May 5, 2007

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - For the second straight day, a Lamar University women's distance runner closed the Southland Conference Championship meet in style, as Amanda King shattered her own school and conference record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Fletcher Gardner Track at Stephen F. Austin University.

King, a senior from Tauranga, New Zealand, scampered to a 10:16.99 in the steeple. She ran the eighth fastest time in the NCAA this season, and bettered her own SLC record of 10:31.46 by nearly 15 seconds, capturing her second straight championship in the event. Her time is also the second fastest in the Midwest region this season.

The running events started with the women's 1,500, and the Lady Cardinals put their stamp on the race, with all four of their runners qualifying for the finals. Clerc Koenck led the way with the fastest qualifying time, running a 4:44.47 to win her heat, while King ran a 4:50.37 to come in second in her heat. Also moving on to the finals was Rachel Kingsford, who ran a 4:51.76 and Merci Bungei, who ran a 4:56.40.

In the men's 1,500, all three Lamar runners qualified for the finals, posting three of the top six times in the prelims. Francis Kasagule had the fastest qualifying time in the field, running to a 4:01.30 finish, while Danny Shaw and Aaron Brannen finished in 4:01.45 and 4:01.55 respectively.

Jessika Johnson qualified for the finals in the women's 100 meter hurdles, running to a season-best and personal-best time of 14.02. Her 14.02 also ranks second all time in the Lamar University record books, besting her own time of 14.06.

Brittany Pollard joined the group of Lady Cardinals advancing to the finals, as she sprinted to a season and personal-best time of 55.87 in the 400 meter dash. Pollard won her heat of the 400, a heat which saw three runners qualify for Sunday's final.

Michael Gauthier qualified for the finals in the men's 100 meter dash, by running a season-best time of 10.61. The junior qualified for the finals for the second time in his career, as he ran to a third place finish in the 100 as a freshman.

The Lady Cardinals sent two runners to Sunday's finals in the 800 meter run, as Koenck and Karesse Lethermon moved on. Koenck had the ninth fastest qualifying time with a 2:16.55, while Lethermon ran the tenth fastest time of 2:16.82.

Ewan Simpson qualified for the finals in the men's 800 meter run, posting a time of 1:55.17. He won his heat and had the third fastest qualifying time in the field.

In the women's 400 meter hurdles, Alexandra Mayfield grabbed a second place finish in her heat, and qualified for the finals with a season and personal-best time of 1:02.40.

Sunday's running finals begin at 5 p.m. with the women's 4x100 meter relay, and will end with the men's 4x400 meter relay, scheduled to begin at 7:40 p.m. The field events begin at 10:30 a.m. with the women's pole vault.