Feb. 26, 2005

2005 OVC Indoor Championship Results
Download Free Acrobat Reader

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Samford track and field teams finished fourth overall at the 2005 OVC Indoor Championships today (Feb. 26), hosted by Eastern Illinois. The men's team finished with a final score of 51 points, while the women's team scored 79 points. EIU's men and SEMO's women repeat as indoor-conference champions for a second year. The Bulldogs broke one OVC record and three Samford all-time records at this event.

On top for the Bulldogs, Lauren Blankenship took the crown in the 3000m with a new OVC-record time of 9.51.95, while not far behind Britney Almaguer finished second in the same event with a time of 10.12.79. Also performing at the top of her game, junior April Howell set a new Samford all-time record as she took the individual crown in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.56 and also finished fourth overall in the triple jump with a leap 39-02.50 .

April Howell breaks Samford all-time record in the 60m hurdles at the 2005 OVC Indoor Championships.

" I am very pleased with the teams finish today," said head coach Glenn McWaters. The team truly worked hard and we placed just about were I had thought we would finish. Now we will look to the outdoor season and prepare from our indoor experience."

Recapping day one, Almaguer took her first collegiate-crown in the 5000-meter run with a time of 17.54.98, while Pete Fox broke a Samford all-time record in the weight throw (48-11) and Laura Malnati tied her Samford all-time record in the high jump (5-06). Also performing well the Samford women's distance medley team (Connie Heiskell, Mary Nunnally, Jessica Brewer and Michelle Brewer) finished second overall with a time of 12:17, while on the Samford men's distance medley team (Sean Rogers, Austin Walker, Christopher Smith and Drew Anderwald) finished fifth overall with a time of 10:38. In the 5000-meter run, Bryan Baddorf finished fifth with a time of 15:19 and Michael Hanson finished 10th with a time of 15:37.

2005 Indoor Track and Field Championship Team Results

Men's Results
Eastern Illinois - 189
Southeast Missouri - 175
Eastern Kentucky - 112
Samford - 51
Tennessee State - 48
Morehead State - 39
Murray State - 3

Women's Results
Southeast Missouri - 155
Eastern Illinois - 119.5
Tennessee State - 91
Samford -79
Eastern Kentucky - 78
Jacksonville State - 36
Austin Peay - 23
Murray State - 23
Tennessee Tech - 14.5
Morehead State - 4

OVC Men's Coach of the Year: Tom Akers, Eastern Illinois
OVC Women's Coach of the Year: Joey Haines, Southeast Missouri
OVC Male Athlete of the Championship: Dallas Robinson, Eastern Kentucky
OVC Female Athlete of the Championship: Kathy Coleman, Southeast Missouri

The Bulldogs will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to compete in the FSU Snowbird Invitational, hosted by Florida State, on Saturday, March 3, 2005. Meet time is TBA.