Post by rainman on Jun 13, 2008 7:27:44 GMT -5
Bland qualifies for 1,500-meter final
For the Times West Virginian
Fri, Jun 13 2008
— West Virginia University track and field sophomore Keri Bland has qualified for the 1,500-meter final at the NCAA Championships by finishing in the top 12 of the preliminaries Thursday night at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Fairview native and North Marion graduate placed seventh in heat one with a time of 4:17.94, but was able to qualify for the finals as her time was the 11th-best overall in the event.
“I went out hoping to run a fast time,” Bland said. “I took the lead right off the bat and led until one lap to go. But at about the 1,250-meter mark, the pack caught me and my body wasn’t quite sure what to do. With about 150 meter to go, I started making ground back on the group, but I think I started my final kick just a little bit too late.”
Bland, who entered the preliminaries as the No. 12 seed, will now race in Saturday’s finals at 5:12 p.m. CST, where the top eight finishers will earn All-America status. Bland has already earned All-America honors this year during the fall cross country season and the winter indoor track season as apart of the distance medley relay.
Sophomore Clara Grandt, WVU’s other competitor at nationals, placed 11th in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 34:41.04.
For the Times West Virginian
Fri, Jun 13 2008
— West Virginia University track and field sophomore Keri Bland has qualified for the 1,500-meter final at the NCAA Championships by finishing in the top 12 of the preliminaries Thursday night at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Fairview native and North Marion graduate placed seventh in heat one with a time of 4:17.94, but was able to qualify for the finals as her time was the 11th-best overall in the event.
“I went out hoping to run a fast time,” Bland said. “I took the lead right off the bat and led until one lap to go. But at about the 1,250-meter mark, the pack caught me and my body wasn’t quite sure what to do. With about 150 meter to go, I started making ground back on the group, but I think I started my final kick just a little bit too late.”
Bland, who entered the preliminaries as the No. 12 seed, will now race in Saturday’s finals at 5:12 p.m. CST, where the top eight finishers will earn All-America status. Bland has already earned All-America honors this year during the fall cross country season and the winter indoor track season as apart of the distance medley relay.
Sophomore Clara Grandt, WVU’s other competitor at nationals, placed 11th in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 34:41.04.
