May 28, 2005

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Samford's Lauren Blankenship automatically qualified for the 2005 NCAA Championships on Saturday (May 29), after taking second-place overall in the women's 5000m run at the NCAA Mideast Regionals, hosted by Indiana University at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex. Blankenship finished the race with a Samford all-time record time of 16:16.43.

Also competing for Samford at the regionals, Michael Smith finished 13th overall in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 52.59, while Jessica Brewer is scheduled to compete tonight in the women's 3000m steeplechase. Results will be posted once received from hosing school.

Blankenship will advance to the 2005 NCAA Championships, hosted by Sacramento State and the Sacramento Sports Commission, July 8-11. The competition will take place at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif. Meet times are TBA.