Senior Sara Lunning broke a 15-year-old record in the 5,000-meters at last week's Indiana Invitational and will take aim at the 3,000-meter record this weekend. (MT)
LUNNING SETS SCHOOL RECORD: Middle Tennessee senior distance runner Sara Lunning continued her excellent year of running, besting the school record in the 5000-meters last weekend at the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Ind. Lunning eclipsed the mark of Lea White from 1992 by almost 10 seconds.
The Ludington, Mich., native enjoyed the best cross country of her career in the fall, finishing in the Top 30 in five of the six, including a sixth-place showing at the Louisville Classic. She was the top finisher in two races as well. Lunning's previous best in the event came two years ago when she ran 18:45.
"It was definitely unexpected to break the record," Lunning said. "One of the girls from Western [Kentucky] had been running in the high 18's and my goal was to beat her. I didn't beat her, but in trying to stay with her, it led me to get a really good time."
She says distance coach Keith Vroman has kept the runners on the same routine this year, but has made a few changes to their schedule. Lunning also says all of the hard work she put in over the summer has paid big dividends.
"We're doing the same things really each day, but Coach [Vroman] made some subtle changes in our routine to keep things fresh. It's really the same mileage as before. This was the hardest summer I've ever worked. Knowing this May is the very end, I really wanted to do well because I won't have another chance to run faster," Lunning said.
The fifth-year senior says she has one more goal in mind for the indoor season before the Sun Belt Championships and will take aim at that this week at the Middle Tennessee Valentine Invitational.
"Right now I know I'm running the 5,000 [meters] at the Sun Belt [Championships], but I also want to break the 3,000 [meter] record and I'll get a shot at that this weekend. After this weekend the coaches will decide if I'm going to run in the 3,000 or the [distance medley relay] at the Sun Belt meet."
SUN BELT LEADERS: Middle Tennessee ranks first in four men's categories and two women's lists this week, as both teams get set to participate in the MT Valentine Invitational this Saturday at Murphy Center. Senior Orlando Reid is first in the 200-meters (21.37, NCAA provisional mark) and second in the 400-meters (47.77), while senior Juan Walker ranks first in the 55-meter hurdles (7.24) and third in both the 55-meter dash (6.29) and the 200 (21.65). Middle Tennessee owns five of the Top 10 marks in the Sun Belt in the 55-meter dash and four of the Top 10 times in the 200-meters. The men's 4x400-meter relay is ranked second in the league (3:14.10) and the distance medley relay is fifth (11:11.91). In the field events, junior Carlos Morgan ranks first in the long jump (25-5), while Walker is second in the long jump (24-11.5) and third in the triple jump (48-10). Senior James Thomas ranks first in the SBC in the weight throw (58-8.75) and second in the shot put (51-11.75). For the Blue Raider women, junior Shanna-Kay Campbell ranks third in the 200-meters (24.80) and senior Sara Lunning is second in the 5000-meters (18:37.38). Sophomore Iceca Epps is also third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.12). In the field events, junior Stephanie Tamgho ranks first in the long jump (19-7.5) and third in the triple jump (40-8.25). Freshman MeLyn Thompson is second in the shot put (46-6.5), while freshman Brittany Cox ranks first in the weight throw (56-7.75) and third in the shot put (46-5).
WALKER ONLY PLAYER IN DANDY DOZEN: Middle Tennessee senior Juan Walker is the only Blue Raider in the TrackwireDandy Dozen this week. Walker ranks 12th in the nation in the 60-meter hurdles with his time of 7.77 at the Kentucky Invitational three weeks ago. The mark is tied for the fourth best nationally so far this indoor season, just seven-hundredths of a second behind national leader Shamar Sands of Auburn.
MORGAN, WALKER RANKED IN DESCENDING ORDER LISTS: Middle Tennessee junior Carlos Morgan and senior Juan Walker both appear in the NCAA Descending Order List of top performances this season. Walker is tied for fourth nationally in the 60-meter hurdles with his time of 7.77 in the 60-meter hurdles. Both Morgan and Walker are ranked in the long jump. Morgan is fourth in the country with his mark of 25-5, while Walker's mark of 24-11.5 ranks 11th in the nation.
UP NEXT: Middle Tennessee hosts the MT Valentine Invitational on Saturday at Murphy Center, with Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Belmont, Milligan College and Wallace State Community College participating. The schedule of events may be found at http://www.goblueraiders.com/content.cfm/id/22862 and the results from the meet may be found at http://cfpitiming.com/2007%20Indoor%20season/MTSU_Valentine_invite_2007/MTSU_Indoor_%20valentine_2007_meet.htm. The Sun Belt Championships are the next meet for both teams, scheduled for February 24-25 at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark.