Carol Blankenship, a rising senior at East Wilkes, just returned from Austrailia where she competed as part of the Down Under Sports Specialist from North Carolina. "It was a wonderful experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Blankenship said.

Blankenship departed for the land down under on June 30, and after a 14-hour time difference, landed in Australia on July 2. The time-change seemed to have little effect on Blankenship, who competed in the Gold Coast 5k Challenge on July 4.

Competing in a field of over 2,100 runners didn't intimidate the five-time state champ, as she posted a new personal best in the 5k. Finishing third overall, Blankenship clocked a time of 18:31, a 28-second improvement over her previous best of 18:59.

"I was pleased with the way I ran, it was a personal best for me," Blankenship said, "I have never been in a race with that many people and being the first American to finish in a race that large was exciting."

Blankenship was bested by only two Australians in the international field. Katelyn Simpson, one of Australia's premier age group runners finished first with sub-18 minute effort, followed by Maxine Seear who finished with a time of 18:21. Seear also competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, participating in the triathlon for Australia.

On July 7, Blankenship competed in the second race of her tour, the All-American Down Under 5k. The meet featured American runners from the Down Under Sports cross country teams from all over the U.S., and a few from other competing countries.

Kateyln Simpson, once again, took the win, followed by Va. native, Crystal Nelson, and Blankenship securing third place with a time of 18:42. "It was a good effort and I gave my best. I only ran a few seconds slower than my first race and this was a tougher course. I was pleased being a top-three runner twice in races with this caliber of competition. In both races, I was pushed to run faster than I ever had done previously. The experience gained from the two races will help me greatly in the upcoming cross country season," Blankenship said.

Blankenship joined nine other N.C. runners selected to be part of 91 participants from the U.S. competing as part of the Down Under Sports cross country teams.