Story courtesy of Chattanooga sports information
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Chattanooga distance dynamo Shannon Wommack capped her brilliant collegiate career with a record-shattering performance and a third-place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday night.
Colorado’s Jennifer Barringer recorded the fastest collegiate time this year, winning in 9:53.04. Wommack’s time of 9:56.50 bested her own school record, set at last year’s NCAA championship, by more than 11 seconds.
The doctoral student from Conyers, Ga., was never lower than fifth position and spent most of the latter portion of the race in a duel with Cassie Hunt of Illinois. Wommack led briefly with three laps remaining before Hunt picked up the pace, opening what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. Barringer passed Wommack at the start of the bell lap and chased down Hunt at the water pit before pulling away for the win. Wommack held off a challenge from Emily Brown of Minnesota to claim third place.
“Shannon was unbelievable” remarked Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier. “She ran the best race of her collegiate career in her final opportunity. It’s the end of an era. There aren’t many like Shannon.”
The third-place finish earned Wommack All-America honors for the fifth time overall and the second time in the steeplechase. Wommack finished fifth in the event at last year’s NCAA finals.
Wommack concludes her Chattanooga career with 20 Southern Conference championships, one NCAA Regional championship, four Southern Conference record times, and eight Chattanooga records. She has earned All-America honors five times.
Wommack’s All-America Honors
3000m Steeplechase-2005, 2006
5000m-2004
Cross Country-2004, 2005
Wommack’s Southern Conference Championships
Indoor 800m-2006
Indoor Mile Run-2003, 2004, 2006
Indoor 3000m-2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Indoor 5000m-2002, 2004
Outdoor 1500m-2004, 2005, 2006
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase-2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
Cross Country-2002, 2004, 2005
Wommack’s UTC Records
Indoor 800m
Indoor Mile Run
Indoor 3000m
Indoor 5000m
Outdoor 1500m
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase
Outdoor 5000m
Outdoor 10,000m
Wommack’s Southern Conference Records
Indoor Mile Run
Indoor 3000m
Outdoor 1500m
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase
Southern Conference Outstanding Performer
Indoor Track ? 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Outdoor Track ? 2005, 2006
Cross Country Runner-of-the-Year--2002, 2004, 2005
Cross Country Freshman-of-the-Year?2001
2005 NCAA South Region Cross Country Champion