The reigning Garmin RunningLane and Eastbay Nationals cross country champion Natalie Cook has her sights locked on her next target.
Initial reports had the Flower Mound (TX) High School senior, who was named last week as Gatorade's National Player of the Year in cross country, going to Seattle, Washington, where she was looking to enter in a collegiate 5K field and chase after the high school national record.
But in recent days, Cook's father, Andrew, who is also her high school coach, changed plans and instead has Cook opening on Feb. 24 in Flower Mound. She will then follow with efforts in the 4xmile and 2-mile at New Balance Nationals Indoor
While many see Cook possessing the ability to chase after Jenna Hutchins' national record outdoor mark of 15:34 and Katelyn Tuohy's indoor performance of 15:37, a potential national record attempt in the 5K will have to wait.
Historically, Texan athletes do not partake in an expansive indoor track and field season and tend to focus schedules around the outdoor season.
But there's certainly a great deal of optimism as to what Cook can accomplish in 2022, considering she's coming off a 5K best of 16:03 in cross country in December.
The last time Cook raced indoors was in 2019, when she finished 12th in the finals of the girls 2-mile at New Balance Nationals Indoor.