Cook also achieves fastest American Under-20 outdoor mark in history by clocking 15:25.93 to take third in elite race, eclipsing 2020 standard of 15:34.47 by Hutchins; Oklahoma State signee ranks second among all U.S. Under-20 efforts, trailing only 2014 indoor performance of 15:20.57 by Wisconsin’s Disanza

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Natalie Cook had heard the inspiring stories from her father Andrew and mother Melissa about how special the opportunities are for any distance runner to be able to race under the lights at least once in their career at Stanford University’s Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Cook’s parents had enjoyed some of their best career performances at Texas A&M racing in an ideal climate, surrounded by elite competition, especially in the 10,000 meters at the 2004 Stanford Invitational.

Their daughter didn’t have to wait until college or cover nearly the same distance during her memorable debut Friday night at the 47th Stanford Invitational.

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Cook, an Oklahoma State-bound senior at Lewisville Flower Mound High in Texas, smashed the national high school outdoor 5,000-meter record by clocking 15 minutes, 25.93 seconds to take third overall in an invitational section filled with collegiate and professional athletes.

Former Oregon standout Molly Grabill prevailed in 15:22.97 and British professional Jenny Nesbitt was second in 15:24.59. Abby Nichols, the reigning Pac-12 cross country champion and an NCAA Division 1 All-American at Colorado, was fourth in 15:27.11.

Cook also eclipsed the U.S. Under-20 all-time outdoor mark of 15:34.47 achieved in 2020 by former Science Hill High of Tennessee standout Jenna Hutchins.

Only the 2014 indoor performance of 15:20.57 achieved by Wisconsin’s Sarah Disanza is faster among American Under-20 efforts in any 5,000-meter race than Cook’s mark.

Cook took the lead for the first time with four laps remaining, but Grabill and Nesbitt both responded and moved back to the front with 800 meters left. Cook closed with her fastest lap of the race, covering the final 400 with a 71.64-second split.

Cook had run 16:03.93 to prevail in the 5-kilometer cross country final Dec. 4 at the Garmin RunningLane Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala., achieving the second-fastest performance in prep history at that distance, trailing only the 15:58.42 effort achieved in 2020 on the same course by Hutchins.

But on the track, Cook demonstrated she had no equal among American teenagers Friday night.

Following her 9:44.44 performance in the 2-mile final March 11 at New Balance Nationals Indoor at The Armory in New York, which ranks second in U.S. prep history, Cook secured the national high school all-time mark she desired the most at Stanford.

Cook’s effort also gave her both indoor and outdoor national high school records, along with the 4xmile relay performance March 12 of 19:37.78 at New Balance Nationals Indoor, teaming with sisters Nicole Humphries and Samantha Humphries, along with Alexandra Fox.