May 25, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa - Renee Graham and Clerc Koenck took the track at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa for the Midwest Regional Championship on Friday, with Graham taking eighth place in the women's 5,000 meter run, while Koenck advanced to the finals in the women's 1,500 meter run.

Graham, a junior from Hawera, New Zealand, ran to an eighth place finish in the 5,000 meter run in the second-fastest time in school history, and a personal-best time of,16:34.89. She ran nearly 45 seconds faster than her Southland Conference championship time of 17:20.35.

"It was a very good day for Renee," head coach Trey Clark said. "She ran a great race and with 300 meters remaining in the race, she had a legitimate chance of getting into the top five. She wasn't quite able to get into that group, but she still finished very strong."

Koenck was the only Lamar University runner to participate in a preliminary race on Friday, and she did so in record setting fashion. The junior from Anacoco, La. qualified for Saturday's final and set a new school record in the 1,500 meter run in a time of 4:23.87. She broke the 25 year old record of Middie Hamrin, who ran a 4:24.19 in 1982.

"Clerc ran a very intelligent race today," Clark said. "There were a bunch of runners moving around her during, but she held to her race plan. Setting a new school record is great, and making it to tomorrow's final is a wonderful accomplishment."

Koenck will run in the finals of the women's 1,500 on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Francis Kasagule, the only men's competitor for Lamar at the Midwest Regional, will run in the men's 1,500 meter final at 3:20 p.m. Amanda King will wrap up the Cardinals competition at the regional, when she takes on the field in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase which is set to begin at 5:40 p.m.

The top five times in every event qualify for the National Championship Track Meet, held June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif. The NCAA may also award a minimum of five at-large bids in each event for the national championship meet.

For Live results at the Midwest Regional, click on the link below.

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