Jan. 27, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. ---- The Samford track and field team wrapped up competition today in the Niswonger Invitational event hosted by East Tennessee State University. Thirteen Bulldogs landed in the top 10 of 12 events over the two-day meet.

Junior Lauren Blankenship took first place in the women's 3000-meter invitational event, running at time of 10:03.44. In the regular 3000-meter run, sophomore Katie Almand placed ninth, coming in at a time of 11:09.76. Junior Michael Hanson took tenth place in the men's 3000-meter run with a time of 9:17.81.

Juniors Katherine Herring and Robyn DeBenedet placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in the women's 800-meter seeded event. Herring ran the course in 2:18.66, while DeBenedet came in just behind her at 2:18.94. Freshman Bulldog Will Denton finished fourth in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.58.

Freshman distance runner Jessica Van Ausdall came in eighth in the women's mile run, running a time of 5:32.81. Also sophomore distance runner Cameron Bean took ninth place in the men's 5000-meter run with a time of 15:19.01.

Sophomore Ciara Floyd excelled in two events, taking fifth place in the women's unseeded long jump (16'5") and finished tenth in the women's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.52.

Samford also placed second in the women's distance medley (12:01.88) and third in the men's distance medley (10:29.11).

Samford will take the week off before returning to action Feb. 9 and 10 as they will travel to Clemson, S.C., to participate in the Clemson Tiger Invitational.