NXN champ Allie Ostrander chooses Boise State

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Nike Cross Nationals champion Allie Ostrander anguished over her final two schools for weeks but ultimately chose Boise State on Wednesday and signed a letter-of-intent on the first day of the NCAA's spring signing period. 

Ostrander, who recently broke her own Alaska state record in the 3200 meters when she ran 9:59.33 on the 400-meter track inside The Dome in Anchorage, was choosing between Boise State and Oregon. 

She fended off questions about her school choice for months following her victory at NXN in early December. 

"I got kind of tired explaining my predicament of choosing between Oregon and Boise State," Ostrander said. "Everyone asking made it harder because I was already so stressed out about trying to make a decision about where I was going to be happiest and also be successful."

Ultimately, it was a feeling she had for Boise State and coach Corey Ihmels, who had already made a big splash this recruiting season when he landed Elijah Armstrong, the third-place finisher from Foot Locker nationals. 

"I enjoyed Coach Ihmels and I think he has a great track record for taking athletes and getting them to improve over four or five years," Ostrander said. "In track, improving is always the goal. I also thought they had a great team atmosphere that was serious but still with some room to have fun with it. "

Ostrander, from Kenai, Alaska, also identified with the outdoorsy qualities of Boise. 

"(Boise) doesn't necessarily remind me of home, but it felt like somehwere I could make my home," Ostrander said. 

It must have been impressive because Ostrander had described Oregon as her "dream school."

She said she finally came to a decision three weeks ago that she was accepting the offer from Boise State. 

"I did tell some people, but I waited a week before I told anyone," she said. 

Ostrander also said she did not plan to compete in any meets in the Lower 48 at least until she was through with her state meet. But the adidas Dream Mile in New York was on her radar, and so to, possibly, the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle.