Women's Track: Bland 3rd at U.S. Junior Nationals
June 21, 2007 03:13 PM | General
June 21, 2007
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| Keri Bland |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University freshman standout distance runner Keri Bland placed third in the women’s 3K at today’s U.S. Junior Nationals held at The Michael A. Carroll Track and Field Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
Bland, a Fairview, W.Va., resident and a North Marion High School graduate, ran a time of 9:49.43 putting her in a pool of contenders to make the U.S. Junior National Team that will compete in the Junior Pan-American Games July 6-9, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The top two competitors in each event will represent the U.S.
Oregon’s Nicole Blood won the race with a time of 9:27.81, followed by Illinois freshman Angela Bizzarri at 9:38.42.
“Keri ran a great race today in very difficult conditions,” said West Virginia University assistant track and field coach Sean Cleary. “It was over 100 degrees on the track.”
The U.S. Junior Nationals is made up of the country’s top junior and senior high school competitors, as well as the top collegiate freshmen.
If Bland is chosen to represent the U.S. in the 3K she will join West Virginia University teammate Mary Louise Asselin, who will be representing Team Canada. Asselin already qualified with the top junior 3K time in Canada.
Asselin and Bland have already competed on an international stage at the 2007 North American Cross Country Championships last March.
Also, former WVU national champion Megan Metcalfe will be participating in the Senior Pan-American Games in the women’s 5K for Team Canada.
Cleary said the roster for the U.S. Junior National Team will be determined by next Monday, June 25.
Bland finished seventh in the 1,500-meter run at the 2007 NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships held in Gainesville, Fla., May 26.
