Karly Hamric placed sixth in today's 1,500-meter race to earn All-America honors and help West Virginia to a 16th-place finish.
Kirby Lee photo
Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
June 12, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Seniors Karly Hamric and Keri Bland raced to All-America honors this afternoon in the finals of the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Hamric, a Bruceton Mills, W.Va., native, earned her first honor of the season with a sixth-place finish, crossing the line with a time of 4:17.78.
“Karly Hamric has now become the highest placed 1,500-meter finisher in WVU’s history,” coach Sean Cleary says. “What a year: BIG EAST Champion and now she leaves Eugene as the third-best American Collegiate mile runner. It’s simply outstanding.”
Bland, earned her fourth honor of the season by virtue of finishing as one of the top U.S. citizens. The Fairview, W.Va., native, placed ninth with a time of 4:19.98.
This marks the second time in her career that Bland has earned All-America honors in three sports in one season. Her first honor of the season came in cross country as she placed 34th (20:45). Bland then earned two honors in the indoor season, first as a member of the eighth-place (11:16.39) distance medley relay team. She then finished eighth in the mile with a time of 4:42.79.
“Keri and Karly used to battle for bragging rights against each other in high school in the 800-meter race,” Cleary admits. “Now they are leaving the championships with All-America status and great memories together.”
WVU finished the meet 16th with 16 team points. it is the highest-ever finish for the Mountaineers at outdoor nationals.
"We are thrilled with being a Sweet 16 program outdoors," Cleary says. "After finishing sixth in cross country and 10th indoors at the NCAA Championships, this Sweet 16 finish is a wonderful achievement for this group. This has been the greatest year in school history and one that we will enjoy and then strive to build upon." The Mountaineers completed the 2010 NCAA Championships with four All-Americans. Senior Clara Grandt was the first to earn the honor with a fourth-place showing in the 10,000-meter race on Wednesday.
Senior Marie-Louise Asselin captured All-America honors on Friday evening with a second-place showing in the 5,000-meter race.
“These girls never cease to amaze me,” Cleary says. “Karly and Clara were college roommates and struggled so much as freshman. It was hard to fathom that they would both stand on the podium as seniors with sixth All-America honors between them.
“Take Keri and Marie who have 15 All-America honors between them, combined with Katelyn Williams, and they will return next year to lead our team to what we feel can be similar results.”
For a full list of results from the national championships, visit www.NCAA.com.