March 30, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Samford University junior Lauren Blankenship heads to Palo Alto, Calif., on Friday for the 2006 Nike Stanford Track and Field Invitational, hosted by Stanford University. Blankenship will be one of over 4000 athletes competing in the meet.

Blankenship, an All-American in the 5000 meters, will run the event on Friday night. The Alpharetta, Ga., native will run in section one of the four-section event, which is set to begin at 9:19 p.m. There will be 34 other women competing in Blankenship's section, including a number of other All-Americans.

The 2006 Stanford Invitational begins Friday, in Palo Alto, Calif., on Stanford University's Cobb Track and Angell Field. Results will be posted on www.gostanford.com following the conclusion of each day's events.