June 12, 2005

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Samford sophomore Lauren Blankenship was named All-American for the 5,000-meter run, after her performance at the NCAA Finals Saturday night in Sacramento.

Blankenship ran the race in 16:54.16, finishing ninth overall, but eighth among American-born athletes. She becomes the first Division I-A All-American in Samford history. Megan Metcalfe of West Virginia won the event with a time of 16:31.88.

The event ends a stellar sophomore season for Blankenship in which she also became the first Samford cross country athlete to reach the NCAA Championships.