- - -
Just the thought of saying there is a national record attempt in the 3,200m is a heck of a statement. Saying it about a 3,200m race at 9:30 a.m. on a humid and hot May day in Austin, Texas definitely doesn't sound conducive to a national record.
However, we are talking about Natalie Cook.
So, you say there was a chance?
Despite the lack of probability due to the conditions, Cook had the fastest time coming into today's race with a 9:54.66, she bested Brynn Brown's time from last year. She has also ran in the low 9:50s in her last three races heading into today.
At the gun, Cook took the early lead with her teammates Samantha Humphries and Alexandra Fox running third and fourth.
She continued to extend her lead and came through the first lap with a split of 1:09.37 followed by San Juanita Leal of Edinburg North. As Cook went through 3,000m in three minutes flat, her teammates pulled into places second and third.
With five laps to go Cook kept pushing the pace she was clearly in a zone at 4:49 for the first mile, Cook continued to push the pace chasing that national record. At the bell lap, she was in a good position to break the 9:47 record, but she came through the final half mile in 2:35 for a 9:48.25 falling just short of the national record.
She did accomplish an all-time No. 2 placement on the national list and a new Texas UIL state record bettering the previous state record by almost 10 seconds.
Her Flower Mound teammates Humphries claimed the silver in 10:23.68 and Fox captured the bronze in 10:36.48 for a Flower Mound 1, 2, 3 sweep.
- - -
Natalie Cook ran a US No. 2 all-time 9:48.25
Photo Credit: Jamison Michaels
