Temple University Athletics
Blanca Fernandez Earns Spot to Compete in the Olympic Development Women’s Mile at Penn Relays
4.21.15 | Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA – Blanca Fernandez has yet another accolade to add to her impressive first semester at Temple with the track and field program. The Leon, Spain native has been invited to compete in the Olympic Development Women's Mile to be contested at the Penn Relays on Saturday, April 25. Fernandez is the first Temple athlete to earn a spot to compete in this section at the Penn Relays.
Olympic Development events at the Penn Relays are elite competitions that are made up of mostly post-collegiate and professional runners along with some of the top college track and field athletes in the NCAA. Fernandez's mark of 4:40.60 at the Alex Wilson Invitational on Feb. 21, paired with qualifying for the NCAA championships, allowed for her to get into this division at the Penn Relays.
"She is going to have a chance to race against some of the best runners in the world," said Temple University assistant track coach James Snyder. "And we'd like to think she is one of them."
Fernandez will be competing in the Olympic Development Women's Mile at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. She will also run the 800m leg of the Sprint Medley Championship of America event with three of her fellow teammates Friday evening at 6:20 p.m.
"Her performances over the last couple of months are kind of a foreshadow and a push to where we want to go as a program," said Snyder. "Which is not simply being a team that can contend at a conference level but hopefully, long-term, being a national-caliber team."
While this is the first Penn Relays experience for Fernandez, she is not unaccustomed to competing on a big stage in front of a large crowd. Before becoming an Owl, Fernandez competed nationally for Spain in the European Junior and World Junior Track and Field Championships, as well as the European Junior and the World Junior Cross Country Championships. Last December, she was a national champion in the 1,500m of the U23 Division in Spain. Fernandez also placed 13th as a part of the Spanish National Team in the U23 European Cross Country Championship last year.
Her international success has carried over into her first track and field season with Temple. Fernandez has broken a school record in every event that she has competed in this semester, which includes: the indoor mile, indoor 3000m, outdoor 1500m and outdoor 800m.
"Blanca's success is kind of a reflection that our team can look at and by seeing someone in our program that is doing so well, it has given them a lift," said Temple head coach Elvis Forde. "Sometimes you need that to change the culture of a program and for our athletes to see and understand what it takes to be successful. By seeing Blanca's success I know they are getting the message."
During the indoor season, Fernandez was named the Women's Track Most Outstanding Performer at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships after winning the Mile and 3000m. Both of her first-place times at the conference championships set new conference records. Fernandez was also the first Temple women's athlete to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships since 1987. In that meet, Fernandez received All-American honors in the Mile.
Fernandez has not slowed down for the outdoor season as she has already broken two school records. Her current outdoor ranks in the American Athletic Conference include: fourth for the 800m and first for the 1,500m run.
"Blanca is such a humble champion," said Forde. "It gives you a pleasure to know you have someone like that in your program."
Fernandez's success has been achieved amidst balancing a demanding schedule as she is pursuing a sport business Graduate degree at Temple. She also received her Bachelor's degree in physical education from the Universidad De Leon before arriving in Philadelphia.
"For me, coming from an international background I understand the challenges that can happen when you arrive here in the United States," said Forde. "So, for her only being here for such a short time and accomplishing all that she has really shows her level of maturity. She handles all the situations she is put in professionally and with as much enjoyment as possible. The entire coaching staff is looking forward to seeing her continue to build upon her success here at Temple."
The 121st Penn Relay Carnival is held at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania from April 23-25.
Check out KYW Radio's coverage of Blanca's success this season here.
Olympic Development events at the Penn Relays are elite competitions that are made up of mostly post-collegiate and professional runners along with some of the top college track and field athletes in the NCAA. Fernandez's mark of 4:40.60 at the Alex Wilson Invitational on Feb. 21, paired with qualifying for the NCAA championships, allowed for her to get into this division at the Penn Relays.
"She is going to have a chance to race against some of the best runners in the world," said Temple University assistant track coach James Snyder. "And we'd like to think she is one of them."
Fernandez will be competing in the Olympic Development Women's Mile at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. She will also run the 800m leg of the Sprint Medley Championship of America event with three of her fellow teammates Friday evening at 6:20 p.m.
"Her performances over the last couple of months are kind of a foreshadow and a push to where we want to go as a program," said Snyder. "Which is not simply being a team that can contend at a conference level but hopefully, long-term, being a national-caliber team."
While this is the first Penn Relays experience for Fernandez, she is not unaccustomed to competing on a big stage in front of a large crowd. Before becoming an Owl, Fernandez competed nationally for Spain in the European Junior and World Junior Track and Field Championships, as well as the European Junior and the World Junior Cross Country Championships. Last December, she was a national champion in the 1,500m of the U23 Division in Spain. Fernandez also placed 13th as a part of the Spanish National Team in the U23 European Cross Country Championship last year.
Her international success has carried over into her first track and field season with Temple. Fernandez has broken a school record in every event that she has competed in this semester, which includes: the indoor mile, indoor 3000m, outdoor 1500m and outdoor 800m.
"Blanca's success is kind of a reflection that our team can look at and by seeing someone in our program that is doing so well, it has given them a lift," said Temple head coach Elvis Forde. "Sometimes you need that to change the culture of a program and for our athletes to see and understand what it takes to be successful. By seeing Blanca's success I know they are getting the message."
During the indoor season, Fernandez was named the Women's Track Most Outstanding Performer at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships after winning the Mile and 3000m. Both of her first-place times at the conference championships set new conference records. Fernandez was also the first Temple women's athlete to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships since 1987. In that meet, Fernandez received All-American honors in the Mile.
Fernandez has not slowed down for the outdoor season as she has already broken two school records. Her current outdoor ranks in the American Athletic Conference include: fourth for the 800m and first for the 1,500m run.
"Blanca is such a humble champion," said Forde. "It gives you a pleasure to know you have someone like that in your program."
Fernandez's success has been achieved amidst balancing a demanding schedule as she is pursuing a sport business Graduate degree at Temple. She also received her Bachelor's degree in physical education from the Universidad De Leon before arriving in Philadelphia.
"For me, coming from an international background I understand the challenges that can happen when you arrive here in the United States," said Forde. "So, for her only being here for such a short time and accomplishing all that she has really shows her level of maturity. She handles all the situations she is put in professionally and with as much enjoyment as possible. The entire coaching staff is looking forward to seeing her continue to build upon her success here at Temple."
The 121st Penn Relay Carnival is held at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania from April 23-25.
Check out KYW Radio's coverage of Blanca's success this season here.
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