While most Penn students were busy working on their tans over spring break, Emily Logan of the women's track team was working to add something a little bit more permanent to her resume. She did just that.
The senior from East Walpole, Mass., earned All-American honors in the 3000-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., last week. Logan became Penn's first women's track All-American since Karyn Smith, who earned the prestigious distinction in the triple jump in 1994.
"It was absolutely amazing," Logan said of her experience. "The arena was sold out both days and I was running with the people I'm used to watching on TV. It still hasn't sunk in yet."
Logan placed 14th out of 16 runners with a time of 9:23.82. This was the second fastest time in Penn history, behind only the mark Logan set at the ECAC Championships the week before. Because she was one of the top eight runners with American citizenship, Logan was able to earn the All-American distinction.
"I was surprised when I heard," Logan said. "I was happy enough just to be there. It's kind of the icing on the cake."
Logan edged out Alicia Craig of Stanford and Adriana Pirtea of Texas El-Paso, while finishing just a second off Marina Muncan of Villanova.
Kim Smith of Providence won the race with a blazing time of 8:49.18, more than 15 seconds ahead of Stanford's Sara Bei, who finished second. Ida Nilsson of Northern Arizona rounded out the top three.
Cack Ferrel of Princeton was the only other Ivy League runner in the race. She finished 11th with a time of 9:18.17.
The road to Fayetteville was not easy for Logan, however. Although she had provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships back in February at the Penn State Open, she entered the ECAC Championship needing to make a statement to assure a spot.
After falling just short of the qualifying time for the mile leg of the distance medley relay, Logan had to regroup and run in the 3000-meter run just two hours later.
"I knew going in I had to run around a 9:20," said Logan, whose previous best time was a 9:32.
What followed was perhaps the gutsiest race of her career.
Logan came out of the gates running, sticking close to the leader. Although this differed from her usual strategy of running from behind, Logan knew she had to shake things up to secure a spot at Fayetteville.
"It was either stay back and maybe get a better time by a second or two or go out and go after that time," Logan said. "I was fortunate enough to pass [the leader] and hold on for the win."
Logan's first-place performance at the ECAC Championships all but guaranteed her a spot in the NCAA Championships. Her time of 9:21.57 is a school record.
The All-American honor caps off a memorable year for Logan and the Quakers. The team rode a wealth of young talent to a top four finish in the Ivy League and saw a number of records fall, many at the hands of Logan. To Logan, however, the sky is the limit for this team and the program.
"I know I am not going to be the last All-American for a while," she said.
