Laura Ann Rukat Class: Senior Hometown: West Union, SC Event: Mid-Distance/Cross Country Major: Elementary Education

Clemson Highlights 2003-04: Outdoor and Indoor: Did not compete. Cross Country: Opened season at the Wake Forest Invitational with an 18th-place finish and time of 20:14...at the Overton/Pirate Invitational, posted a time of 18:37.79 and a 16th-place finish over the 5K course...recorded a time of 19:49 at the Clemson Invitational/SC Collegiate Championships to place 28th...recorded a time of 24:34.5 at the ACC Championships as the Lady Tigers' number-four runner.

2002-2003: Outdoor: Placed third in the 3000m steeplechase at the Clemson Invitational with a time of 12:33.30...at the Raleigh Relays, ran a time of 4:58.00 in the 1500m...member of the Lady Tigers' 4x800m relay team that finished second at the Clemson Relays...also a member of hte distance medley relay team that competed at the Clemson Relays...clocked a personal-best 2:24.05 in the 800m at the Savannah State Invitational...recorded a 2:29.70 in the 800m at the Clemson Invitational. Indoor: Member of the 4x800m relay team that recorded a season-best performance at the Penn State Invitational finishing seventh with a time of 9:32.05...posted a time of 5:30.24 in the mile at the Father Diamond Open...finished eighth in the mile with a time of 5:27.28 at the Minnesota Invitational...member of the distance medley relay that finished eighth with a time of 12:27.07 Cross Country: Clemson's number-two runner all season...recorded best 6K time of the season at the Clemson Invitational, covering the course in 24:27 and placing 14th...finished the 6K race at the ACC Championships in 24:54.4...opened the season with a time of 20:13.30 over 5K at the Western Carolina Invitational...recorded a time of 23:16 at the Bulldog Stampede... finished 30th at the Furman Invitational and Great American Cross Country Classic..posted time of 23:47.5 at the Furman meet, and a time of 25:05.2 at the Great American race.

2001-2002 Outdoor: Posted season-best time of 2:26.80 to finish sixth in the 800m at the NC-SC All-Star meet...at the Clemson Invitational, recorded a time of 2:28.42 in the 800m...member of 4x800m relay team that finished fifth in 10:33.07 at the Georgia Relays. Indoor: Recorded season-best time of 2:28.31 in the 800m at the Virginia Tech Challenge...also competed in the 800m at the Terrapin Invitational with a time of 2:36.41...member of the distance medley relay team that competed at the ACC Championships... also member of the 4x800m relay team that placed fourth at the Blue Heaven Rumble with a time of 10:05.86. Cross Country: Opened season with a 20th-place finish and time of 21:02 at the Western Carolina Invitational...finished 17th at the Clemson Invitational with a season-best time of 20:18...at the ACC Championships, recorded a time of 25:23.9...posted a time of 25:35 at the Furman Invitational.

Walhalla High School Recipient of the Wendy's Heisman Award...2000 region MVP...member of 4x800m relay team that set Skyline AA conference and Walhalla school records...member of 4x800m relay team that won the 2001 upper state championships, finishing second at state...recipient of high school Most Dedicated award.

Personal Born 01/03/83...daughter of Debbie and Joe Rukat...father ran cross country and track at Clemson...majoring in education...member of 2002-03 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Best Marks
800m - 2:24.05
1500m - 4:58.00
3,000m SC - 12:33.30
5000m (XC) - 20:13.30
6000m (XC) - 24:27