June 6, 2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In the final race of her Lamar University career, Amanda King ran to a 22nd place finish in the prelims of the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase at the National Championship Track Meet on Wednesday night in Sacramento, Calif.

King ran in heat one of two, and ran the third fastest time of her career with a 10:21.28 performance, which landed her in 11th place in the heat. Lindsey Anderson of Weber State won heat one, and had the fastest qualifying time of the meet with a 9:56.14 performance.

King, who was making her NCAA Championship debut in the race, said she was pleased with Wednesday's night's performance, and satisfied with the way her senior season unfolded.

"I was a little upset at the end of the race, but now I feel pretty good about how I ran. Coming in, I wasn't really sure what to expect at nationals. Now that I've run, I am pretty pleased with how I ran. I set the goal of making it to nationals last year and I accomplished my goal. It's a great way to finish my career."

Over the last two seasons King has rewritten the Lamar University and Southland Conference record book in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, and the last month has been a grand finale. She set the SLC record with a 10:16.99 performance at the conference championship meet then turned in her second-best performance in a time of 10:20.68 at the South Central Regional meet.

Head coach Trey Clark said King finished her career in fine fashion, and was proud of her performance at the national meet.

"I think she is a little sad that she just ran her last race in the red and white, but she did a great job this year and throughout her career," he said. "In the last three races, she has run the three best times of her career, and that is a great way to go out."