IRVING, Texas – Jane Hedengren was named the Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
In her freshman season, Hedengren finished at the top of the leaderboard in three of four meets, helping her team place in the top two at each. She kick-started the season at the Missouri Pre-Nationals, where she posted the fastest 6,000-meter time in the NCAA all season at that time, shattering the Gans Creek Cross Country Course record in the process.
Hedengren set her personal best at the Big 12 Championships at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas, with an 18:29.60, setting a new Big 12 championship record for the women’s race in the win. She also helped lead her team to its third straight Big 12 title.
Despite the team taking second at the NCAA Mountain Regionals, Hedengren clocked a 19:06.60, defeating second-place Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico by more than 40 seconds. Kosgei was last year’s runner-up at nationals.
Hedengren returned to Gans Creek for the NCAA National Championship, where she would have broken Florida’s Parker Valby’s NCAA championship record by more than 18 seconds. The freshman finished behind Alabama’s Doris Lemngole, as the two ran neck-and-neck throughout the entire race. Hedengren’s 18:38.90, more than three seconds faster than her previous personal record at the course, led her team to a second-place finish at the national championship.
Big 12 honors were determined by the league’s 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own athletes.
The Provo, Utah, product also earned the Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year award to become the first athlete in Big 12 history to win both honors.
To view the full release, visit the Big 12 website.