Feb. 24, 2007
Lexington, Ky. – Commodore distance runners Erika Schneble and Carmen Mims discovered first hand Saturday evening how competitive the Southeastern Conference is in women’s track and field.
Schneble, a senior and SEC outdoor 5,000-meter champion in 2004, broke the Vanderbilt 3,000-meter team record Saturday, yet finished 11th overall and failed to earn team points for the Commodores. Her teammate, sophomore Carmen Mims, ran the race of her life, taking five seconds off her previous best, but could muster only a 12th place finish behind Schneble in the deep field.
First-year Vanderbilt distance coach Steve Keith, a former coach at the University of Alabama, was amazed at the overall distance depth of the SEC.
“That race was simply amazing. Erika and Carmen did everything I asked of them, really ran hard, and put out great effort, and neither gets a (top eight) result,” Keith said. “That just goes to show you how competitive things are in this conference. I thought both of my girls would score, only to find out that it was going to take a (NCAA) provisional time.”
Mims, a product of Louisville, Ky., ran a superb race, competing with the lead pack for more than half the distance, only to lose contact with the leaders in the last half-time. She was edged in the closing yards by Schneble. Mims took four seconds off her previous best with a 9:41.22 effort, third all-time among Commodore runners.
Schneble, of Hendersonville, Tenn., ran a solid, determined race, and broke the former team record with a 9:39.07 effort. The performance eclipses the team mark of 9:40.43 set last year by Amy Huss. Schneble now owns Vanderbilt indoor records at 3,000 and 5,000 meters, and is the school record holder in the outdoor 5,000.
The race captured by Tennessee sophomore Sarah Bowman in 9:20.43. Six other competitors ran sub-9:30 for the distance.
“I’m very proud of Erika and Carmen, and I think both of them are excited, despite not finishing higher,” Keith said. “Carmen gave everything she had and showed me a lot of toughness. Erika just ran a very smart, solid race. You can’t be disappointed because both had personal bests and one set the school record.”
A third Commodore distance runner, fifth-year senior Brittany Sizer, also notched a personal best, running 4:55.45 to qualify for the mile finals Sunday. Sizer’s performance in the sixth fastest indoor mile time ever by a Commodore.
In other action Saturday, junior Amani Floyd ran a 400-meter personal best of 58.54 and sophomore Lauryn Smith went 18’6.5″ long jump.
