Feb. 16, 2008

CLEMSON, S.C. ---- The Samford track and field team closed out competition Saturday night at the Clemson Tiger Invitational. Senior Bulldog Lauren Blankenship won the women's 5000-meter event with at time of 17:24.29 while freshman Mary Barron won her first collegiate indoor pole vault competition with a personal best 11'5.75" vault.

In the relay events, the women's distance medley team took third with a time of 12:04.58 while the women's 4x400-meter relay team, anchored by Ashley Flowers, took third with a season best 3:55.35. The men's 4x400 team placed 13th with a time of 3:27.24.

Other track highlights from the weekend's events include Hillary Neal with a third place finish in the women's mile, running 5:04.19. Will Denton placed 14th in the men's mile (1:59.11) while Marissa Brokaw took 10th in the women's event with a time of 2:20.12.

Blankenship placed third in the 3000-meter race (9:57.97) followed closely by Ina Ables in fifth with a time of 10:33.45. In the men's 3000-meter event, Cameron Bean took 11th (8:54.85) and Bo Brawner took 14th (9:04.80).

In the field events, Michael Smith earned 14th place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time 8.46 while Morgan Tyler placed 12th in the women's event with a time 9.10. Tyler also placed 13th in the long jump (17'5.5") and the triple jump (38'1.5"). Kyle Brown placed 11th in the weight throw with distance of 43'3".

Next up for the Bulldogs is the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships. The event will be hosted by Tennessee State Friday, Feb. 29 and Saturday, March 1.