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FHS graduate Bowman is a dramatic winner in NCAA indoor mile
Sarah Bowman was a superstar runner at Fauquier High. She's been even better at the University of Tennessee.
On Saturday, Bowman captured her first NCAA individual crown in a meet-record four minutes, 29.72 seconds in the mile at the NCAA indoor track and field meet at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
The 2005 FHS graduate (who won 15 individual state titles in her four years as a Falcon and helped her school win the 2005 state girls team title) out-leaned Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego at the finish line after an intense final-lap fight. Bowman's time topped former Wisconsin star Suzy Favor's 4:30.63 in 1989. Bowman’s previous UT best was 4:34.69.
Kipyego and Bowman ran first and second most of the race, with North Carolina’s Brie Felnagle and Wichita State’s Kellyn Johnson contending for laps three through six around the indoor oval.
On lap seven, Kipyego and Bowman separated from the pack for the bell lap. Bowman moved at Kipyego with 200 meters left, but the Red Raider held her off. They entered the homestretch side by side, as Bowman dug deep and found just enough juice to outkick Kipyego (4:29.75) by a hair.
“It was definitely a great feeling,,” said Tennessee coach J.J. Clark of a win that helped the Lady Vols win the team title. “Sarah had a huge PR again today, and everything went right for her. She ran two miles already at this meet (mile prelim and distance medley relay anchor leg) and came back and ran 4:29. That’s quite an accomplishment. She’s just a superb athlete.”
Said Bowman: “I’ve been here for four years now, and I hadn’t won an NCAA individual title. I don’t like to think about that going into a race, because I don’t want to put that pressure on myself. But it’s lurking in the back of my mind. It’s something I’ve wanted for so long.”
Bowman's thrilling final lap was a memory that will stay with her forever...See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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