June 13, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa ---- Samford senior distance runner Lauren Blankenship fell just shy of earning her second All-American status Friday night at the 2008 NCAA Track and Field Championships hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Blankenship finished 15th in the 5,000 meters finals after qualifying Thursday with a fifth place finish in her preliminary heat.

The Alpharetta, Ga., native is the most decorated student-athlete in Samford history. In her four years as a Bulldog, she is a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Champion and Cross Country Runner of the Year, qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Regional three times and was named All-American in cross country her senior season. She was All-American in the 5,000-meters in 2005, her sophomore season.

She is also a three-time OVC Outdoor Champion in the 5,000 meters and she won the 10,000 meters at the 2008 OVC Championship. She holds numerous school records at Samford including the indoor 3000 meters and 5000 meters and the outdoor mile, 3000-meters, 5000 meters, and 10000 meters. She shares four relay records with the indoor distance medley relay and the outdoor 4x800-meter relay, the 4x1500-meter relay and the distance medley relay.

Blankenship graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in early education and will join the Samford staff as an assistant coach working mainly with distance runners.