June 12, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Erin Bedell earned All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 4x100-meter relay earned All-America honors for the second-straight year on the third day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at John McDonnell Field.
Bedell finished sixth overall in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:01.72. She earns her first-career All-America honor and the first-ever for Baylor in the steeplechase. American record holder Jennifer Barringer of Colorado get out quickly with three others to form the lead pack, with Bedell pushing the pace in front of the chase pack.
I had this gut feeling that Bridget (Penn State's Bridget Frank) and Nicole (Michigan State's Nicole Bush) were going to go out with (eventual winner Jennifer Barringer from Colorado)," said Bedell. And I was like, 'OK, if they go with her, I'm just going to settle in and I can slowly catch up to them if they fall off the pace.' That was my game plan. But I just didn't have any pop in my step.
As the race continued, Bedell slowly started gaining on the pack after Barringer separated from the three challengers. Bedell hold on to fifth for a majority of the race, but was edge at the line after a sprint to the finish with Rice's Lennie Waite over the last 50 meters.
"I just didn't have anything left," said Bedell. "I was giving everything I could in that last 50 meters. That's all I had, and (Waite) won the battle on that 50. Now I have a taste of coming back to nationals after not doing so hot for two years. It just makes me want to go back and train really hard all summer, all fall, and come back and try to do something special."
The Baylor 4x100-meter relay also earned All-America honors with a fifth place finish in 43.77. The time ranks as the fastest of the season for Baylor, and the third-fastest in Baylor history. Sophomore Brittany Bruce, who earned All-America honors as the leadoff leg for the Baylor 4x100-meter relay last season, made her first appearance on the relay running the third leg after Tiana Hood suffered a leg injury.
That was a super job for those guys," said head coach Todd Harbour. "Brittany Bruce filled in and did a really good job. So to be able to come up here and finish like that with a substitute that hasn't been on that position all year, that's pretty amazing. When Brittany came back, we didn't have time to really switch them. Brittany had never taken (a handoff), she had just given them. But she's so smart, we figured, 'She can do this.'"
Danielle Bradley finished 13th overall in the steeplechase with a time of 10:34.16.
Katrina Taylor finished 15th overall in the semifinals of the women's 400 meters with a time of 54.19.
Baylor returns to action on Saturday for the final day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Live results and live streaming video can be found online at www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com. In addition, Saturday afternoon's action will be shown live from 12-2 p.m. on CBS.
