Earlham College | News from Public Affairs

Update:

DELAWARE, Ohio — Sara Bohall has become the first Earlham woman to win the same event at a conference meet in four consecutive years with a first-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2008 NCAC Outdoor Track Championships hosted by 0hio Wesleyan on May 2. Her winning time was 1:02.64.

The senior also won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.40 seconds, then anchored Earlham's 1,600-meter relay team that placed fourth in 4:09.83. At the meet's conclusion, Bohall was named the NCAC Women's Sprinter/Hurdler of the Year.

• NCAC Meet Report

The Westport, Ind., native will use her speed as she represents the Quakers during the two-day North Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Ohio Wesleyan University. The event gets underway at noon on Thursday, May 1, and resumes at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2.

"Sara is definitely one of the best female track athletes we're ever had in our program," Earlham Head Coach Nick Johnson said. "She understands the mental aspect of what she does. She's very humble and tremendously talented. She's works like she's not the best and has something to prove."

Senior Sara Bohall celebrates after winning the 400-meter hurdles at the Earlham Invitational. Heading into the 2008 NCAC Outdoor Championships, she has won six conference titles and earned All-NCAC honors 15 times.

Bohall became the top scorer in Earlham women's track history earlier this season. Heading into the NCAC Championships, she has won six titles and earned all-conference honors 15 times.

Three of Bohall's individual conference titles have come in the 400-meter hurdles, and she will be trying to become the first Earlham woman to win the same event four years in a row.

During the Earlham Invitational on April 19, Bohall posted a time of 1:02.64 in the 400-meter hurdles, which was 0.64 off of the NCAA Division III national championship automatic qualifying mark. "I'm going to try and go out and run the race as well as I can," Bohall said.

With the second fastest time in NCAA Division III, Bohall is planning on attending the national meet at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on May 22-24. "The 400-meter hurdles this week is more about technique to see if I can get my time down to where I feel comfortable with it. It's so hard on you mentally. When you come around the curve you are exhausted. Then you still have to jump over hurdles."

In addition to the 400-meter hurdles, Bohall is scheduled to compete in the 100-meter hurdles and the 1,600-meter relay at the NCAC Championships.

Sara Bohall at the 2008 Earlham Invitational

The Westport, Ind., native won the 400-meter hurdles at the Earlham Invitational on April 19 with a time of 1:02.64 — an NCAA Division III national championship provisional qualifying mark.

Bohall's biggest joy comes from competing in the 1,600-meter relay with junior Jessica Kane of Milladore, Wis, sophomore Erin Witham of Arrowsic, Maine, and first-year Alison McEmber of Newtown, Conn. "To me, the relay is the most fun," she said. "I love it when we run well."

Bohall is graduating on Saturday, May 3, as a Human Development and Social Relations major.

She also ran cross country her junior and senior years, providing extra training for the track season. "That experience also improved her mental toughness," Johnson said.

Along with that toughness, Bohall credits her friends, coaches and professors as they supported her over the last four years. "Being at Earlham has helped me move forward in a lot of ways, and with track I've been able to do well," she said.

Academic success has also been a goal for Bohall. "Earlham has made me a better student, and I'm much more organized," she said. "Now I'm really motivated to do things, and my writing skills are vastly improved. I've found amazing friends and had great teachers. I'm going to miss everything so much."

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don