Temple University Athletics
Blanca Fernandez to Compete at IAAF World Cross Country Championships Saturday
3.29.19 | Women's Cross Country
PHILADELPHIA – Former Temple University cross country/track and field standout Blanca Fernandez is set to compete for the Spanish National Team at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships on Saturday, March 30 in Aarhus, Denmark. She will compete in the senior women's race, set for 8 am Central Time, 1 pm Central European Time. After an illustrious running career at Temple, Saturday will feature Fernandez's second race at the highly renowned World Cross Country Championships, having also competed for her country's national team in 2017.
"Blanca is the most decorated cross country runner in our program's history, and we couldn't be more excited to follow her race on Saturday in Aarhus, Denmark," said head cross country coach James Snyder. "The IAAF Championships are the Olympic Games of cross country running, and this will be Blanca's second time on the Senior National Team after competing in the 4x1500m Relay in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda."
At Temple, Fernandez was named Temple Owls Best Female Athletic Performer of the Year for the 2015-16 season. During the fall of 2015, she made history as the first-ever women's cross country conference champion in Temple history. In her final outdoor season with the Owls, the two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 1500 and 5000-meter races set a school record in the 5K and earned All-Conference honors. Fernandez was an NCAA East Regional qualifier that year and earned the opportunity to toe the line at the NCAA Championships, earning Second-Team All-American honors for her efforts.
The Leon, Spain native is still represented well in the Temple record books, currently holding indoor records in the mile (4:40.60, 2015) and 3200m (9:16.24, 2015), and outdoor records in the mile (4:39.88, 2015) and the 5000m (16.09.84, 2016).
"Blanca is the most decorated cross country runner in our program's history, and we couldn't be more excited to follow her race on Saturday in Aarhus, Denmark," said head cross country coach James Snyder. "The IAAF Championships are the Olympic Games of cross country running, and this will be Blanca's second time on the Senior National Team after competing in the 4x1500m Relay in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda."
At Temple, Fernandez was named Temple Owls Best Female Athletic Performer of the Year for the 2015-16 season. During the fall of 2015, she made history as the first-ever women's cross country conference champion in Temple history. In her final outdoor season with the Owls, the two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 1500 and 5000-meter races set a school record in the 5K and earned All-Conference honors. Fernandez was an NCAA East Regional qualifier that year and earned the opportunity to toe the line at the NCAA Championships, earning Second-Team All-American honors for her efforts.
The Leon, Spain native is still represented well in the Temple record books, currently holding indoor records in the mile (4:40.60, 2015) and 3200m (9:16.24, 2015), and outdoor records in the mile (4:39.88, 2015) and the 5000m (16.09.84, 2016).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
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