June 11, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa ---- Senior Bulldog Lauren Blankenship qualified for the finals of the 5,000 meters of the NCAA Track and Field Championships Wednesday evening. The distance runner from Alpharetta, Ga., took fifth place in the first heat of Wednesday's competition, automatically qualifying her for the finals which will take place Friday night.

The four-day event (June 11-14), which is currently underway at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, is hosting 544 athletes who are vying for a championship in various events. The CBS College Sports Network (formerly CSTV) will be airing live coverage of the NCAA Championships on Friday, June 13, from 7-10 p.m. CST. CBS will also broadcast live coverage of the final day of competition from 3-5 p.m. CST on Saturday, June 14.

All results are posted on www.ncaasports.com after each event is completed on each day.