November 16, 2004
Cooksey making final preparations for national run
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana junior Heather Cooksey (Brownsburg, Indiana) is making her final preparations for her run at a national title, which takes place Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at the USI Cross Country Course. The men’s race begins at noon.
Cooksey is coming off an NCAA II Great Lakes Regional title run and is among a handful of favorites to win the national championship. Her performance at the regional championships earned her the Great Lakes Region Female Runner of the Year for cross country and she will be honored as such at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Pasta Banquet Friday at 6 p.m. at the Centre.
In 2004, Cooksey has won five races and finished in the top five in three other competitions. That list includes the GLVC championship, the Indiana Intercollegiate Little State title, the University of Evansville Early Bird Invitational championship, and the UE Invitational crown. She finished second at the Border Wars, fourth at the Stegemoller Classic, and fifth in the overall competition of the Indiana Intercollegiate.
A five-time All-American, Cooksey won the national championship in the outdoor track and field 3,000 meters this past spring. She also finished second in the 5,000 meters after finishing third in the mile at the indoor national championships last March.
Cooksey will practice today at the Reitz track and is expected to train at USI the rest of the week.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
