6/14/08

DES MOINES, Iowa — Track and field features enough minutiae to bewilder even avid fans. Yet Vin Lananna proposes another award.

Most improved runner in nation: Nicole Blood.

“She’s really had a phenomenal year, if you consider where she was a year ago,” said Lananna, director of track and field at Oregon.

Blood finished third Friday night in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Championships in support of what could be the best finish by Oregon’s women in 15 years.