If you look at the NCAA descending order list, or The Cutoff, you may recognize Kaela Edwards. The redshirt junior from Oklahoma State has four NCAA top 10 marks in the 800m (sixth, 2:03.60), mile (second, 4:32.14), 3000m (seventh, 9:06.27) and as member of the distance medley relay (sixth, 11:01.15, where Edwards split a 4:31 1600m!). This may come as a surprise, considering before this year Edwards has been a two-time NCAA All American in the indoor 800m and holds an outdoor PB of 2:02.63. With no prior mile or 3000m experience, Edwards has shot up in the ranks of contenders for an NCAA title. But in which event? With the Big 12 Championship this weekend, we caught up with Edwards about her breakout season and how she's handling success over several events.

You’ve got 4 NCAA top 10 marks (the only distance athlete to do so). As an 800m specialist over the last two seasons, when did you and your coach decide to open up the focus to different events? What sparked this change? You’re not just an 800m runner anymore!

I think I started to think about it at the end of last season. I mean ever since I started running track I always wanted to move up. And this season with having that whole year being healthy, training was going well and was consistent. And then that led to a pretty successful cross country season, I think for me. That really, after getting 70th at nationals with being low mileage, I think that definitely solidified that idea of running the mile.

And then after the mile, and then we had the DMR and I thought well maybe I’ll just try the 3k because I already have qualifiers in the 8 and the mile, and that ended up going well. I don’t really see myself as just an 800m runner. I always like to challenge myself and try something new.

You said your mileage is low, what was your mileage in cross country this fall?

Well I guess relative to other runners it’s low. Like mid-40s. And even last year I was not even that high either. I’ve been a pretty low mileage girl, and I cross train a lot.

You mention you’ve been healthy for about a full year now, what were some of those injuries in the past that took you out for the season?

My freshman year I had a stress reaction in my left femur. So I didn’t really compete at all my freshman year. And then the next year after my indoor season, it was the first time I had an indoor season and I went to nationals. (She finished third in the 800m behind Laura Roesler and teammate Savannah Camacho.) And not too long after that I got an injury in my right femoral neck. And so that took me out until from April to September. I had two injuries that took me out for awhile. So I connected it down to the basics, and you know got on top of consistently doing rehab exercises, doing a little bit of foam work. And I think those little things and staying on top of it a year and a half later is really helping me stay healthy.

Your first race of the season was that 2:03 at Texas A&M, and we had your coach (Dave Smith) on our podcast after that race and he was really surprised by you running 2:03. He thought maybe 2:06, 2:07 he would be happy with where you were at. Could you tell me a little bit about that race?

Going into the race I wasn’t really sure what to expect because you know after just training for a few months you never really know where you’re at until you race. But I know that personally my goal was to start where I left off. I ran 2:02 last year but ran 2:03 more consistently, so I was like, “I left off there, so I think my goal should be to start there.” I was unsure if I could do it but deep down I wanted to do it. I kind of approached the race differently than I usually did, but it ended up working out. And it was kind of fun just to experiment getting out hard and seeing how you have to do that.

Then the next week you guys run that DMR and you ran the open mile the next day at the Razorback Invitational. Was that your first full mile in the NCAA?

Yes it was.

OK! Were you surprised when you split 4:31 on the distance medley relay?

I definitely was. I mean I knew I would have had to run a pretty good time to go for the win, but my biggest thing in that race was getting that baton and getting a winning time. In relays you’re way more concerned with the team. You don't really go for time, you’re just trying to beat the girls in front of you. I was really excited and that race gave me confidence going into the next day when I ran the open mile.

I didn’t get a chance to see that race but you ran 4:32. Could you tell me a little bit about that because it was less than 24 hours after running 4:31!

After running 4:31, I was expecting to feel terrible after that. But I think I was just excited. I was excited that we broke the school record and everyone ran really well. I was pretty excited about my race so I think that carried into the next day. I knew I could do it, and the way I raced it getting out hard, I handled that well so I thought I would try it again and see how it went. I definitely felt more tired at the end of that mile the previous night but it’s a lot easier when you have people to chase. Luckily I had my teammate Jenny Celis helping me get through it.

I was watching that race [The Husky 3k], and I didn’t realize you were running it until maybe 2 laps in! You were very much in the back at the beginning, what was your strategy? How did you approach that race?

Watch the 3000m from the 2016 Husky Classic, where Edwards ran her PB of 9:06!


Knowing the girls that were in it and it’s the first time I’ve ever raced it and I’m not really a 3k/5k girl on the track, there was a time I had in mind. I was trying to run about 9:08 (Running 73-seconds per 400m). And my plan was to do that and with three laps to go just start picking people off. I knew it was going to be a fast race with the girls that were in it. And I was kind of scared with how packed the field was, so I didn’t want to get out too aggressively because it’s kind of a high traffic start. I wanted to feel in control and as comfortable as you could be racing a 3k. It was nice having my teammates and coaches there to tell me to keep going and pick off people. I think that was the biggest thing was having that support. With 3 laps to go having that goal to just go no matter what, to pick it up. I just did that and it was really exhausting but I got to the last 200 and I just thought, "Ok just kick! Even though it’s going to hurt, just do it!" That race was not what I was expecting, but I’m glad I did it. And I’m really proud of the way I raced. I did exactly what I wanted to do, start out conservatively and just slowly move up throughout.

You seem like you set goals and just do them. No questions asked.

Yeah, (She said laughing!) that’s my motivation. Just having something in mind and just go for it.

Were there any sorts of workouts or one specific workout that you’ve done this season that made you realize you could compete with the best in any event in the NCAA?

Our workouts are basically the same, I think it’s my attitude that’s changed. I really like doing tempos a lot. I guess you wouldn’t expect that coming from an 800 girl. But I’ve always enjoyed cross country workouts, having to be tough. Dave knows what he’s doing and I’m really motivated. And we have a really good weight program that our trainer sends, so I guess it wouldn’t be a particular workout. I just think everything is coming together with the coaches and with the training and where I’m at mentally. So I think it’s just everything coming together.

If you got to pick what would you want to run at NCAAs?

I’m not exactly sure yet. I’ve gotten second and third in the [indoor] 800m both years. It’s kind of hard and I still have a little bit of time to decide, but I’m not sure exactly what I’ll do. 

Watch Edwards' incredible kick to finish runner-up at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships


You have a lot of options!

Yeah I do which is kind of fun. You can see how the next few weeks play out and you know where I’m at mentally to make the final decision. I did not expect to be in this position at all at the start of this season!

It’s a good position to be in! With the Big 12 Championship this week, last year you won the 1000m and the DMR. Are you expecting to compete in multiple events?

I think I might run the 1k again, but there’s so many options that we can do and where we can get multiple points. We have a lot of really good middle distance girls on the team so we can be kind of spread out. The entries aren’t due until Thursday so there’s still time to play around a little bit. A lot of us are going to be entered in the 3k as well, if we need extra points at the last minute. I could maybe appear there, but it all just kind of depends on how heavy my load is Friday and Saturday.

What is your favorite about competing at the Big 12 Championship?

The atmosphere is really great because we all did well in the DMR and that kind of just set the mood for the rest of the weekend. Because it’s just so awesome having everyone on the sidelines cheering for you and you’re able to get so close to the track and cheer on the teammates. And of course having the guys run it as well, I think that was fun. People PR-ing and competing well is always exciting to see. I think we’ll have that same attitude again. Of course seeing what our freshman can do and our sophomores, compared to last year, and see their growth.

Watch Edwards win the 1000m at the 2015 Indoor Big 12 Championship


Be sure to check out Edwards and the rest of the Big 12 Championship LIVE on FloTrack this Friday and Saturday!