Austin Blankenship
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- Year:
- Junior
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- Hometown:
- Vancouver, Wash.
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- High School:
- Columbia River HS
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- Major:
- Marketing/Economics
AS A JUNIOR (2017-18): (XC) Did not run.
(TRACK) Raced in five track and field meets, competing at 1,500m, 3,000m, and 5,000m … ran the 1,500m only at the Woody Wilson Invitational and clocked 4:11.28 … posted a season-best 8:56.53 3,000m at the Aggie Open where he placed second … recorded a season-best 15:32.99 5,000m at the SF State Distance Carnival.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2016-17): (XC) Did not run.
(TRACK) Doubled up in his only meet of the season, turning in an 800-meter 2:03.42 and a 1,500-meter 4:13.01 at the Kim Duyst Invitational.
AS A FRESHMAN (2015-16): (XC) Ran the 8k at the USF Invitational in 26:25.0 in his Bronco debut … led all Broncos with a 40th-place finish and an 8k time of 25:56.6 at the San Francisco State Invitational … ran a team-best and personal best 8k time of 25:06.4 to take 11th place in the Open race at the Bronco Invitational … ran an 8k time of 26:56 at the West Coast Conference championships.
(TRACK) Did not run.
PRIOR TO SCU: Graduated from Columbia River High School (Vancouver, Wach.) in 2015 … (XC) high school coach was David Cummings … earned four varsity letters and three academic honors … two-time cross country team captain (2013-14) … three-time team MVP (2012-14) … two-time league runner of the year in (2013-14) … co-league runner of the year in 2012 … All-Regional Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2013 … four-time WIAA State participant … earned a state medal by taking 16th place at the 2014 3A WIAA XC Meet … freshman team took 2nd place in 2011.
(TRACK) Earned three varsity academic letters … team captain of Distance Team in 2014 … also named team MVP … two-time WIAA state participant on Distance Team … team took first place in the 3200m race in 2014 … league Track Athlete of the Year in 2013 … All League Team (3200M, 1600M, 800M) in 2013.
HIGH SCHOOL PERSONAL BESTS
Cross Country: 5k — 15:51.
Track: 800m — 2:04 ... 1500m — 4:08.34 ... 1600m — 4:31.87 ... 3000m — 9:09.28 ... 3200m — 9:39.45.
PERSONAL: Parents are Russell and Linda Blankenship … has an older sister, Amanda … hobbies include the outdoors, kayaking, biking, snowboarding, basketball, ultimate frisbee, swimming, cars.
WHY BLANKENSHIP CHOSE SANTA CLARA: “I first looked into Santa Clara because of the beautiful sunny campus and the opportunity to continue my athletic career. I finally picked Santa Clara because of the academic opportunity provided through this University in the areas of study that I think might be of interest to me.”