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Corey Ihmels
Corey and his Winning Iowa State Team
Corey has the most impressive high school record of any high school Boys. He carried that through to Iowa State.
He is the only person from ND to ever break the 4 minute mile barrier that I am aware of (Mike Slack, NDSU runner ran a 3:59, he was from Minnesota).
High School: Williston High
College: Iowa State
Grad School: Arizona State
Coaching: Was a grad assistant at Arizona State. 12-2001 was named the head Cross country coach and Distance coach for Track at Iowa State in Ames.
He holds ND Class A records in all distance events.
800 1:53
1:51.9 (indoors, college)
1500 3:43.3
1600 4:08 (HS); 3:59.7
3000 8:43 (indoors, HS);
8:09 (indoors, College)
3200 9:03
5000 14:53 (HS XC)
14:08 (College Track)
8000 24:31 (XC)
10000 30:24 (XC)
HS Honors
13 State Titles (3 Cross Country; 4 Indoor Track; 6 Outdoor Track)
2nd Kinney (Foot Locker) Midwest Regionals, 13th Nationals (Jr Year)
1st Kinney Midwest Regional. 1st Nationals. Undefeated. Set Course Record every meet leading to Midwest Regional - Senior Year.
College Honors
3-time big 8/12 Champ.
6-time All-American (2 Cross Country, 3 Indoor, 1 Outdoor)
Member of 1994 NCAA XC Team Champions at the U of Arkansas
Member of 1993 NCAA XC 3rd Place Team.
Member of 1997 NCAA Indoor Track 3rd Place Team.
Member of 5 Big 8 Championship Teams (2 XC, 1 Inddor, 2 Outdoor)
MVP of First Big 12 Indoor Meet - Winning Mile and 1000 in meet record times less than an hour apart. 4:05 and 2:24.
Racing Affiliations
Nike - for two years post collegiately.
Current Running Activities
50-60 miles a week. Have just started to run more after 1.5 to 2 years of little to no running (while finishing master's degree as grad. asst. at Arizona State). Hopefully, will be running 60-70 by this summer with some workouts.
Best Running Memories
Winning the cross country nationals as a team in 1994 at Arkansas. We had a great team from all over the world. One Russian, 2 Brits, a Kenyan and myself in the top 5. We all came in together and worked really hard to achieve the National Title. I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience training, living and socializing withsome of the best runners in the world while at Iowa State. The list goes on of my teammates' achievements during school and beyond. Fomer teammate Jon Brown was 4th in the Olympic Marathon.
Best funny running story. I had just finished running the 5k at the conference meet in 1994 (Big 8). The team race was close between us and Nebraska. I was standing (dejected) after not running too well in the 5K, my second event of the day after the 1500. It was really hot - mid 90's and all of a sudden, I can hear our sprint coach yelling from across the stadium. I couldn't really understand him, but he was definitely fired up about something as he was running full blast towards me and his face was visibly red. The 5K is the second-to-the-last event and we had gone 1-2-3-6-8, but the team total was still too close to call. The last event was the 4 x 400 and our third runner (a freshman, I might add) had a body suit on and everyone else had shorts and vest. The race had already started and our sprint coach noticed this, thus the reason why he was going crazy (this could cost us the meet). Big 8 rules specified the same uniform for all. Anyway, at this point, everyone in the stands is watching our sprint coach and not the race, realizing what is going on. He keeps running towards me and grabs me and says "take your clothes off!". So I go somewhat behind the stand, but not really and take my vest and shorts off and give them to our third runner. Now the whole stand knows I am behind the stands naked waiting for someone to bring me some clothes. I guess it was the ultimate sacrifice (kinda). Anyway, we ended up winning the meet by less than 5 points.
Favorite Place to Run
I have a few from places that I have lived:
Camel Back Park in Boise, ID.
South Mountain in Phoenix, AZ.
Up the Ffynnon Garw mountain in Wales (the mountain from the movie, the englishmen went up a hill but came down a mountain).
Y trails and McFarland Park in Ames.
Silver Falls in Oregon (between Eugene and Salem)
Any countryside in Northern England.
Little Muddy Loop in Williston.
Favorite Workout
Any Coach Bergan workout that made us tough as nails in college. 3 x 2k/1k, 10x1000, 7xmile, 20x400.
Favorite Race
Mon-Dak Road Race in Williston or Big 8 XC.
When made you start running?
I was successful at an early age (10) and loved all sports and played many all the way into high school, basketball until I was a junior. I had a tremendous role model in Rob Heen my early years, which helped set the standard for me as I grew up.
Other Workouts besides Running
I was injured off-and-on a lot during college. Only one healthy outdoor season (thus the bad pr's outdoors), so I despise any sort of cross-training, pool, bike, etc... I was a runner and that is what I liked to do.
Other
I am currently the Head Cross Country and Distance Coach at Iowa State University. I am committed to building a program in which student athletes will have the same experience that I had - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Running has given me tremendous opportunities to travel around the world, meet wonderful people and opened many door that might not have been available if not for my running.
Running Influences
Clint Chamberlin - (HS Coach) The Best Coach in the Midwest, hands down. Taught me the most basic principles of success, hard work and discipline.
Bill Bergan - (College Coach) One of the nicest people in the world. He did and would do anything to help me out. Taught me how to act and compete in a first-class manner on and off the track.
Walt Drenth - (Arizona State Head Coach) Gave me the opportunity to start a coaching career. One of the best collegiate coaches in the country.
Teammates - They helped me in every facet of my life. And they are still my best friends in the world. We were able to experience some great things on and off the track and still remain close today.
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