University of Oklahoma head cross country and track and field coach Tim Langford announced August 2021 the addition of former professional runner and 19-time NAIA national champion Hannah Fields as associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for distance events. Ā
Fields, a native of Edmond, Okla., and 2015 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, joins the Sooners following two years as a volunteer assistant coach at Oklahoma State, where she worked with the cross country teams and distance groups. Fields assisted the 2019 Cowgirls to the Big 12 cross country title and the 2020 Cowboys to the Big 12 crown and a third-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Five OSU student-athletes claimed All-America status at the championships under the guidance of Fields and the OSU staff.Ā
"I am super excited to join OU's track and field and cross country staff," said Fields. "We have big dreams and plans for this program. The sprints side and field events are rocking and rolling, and I can't wait to bring the distance program along and bring it to the next level. I know Coach Langford is a great leader and he's building a program with the staff and student-athletes that is really exciting to be a part of."
During the 2021 indoor track and field season, Fields helped guide three student-athletes to Big 12 titles plus the distance medley relay squad to a conference crown. The DMR team went on to claim All-America status at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships. The 2021 outdoor season saw Fields help eight Pokes qualify to the NCAA championships and two OSU distance runners to first-team All-America honors, including Ryan Smeeton to a third-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at NCAAs.Ā
A former professional runner for Brooks in the 800 and 1,500 meters, Fields is a two-time USATF Indoor bronze medalist and was a 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier. She won a combined 19 team and individual national titles in her time at Oklahoma Baptist and collected 21 All-America honors.