Feb. 19, 2008

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ---- Senior Bulldog track member Lauren Blankenship has been named Co-Track Athlete of the Week as announced by Ohio Valley Conference officials Tuesday. The honor is the first for a Samford track and field team member during the indoor season.

Blankenship received the honor as a result of her success on the track this past weekend at the Clemson Tiger Invitational. She won the women's 5000-meter race and came in third in the 3000-meter event for the Bulldogs. Her 5000-meter time (17:24.29) ranks first on the OVC Best List while her 3000-meter time (9:57.97) places her second on the List.

The Alpharetta, Ga., native shares the week's title with Taylor Crawford of Murray State.

Blankenship and the Bulldogs have couple weeks of preparation ahead of them as they look toward the OVC Indoor Championship, Feb. 29 - March 1. The two-day event will be hosted at Tennessee State.