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Patricia Dailey click image to enlarge

By Rama Peroo
Cowley College

Excelling in track and cross country is nothing new to Patricia Dailey, of Seminole, Okla. However, being one of the five finalists for Queen Alalah LXXV is a new highlight for the Cowley College sophomore.

"I was very surprised; I was not expecting to be one of the finalists with all the sophomores being nominated," Dailey said.

Crowning will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Robert Brown Theatre on Cowley's Arkansas City campus.

Dailey, the daughter of Mary Buckley and Howard West, of Seminole, Okla., is majoring in accounting. Grandparents are, Bill and Nelly West, of Weleetka, Okla.

At Cowley, Dailey is a member of the cross country and track and field teams. She also serves as a tutor in the Underground and is involved in Campus Christian Fellowship.

In high school, she was a state qualifier in track as a junior and senior. Dailey intended to go to the University of Oklahoma, however, before Cowley offered her a track scholarship in June 2005.

Dailey is glad she made the decision to come to Cowley.

"I have enjoyed it very much," Dailey said. "I was kind of overwhelmed when I came here because I came from a small high school program. But, I am really glad I came here. I like being able to know everybody."

Dailey helped last year's Lady Tiger track and field team capture their first ever Jayhawk East indoor title, and garner a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships.

She also aided last year's outdoor track and field team win the conference title by a staggering 129 points and place ninth at the NJCAA Outdoor National Champion-ships.

Dailey was the outdoor conference champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and was a member of the conference champion 4 x 800-meter relay team.

This season, Dailey's main events will be the 5,000-meter run during the indoor season, and the steeplechase in the outdoor season.

In her free time she likes to go back to her high school and watch the cross country and track teams. She also enjoys participating in Cow- ley's intramurals.

Although the Arkalalah experience is new for Dailey, it is one she is excited about.

"I am really looking forward to it, but I am also really nervous," Dailey said. "I am going to enjoy meeting the people around the town."

Daley credits her mother, Mary, with being a major influence in her life.

"She has always been there to support me and tell me to do my best," Dailey said.

With that support, Dailey would like to pursue a career in the banking.

"I am looking for a track or cross country scholarship," Dailey said. "I definitely want to keep running."