Former Bulldog distance standout Lauren Blankenship begins her first season as assistant coach for the Samford cross country and track and field teams. She will be working mostly with distance runners.

During her career as a Bulldog runner, Blankenship became the most decorated student-athlete in Samford history. In her four years (red-shirted the 2006-07 season) as a Bulldog competing in cross country, she was a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Champion and Cross Country Runner of the Year (2004, 2005, 2007), qualified for the NCAA Cross Country National meet three times and was named All-American in cross country her senior season.

Blankenship is also a four-time OVC Outdoor Champion in the 5,000 meters (2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008) and was a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time an All-American in the same event (2005 and 2007). She is also a two-time champion in the 10,000 meters (2007 and 2008) and came in second in the 1500 meters in 2005. In indoor competition, she was a three-time OVC Champion in the 3,000 meters (2005, 2006, 2008) and a two-time champion in the 5,000 meters (2006 and 2008). She holds numerous school records at Samford including the indoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters and the outdoor mile, 3,000-meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. She shares four relay records with the indoor distance medley relay and the outdoor 4x800-meter relay, the 4x1500-meter relay and the distance medley relay.

The Alpharetta, Ga., native graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in family studies.