Natalie Nalepa​

Natalie Nalepa was Baylor University’s first female track star. Her performances on the oval and the grass have made her one of the best runners to ever come out of San Antonio.​

Nalepa first made a name for herself at Madison High School. In 1987, she won the 3200m UIL 5A State championship handily. In 1989, she became a member of Baylor University’s first female track program. The freshness of the program had no effect on Nalepa’s success. Coming into college as a half-miler and miler, her versatility grew tremendously over the next four years. In just her sophomore year, she finished top 10 at NCAA cross country nationals. She would finish in the top five the next year. In 1991, she won five individual Southwest Conference titles, in the indoor mile and 3,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters. When her career with the Bears was over, she was a five time All-American in track and cross country. She was Baylor’s first three sport All-American in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country.​

Nalepa continued to run after leaving Baylor. Despite battling injuries and even surgery, she was able to find success. In 1997, in her first race back from surgery on her heel, she set a USATF certified course record at the Austin Statesman Capital 10k. In 2000, she finished 11th in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials.  In 1995, she was named the Texas Track & Field Athlete of the Year. In 2002, she was inducted into the Baylor University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2017, she was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.​