Valerie Kazmer
Distance
Personal Records:
1500 meters: 4:43.76
Steeplechase: 10:43.92
This Year in Cross Country: Consistent performer, finishing in Vanderbilt[apos]s top six in four competitions… Did not race in opening meets of season… Was team[apos]s No. 5 runner at NCAA Regionals with 23:24.98 clocking in 6K… Top 6K time (23:02.59) came in 59th overall finish at SEC Championships… Was fourth on team at conference meet… Ran 42nd overall at Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge.
2007 Track: Competed well while specializing in 3,000-meter steeplechase outdoors and 3,000 meters indoors… Became the Commodores[apos] all-time No. 3 performer in steeplechase with 11:03.07 effort at SEC Championships… Effort resulted in 10th place finish at SEC meet… Prior to SECs, posted PR at 11:09.24 at Stanford Invitational… Also ran third in steeplechase (11:20.71) at Alabama Relays… Recorded outdoor best at 3,000 meters (10:13.72) at Sea Ray Relays… Best indoor finished was 10:24.17 in 3,000 meters at Kentucky Invitational
2006 Cross Country: Ran among team[apos]s top five performers in five of six competitions… Concluded season running fifth on team – and 89th overall – at NCAA Regionals… Set personal best at 6K distance at SEC Championships, running 22:43 for 58th place finish… Opened season with 36th overall finish at Belmont Invitational, setting PR at 4K distance in 15:23… Took 25 seconds off previous year[apos]s performance at Commodore Classic, running 19:15 for 5K to earn a fourth place overall finish, then lowered PR at that distance one week later, running 19:08 at Louisville Invitational.
2006 Track: Concentrated in steeplechase during outdoor season… Became No. 3 all-time among Commodores in 3,000-meter steeplechase with an 11:19.85 performance at Vanderbilt Invitational… That effort knocked more than 20 seconds off previous career best at distance… During indoor season, set personal best in 3,000 meters of 10:38.12 at Clemson Invitational.
2005 Cross Country: Season ended prematurely due to leg injuries… Competed in three meets – Belmont Invitational, Commodore Classic and Notre Dame Invitational… Finished 14th overall at Commodore Classic.
2005 Track: Concentrated in steeplechase outdoors, posting one of top all-time performances by Commodore with a 11:49.70 effort at Indianapolis… Competed in same event at SEC Championships… Ran mile (5:19.23) and 3,000 (10:49.6) indoors.
2004 Cross Country: Ended season among the team[apos]s top six finishers… At Pre-NCAA Invitational, was team[apos]s fourth best runner… Set 5K PR (19:00) at Notre Dame Invitational.
In High School: Three-year letterwinner in track and cross country… Two-time all-conference selection… Senior captain… PRs include mile (5:15) and two-mile (11:36)… Won conference[apos]s 800-meter title as junior… National Merit Finalist.
Academics: Kazmer is working toward a degree in economics from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Personal: Valerie Ann Kazmer… Daughter of Bryan and Doreen Kazmer… ‘Val’ to her teammates… Born May 1, 1986… Has two younger brothers… Dad is chemical engineer; mom is registered nurse.