Feb. 24, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University track and field teams will compete at the 2005 OVC Indoor Championships, hosted by Eastern Illinois, on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26 at the Lantz Fieldhouse in Charleston, Ill. The meet will show off seven men's teams and ten women's teams with Friday's competition starting at 4 p.m. CST, while Saturday's meet is set for an 11 a.m. start. EIU's men's team and Southeast Missouri's women's team will look to defend their titles.

Last season, both Samford teams finished fifth overall with former Bulldog Jennifer Craig taking the individual crown in the 60-meters. Bulldogs Bryan Baddorf (5000m), April Howell (60m hurdles) and the women's distance medley team all finished second overall in their individual events.

For the indoor season, the Bulldogs broke eight of Samford's all-time records at the Rod McCravy Memorial (Jan. 29), while only breaking three at the Clemson Tiger Invite (Feb. 12). Lauren Blankenship received OVC Track Athlete of the Week honors, after her remarkable performance at the Rod McCravy Memorial as she broke a Samford all-time record in the 3000-meter with a time of 9:37.13, just two seconds shy of an NCAA qualifying time. After the Clemson Tiger Invite, Mark Holmes and Howell were honored with OVC Field Athlete of the Week accolades. Holmes finished fourth overall in the pole vault as he tied his own Samford all-time record (15-01), while Howell broke a Samford all-time record in the triple jump with a leap of 38-02.75.