Keri Bland Biography

North Marion (Class of 2006) / West Virginia University

 

Prep:

Two-time AAA state cross country champion for Coach Larry Mason at North Marion High (2004, 2005) … two-time All-State selection for cross country … two-time WVSSAC Region 1 AAA cross country champion ... two-time NCAC Runner of the Year … state champion & runner-up in the 800-meters … state runner-up in the 3200-meters … five-time All-State selection for track … WVSSAC Region 1 AAA 800-meter champion …6-time WVSSAC Region 1 AAA runner-up: 400-meters (1), 800-meters (3), 4x800-meter relay (2) … and also a 13-time state meet qualifier for track (2003-2006).

 

Prep Personal Bests:  

·        400 Meter Dash - 59.14

·        800 Meter Run - 2:17.50

·        1,600 Meter Run - 5:30.01

·        3,200 Meter Run - 11:20.64

·        5,000 Meter Run - 18:02.51

 

College:

The first female in school history to be an All-American in three sports in the same year (2008, cross country, indoor and outdoor track) … state native who runs at a national level … work ethic has allowed her to develop into an All-American … combines a rare combination of 400-meter speed with distance strength ... one of the leaders on the team.

 

Cross Country (2006-2009):

Fortieth at 2006 Big East Championships … Nineteenth at 2006 NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region (21:13) … Fourth at 2007 Big East Cross Country Championships (20:30.7) … Seventh at 2007 NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region (20:21) … Thirty-second at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships (20:58.1) … Fourth at 2007 NACAC Cross Country Championships (Junior Women 4K) … Fourth at 2008 Big East Conference Championships (20:32) … Fourth at 2008 NCAA DI Mid-Atlantic Region (21:24) … Fourteenth at 2008 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships (20:19.9) … Thirteenth at 2009 Big East Championship (21:45.5) … Eighteenth at 2009 NCAA D1 Mid-Atlantic Regional (21:40) … Fortieth at 2009 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships (20:44.9).    

 

At West Virginia in 2007:

Redshirted the indoor season … had a fantastic first outdoor season as a freshman ... ran to a seventh-place finish in the 1,500-meter run (4:24.69) at the NCAA Regional Championships, the best East Coast freshman time ... narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships by one second ... was outstanding at the BIG EAST Championships, taking fifth in the 1,500-meter run (4:27.20) while also contributing on the fifth place 4x800 relay (8:59.79) ... took first in the 3,000-meter run at the prestigious Penn Relays (9:34.17), becoming the first Mountaineer ever to win an event at the meet ... finished sixth in the 1,500-meter run and helped the 4x800 relay take 10th at the Texas Relays ... ran to a seventh-place finish in the 1,500-meter run and a sixth-place finish with the distance medley relay squad at the Sea Ray Relays.

 

At West Virginia in 2008:

Took seventh in the second heat of the 1,500-meter run semifinals at the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. ... 1,500-meter Olympic Trial time of 4:16.05 was a personal-best … placed 10th in the 1,500-meter race at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa … BIG EAST Champion in the 1,000-meter run … won the ECAC championship in the 1,500-meter with the top time of 4:17.02 … NCAA All-American … Olympic Trials finalist … took seventh in the second heat of the 1,500-meter run … finished 15th overall … youngest college runner to progress at the trials in the entire country … placed 10th in the NCAA 1,500-meter to earn All-American status … named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-East region team at NCAA regionals where she placed third in the 1,500-meter …won ECAC 1,500-meter event on May 18 … finished second in 1,500-meter at the BIG EAST Championships … named all-BIG EAST team … set an outdoor school record with a time of 11:19.81 as part of the DMR team with Christopher, Katelyn Williams and Karly Hamric at the Penn Relays on April 26 … recorded fastest time in the BIG EAST of 2:07.01 in the 800-meter run at the WVU Invitational … broke school record at the NCAA indoor championship after taking second in the DMR … set BIG EAST record en route to winning the event in 11:16.87 at the indoor championships … named to USTFCCCA all-Academic Team.

 

At West Virginia in 2009:

Named BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships after shattering school and conference meet records in the mile … finished in first with a time of 4:34.78 … finished in 13th in the preliminaries at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile … member of the DMR team (Bland, Kaylyn Christopher, Karly Hamric and Marie-Louise Asselin) that broke school record at the Alex Wilson Invitational with a time of 11:05.12 … broke a meet record in the 800-meter run at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge with a first-place finish (2:06.74) … time also met NCAA provisional standards … redshirted outdoor season.

 

College Bests:

·        500 Meter Dash (2010 Indoor) - 1:15.57

·        600 Meter Dash (2010 Indoor) - 1:33.32

·        800 Meter Run (2011 Indoor) - 2:08.89 / (2010 Outdoor) - 2:05.63

·        1,000 Meter Run (2008 Indoor) - 2:48.66

·        1,500 Meter Run (2010 Outdoor) - 4:14.52

·        1,600 Meter Run (2008 Indoor) - 4:50.03

·        One Mile Run (2009 Indoor) - 4:34.78

·        3,000 Meter Run (2007 Indoor) - 9:43.81

·        4000 Meter Run (2006 CC) - 14:24.00

·        6,000 Meter Run (2008 CC) - 20:19.90

 

Personal:

Daughter of Bart and Susan Bland … one of two children … birthday is Feb. 3 ... Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll … BIG EAST Academic All-Star … majoring in engineering.