Sutherland places second in the 10,000m run
May 11, 2012
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The 2012 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships got underway Friday at the R.V. Christian Track Complex in Manhattan, Kan. as Texas is tied for sixth with 10 points. "We competed great and if today was any indication of how our team will be then we will have a great weekend," said head coach Beverly Kearney. "Sara and Laleh fought hard in their race. Sara beat some really great athletes and for her to compete that well, in what is not her primary event, is amazing. Laleh showed a lot of fight to come back and gain two more pints for the team as well." The Longhorns sit tied for sixth place with 10 points following the first day of action despite only competing in one event. "I don't remember since I have been here our team getting 10 points on the first day of the Big 12 Championships," said Kearney. The lone event for Texas on the first day was the 10,000m run as two runners, Sara Sutherland and Laleh Mojtabaeezamani, competed for the Longhorns. Sutherland, an indoor All-American in the 5,000m run, put together a tremendous performance in her first time running the 10,000m run this season. Among the leaders the entire race, Sutherland pulled away from a group of competitors in the last few laps to finish second overall with a time of 34:28.07. It is the ninth fastest time in school history as she earned eight team points. "The conference meet is more about what place you get instead of the time so it is more of a game of strategy instead of trying to run a certain split," said Sutherland. "I was expecting the move with around seven or eight laps left so I was surprised when it happened around the 11th lap. I was happy with the outcome." Mojtabaeezamani also gained points for the squad, claiming two with her seventh place finish. She clocked a time of 36:13.78 in her second time running the event this season. UT will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the long jump. The first running event will be the 1,500m run at 3 p.m.
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