Track: Bland Finishes Up at Olympic Trials
July 04, 2008 11:58 PM | General
July 4, 2008
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| Keri Bland |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University distance runner Keri Bland took seventh in the second heat of the 1,500m semifinals at the USA Olympic Trials Friday night in Eugene, Ore.
The Fairview, W.Va., native ran a personal-best time of 4:16.05 en route to finishing 15th overall. Nike’s Shannon Rowbury posted the top time of 4:11.75 in the event. The top six times in each heat qualified for Sunday’s 1,500m finals.
“I would say that was the greatest race she has ever run in her life,” Head Coach Sean Cleary says. “Not only was it a personal best, but to handle the pressure as a sophomore in college against the greatest runners in the country is thrilling beyond belief.”
Only two competitors currently with college track programs finished ahead of Bland, Baylor’s Lauren Hagans (14th – 4:15.01) and Tennessee’s Sarah Bowman (11th – 4:13.29).
Bland just recently completed her sophomore season at West Virginia and became the first female to earn All-America honors in three sports in the same school year.
