“From a young age, I knew I loved competition and running. Once I found out running could be a career, it became my dream to one day be a professional athlete,” Oklahoma State superstar Taylor Roe expressed in her interview with Puma. Every runner knows this feeling. That fire, that hunger to push limits, to chase something greater. But on a championship stage, that dream doesn’t come easy.

It takes years of training and strong will to stand against the best. Roe has dedicated numerous years to engraving her legacy into NCAA annals, but now she has marked another historic moment in her athletic track. Dominating the USATF Half Marathon Championships, the athlete has made her mark on the track. The moment was nothing short of electric.

USATF took to X with a simple yet powerful declaration, “CROWN HER! 🏆 Taylor Roe won the USATF Half Marathon Championships with her 1:07:22 clocking!” Roe achieved more than winning; she established herself through this race. More than just a victory, she seized her initial national road title while racing past her opponents to victory. Emma Grace Hurley fought hard for silver, finishing just 13 seconds behind Roe, while Amanda Vestri secured bronze in 1:08:17.

Roe demonstrated her ability to bring her NCAA racing skills to the professional level. The track already has a record-breaking chapter with Roe. Well, she has triumphed as the 3000-meter NCAA Indoor Champion in 2022. But she wasn’t done! Roe made headlines again in 2024. At the Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston, she gave what many consider the best collegiate track performance of that campaign season.

During the 5000m, she ran 15:12.71 for the fourth-quickest indoor 5K mark in NCAA history, thus breaking the Oklahoma State school record. The transition from college dominance to professional success isn’t always easy, but Roe is making it look effortless. Her victory in the women’s race cemented her as a rising star. But what about the men’s side?

Another milestone for Track and field as Alex Maier’s dominates

Another Oklahoma State distance runner has proven his dominance on the national stage. Alex Maier, an eight-time All-American, finished as the 2022 NCAA 10,000m runner-up before establishing his place among the best athletes. Carrying that same fire onto the roads in 2025 has now brought him remarkable success.

USATF took to X, highlighting, 

“USATF CHAMP! 🏆🇺🇸 Alex Maier won the USATF Half Marathon Championships in 1:00:48!” This victory brought Maier his first breakthrough moment in the competition, racing ahead of competitors and hence displaying his talent for longer events. Shadrack Kipchirchir fought hard to close the gap but settled for silver in 1:00:58, while Hillary Bor trailed just a second behind at 1:00:49 to claim bronze. Ahmed Muhumed wasn’t far off either, finishing fourth.

However, Maier’s dominance on the roads is no surprise when you look at his collegiate resume. At the end of his senior year in 2024, Maier star became Big 12 Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A historic seasontruly for track and field! His extraordinary achievement was his third time winning an award because he previously received recognition twice before.

Maier received his third scholar-athlete distinction after winning both the Big 12 Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year titles during 2022 and 2023. Talk about setting the bar high! He’s an eight-time All-American and an eight-time Big 12 champion as well. And as if that wasn’t impressive enough? He managed all this while scoring a 3.80 GPA in electrical engineering technology.

The remarkable success of both Taylor Roe and Alex Maier has shattered expectations, proving that Oklahoma State track runners excel both athletically and beyond athletic pursuits. But with such an explosive start to their professional careers, the question is, what’s next for them?