Jan. 30, 2010
Final Stats
Video of Paulsen's 5k
State College, PA - In a field of all Division I athletes, senior Laura Paulsen (Lutherville, MD/Bryn Mawr) took second place in the 5k at the Penn State National Open. To qualify for the event all runners must have run 17:45 earlier this season.
Paulsen took the early lead with Molly Jacobson from Ohio State and Jessica Babcock and Claire Berryman, both from Penn State, close behind. At the mile mark, Paulsen still led with a time of 5:25.
Babcock and Berryman then surged into the lead with Paulsen settling back in third place. At the 3k mark, Paulsen still hung tight in third place coming through at 10:15, which is faster than any girl in the conference has run for 3k this year.
Paulsen overtook Berryman and started chasing after Babcock with a pack of four other girls. In the last 600m, Paulsen pulled away from the trailing pack and stormed home with a time of 17:12.30, which was good for second place. Paulsen finished ten seconds behind Babcock.
Paulsen's time breaks the Centennial Conference Record set by Christa Johnson of Ursinus last year.
Paulsen continues to lead the nation in Division III for the 5k and will next compete in the championship section of the New Balance Invitational Mile next Saturday.
