BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Former Teays Valley track and cross country standout Katy Zang made an immediate mark in her collegiate debut on Friday, setting a new course record to lead the Indiana University women’s cross country team to a dominant victory at the Sam Bell Invitational.
Zang, a freshman for the Hoosiers, captured first place in the women’s 4,000-meter race with a time of 12:36.2. The performance shattered the previous Sam Bell Cross Country Course 4K record and saw her cross the finish line nearly a full minute ahead of second-place runner Noelle Steines of Bradley University (13:30.1).
Taking control of the race early, Zang built a 36-second cushion over the field by the 2,000-meter mark and was the only competitor in the field to break the 13:30 threshold.
Her individual victory anchored a dominant team performance for Indiana, which secured five of the top seven individual finishes to take first place overall with 21 points, ahead of Bradley (36) and Ball State (81).
The impressive debut follows a decorated high school career in Pickaway County. During her senior track season at Teays Valley, Zang made national headlines by setting a national high school indoor two-mile record (9:37.15) at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet.
Zang and the Hoosiers will return to action on September 19 at the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana.
