first year, only time will tell what her future holds for the ISU cross country and track and field programs.
