Ostrander Is The Most Accomplished Bronco Ever

BY BOB BEHLER

Watching Allie Ostrander compete at the NCAA Track and Field Championships this weekend, we saw the Broncos’ most accomplished athlete make it look easy. She won the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the third year in a row, pulling away from the field over the last two laps, as all of her rivals dropped back one by one. Looking more winded than she did after Thursday’s qualifying race, her post-race interview was priceless describing herself as “hot” but not in the attractive way.  Allie was in control of everything including her post-race interview.

It is very difficult to rate the abilities and accomplishments of an athlete in one sport against one in a different sport. In my career, I have been asked to serve on both Hall of Fame committees and vote for year end awards for an entire athletic department. When casting my ballots, I would first rate how an athlete stacked up with others in the conference and nationally in their sport and then compare them with how the other athletes stacked up in their sport. Watching what she has been able to do, at 5’1″ she stands the tallest.

Individual sports are easier to gauge, because you don’t have to account for great teammates helping your legacy or have to factor how much better they would be with with a more talented supporting cast. Allie is on the track alone. Her time is her time and in the end, we know exactly what she is capable of doing. She is the best in her event three years running and has qualified for multiple events at the NCAA Championships. Last year, Boise State had two first-round draft picks, but neither would have been viewed as the best nationally at their position. The Broncos inducted Gabe Wallin in school’s last athletic Hall of Fame class for winning back-to-back national javelin titles. Ostrander has now won three of them and very likely will be favored to do something only five women have ever done in NCAA track and field and that is win their event four times.

Monday at 2 p.m., Chris Lewis and I will visit with the three-time NCAA champ. We’ll ask her about making her move and what the future has in store for her. Join us or come back to www.ktik.com later Monday and listen.

Bob Behler, the Voice of the Broncos, co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk with Bob & Chris weekdays from 1-3 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket. He can be found @BSUBob (Twitter).