The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Okolo proves asset for Women's Track & Field
06.03.2013 | Track & Field / Cross Country w, Track & Field / Cross Country
June 3, 2013
Mallory Majcher, Texas Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas--Freshman sprinter Courtney Okolo will round out her first year at Texas with four NCAA Championship appearances, a conference title and among the top 10 performers in the 400 meters in UT program history.
The exercise science major from Carrollton, Texas, kicked off her college career with a breakout freshman indoor season as a 400m specialist, also competing in the 200m. Okolo also ran the anchor leg for the successful 4x400m relay team that notched three of the top 10 times in school history during the 2013 indoor season. The team placed third at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a mark of 3:30.63, No. 5 on the UT all-time performance list, and claimed the Big 12 indoor conference title with a time of 3:33.54. Okolo also earned second team All-America honors in the 400 meters at indoor nationals.
Okolo focused on cutting her time in the 400m and continuing the success of the 4x400 relay team moving into her inaugural outdoor campaign.
"College (competition) is at a whole different level and that level forces me to be more competitive," Okolo said. "I think I became more and more competitive moving into the outdoor season."
Okolo qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400 meters at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, the only freshman in the west region to do so, after finishing third in the quarterfinals in a personal-best time of 52.04. It was the third time in four races in which she bettered her career best in the event. She also again anchored the 4x400m relay at the meet to the second-fastest NCAA qualifying time in the country of 3:29.94.
Running the anchor alongside a trio of talented upperclassman in senior Kendra Chambers and juniors Briana Nelson and Danielle Dowie has proven Okolo to be a huge asset for a Texas squad with national-championship aspirations. Okolo said she was intimidated at first, but has since adapted to her very important role.
"I feel pressure sometimes, but I know what I am capable of and I know what it takes to win," Okolo said.
Teammate Nelson has a strong respect for the freshman and attests to both her abilities and mental resilience as a collegiate athlete.
"She is obviously really talented, but she is also really tough," said Nelson of the young runner. "That is one thing I really like about her--she will never back down off of a workout or race."
Prior to Texas, Okolo won six state titles in her final two seasons at Newman Smith High School. According to Texas interim head coach Rose Brimmer, many athletes who have such high success prior to college often have a hard time adjusting to the culture of collegiate athletics. However, Brimmer feels differently about Okolo.
"When kids come in [to the collegiate level] and they are as good as she was in high school, it is hard for them to take constructive criticism because they feel like they already know what they need to know," Brimmer said. "But not with Courtney. She is all ears. She is like a sponge and she wants to work and grow and be the best that she can be."
Brimmer also feels that Okolo's role as anchor has been key to the success of the relay team due to her toughness and fearless attitude on the track.
"Running the anchor in that race, there can often be a fear factor," Brimmer said. "Courtney, on the other hand, likes the burden of the win to be on her."
Moving forward, Okolo wants to continue to see success from the relay team, but also looks to make a statement in the 400 meters at next week's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
"Of course, everyone wants to win and come out on top," said Okolo. "I am looking to come out with another [personal record] and hopefully that gets me to the win."