Lauren Lodge is quickly becoming one of the best long distance runners in Pepperdine University track history. The junior from Hopkinton, Mass., won the 3000-meter Steeplechase last week at the Steve Scott Invitational on the campus of UC Irvine.
Lodge, known as “Lo-Lo” by her teammates, won the race in a time of 10:45.53, shattering her own record by eight seconds. She is also currently the school record holder in the 1500-meter (4:31.83) and the 5000-meter runs (17:14.90).
Her performance at Irvine was spectacular as she fought off 13 competitors, including a professional athlete representing Nike, by separating and slowly creating distance each lap by dominating the steeples with excellent hurdling technique.
“I was really happy with my race at UCI,” Lodge said. “I had not won a race in track this season. It was exciting to finally win a race again. It was a really good race for me.”
“She ran a super race. We were so excited,” Coach Robert Radnoti said. “It was nice watching her finish and see her thrusting her fist in the air and saying ‘yes’ as she crossed the finish line.
“This is the most grueling event in all of track and field,” Radnoti added. “It takes a lot of guts, determination and experience to run the steeplechase well. She is on her way to becoming the greatest long-distance runner we have ever had.”