June 1, 2007

BEAUMONT - After posting top eight finishes in their respective races at the Midwest Regional Track meet at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa last week, Renee Graham, Amanda King , Clerc Koenck and Francis Kasagule were named to the All-Midwest Region teams in Division I track and field.

King led the way for the Lamar runners, picking up a third place finish in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, and earning a trip to the NCAA Championships next week in Sacramento, Calif. She holds the Southland Conference and Lamar University school record in the 3,000 steeple in a time of 10:16.99, which is the 20th best time in the NCAA this season.

Graham earned all-region honors in the women's 5,000 meter run, posting an eighth place finish at the regional. Her performance in Des Moines was the second-fastest time in school history, and a personal-best time of, 16:34.89.

Koenck posted a seventh place finish in the women's 1,500 meter run in a time of 4:24.54. She set a new Lamar University school record during the 1,500 meter prelims, posting a time of 4:23.87.

Kasagule, who narrowly missed an invite to the NCAA Championship, earned all-region honors by placing eighth in the men's 1,500. He ran a 3:43.37, which was a personal-best by more than three seconds, and it also set the new Lamar University school record.

Athletes are eligible for All-Region honors if they finish in the top eight of an event at their regional championship.