Amy Bunnage breaks longest-standing indoor track and field school record
Last February, sophomore Amy Bunnage was just 1.3 seconds shy of breaking the indoor 3,000-meter school record. This year, she shattered it by 10.
Bunnage’s blistering 8:43.82 at the Boston University John Terrier Classic broke the longest-standing women’s track and field record in Stanford history. Patricia Susan “PattiSue” Plumer, a former two-time Olympian and four-time U.S. champion, had previously set the 3,000-meter school record in 1983, and her time of 8:53.54 stood untouched for nearly 42 years.
On Friday, Bunnage, who hails from Australia, ran the seventh-fastest time in collegiate indoor history. She also broke her own U20 Australian absolute 3,000-meter record and secured a spot at No. 5 on Australia’s senior short track all-time list.
The race featured a highly competitive field, including Olympians Nikki Hiltz and Linden Hall. Bunnage, however, remained composed, executing a strategic race plan that proved her ability to compete among high-profile athletes.
Bunnage came through 1600 meters in 4:38.92 alongside Hiltz, Hall and Providence senior Kimberly May. Although Bunnage trailed the lead group by 25 meters in the following laps, her eyes remained locked on fellow NCAA competitor May. With 600 meters to go, Bunnage gradually narrowed the gap, unleashing a 33.09 second final lap to outkick May at the line. Bunnage stole third overall by 0.9 seconds, finishing behind Hiltz and Hall.
“I honestly don’t really remember when they got away,” Bunnage told CITIUS MAG. “I was kind of running, and then I realized that the gap opened up. But honestly, it was a great way to race, and I kept chasing and finished hard.”
This isn’t the first time Bunnage has made her way into Stanford’s record books. In early December, she broke the women’s absolute 5,000-meter record at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, which was hosted at the same facility. Bunnage clocked 15:00.75, dipping under the Australian short track record in the process.
The indoor season comes on the heels of a particularly unconventional cross country season for Bunnage, who spent the majority of the fall building back from injury. However, she still tasted success, winning West Regionals and placing fourth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in her only two races of the season.
Still only a sophomore, Bunnage currently leads the NCAA in the 3,000 and is No. 5 in the 5,000. With momentum building, the question remains – what more can this Cardinal do?
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