University of Tennessee

Tennessee Lady Vol Sarah Bowman, right, holds the lead during a distance race against Southeastern Conference competitors.

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Sea Ray Relays is the home meet. Penn Relays draws the huge crowds. The NCAA championships are the best of the best.

Then there’s the SEC meet. Unlike the TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?’’ the points really do matter.

Different meets equals different agendas. And yet, for Tennessee middle-distance runner Sarah Bowman, the true essence never varies.

“Different meets do have different mentalities,’’ Bowman said, “but you’re going out there and doing the same thing.

“You’re still stepping onto a 400-meter track and you’re still running circles.’’

This week, Bowman and the Lady Vols will be running circles at Auburn University. The SEC outdoor track and field championships begin Thursday.

The junior from Warrenton, Va., won’t be running as many circles as at previous SEC meets. For the first time in her career, she will enter only one event, her specialty, the 1,500 meters.

Bowman has five individual SEC titles to her credit, plus two distance-medley-relay legs. She’s the two-time defending champ indoors in both the mile and 3,000 meters.

Her only outdoor title was the 1,500 her freshman year. All those titles came while she was doubling or even tripling events to score points for the team race.

“It’s hard to do everything and she’s done a lot this year,’’ coach J.J. Clark said.

By concentrating on the 1,500, Clark is giving Bowman a chance to put all her energy into one event and put an optimal time on the clock.

“I’ve doubled a lot,’’ she said. “I’ve done it, I can do it and I don’t mind to do it. I think my coach is thinking there’s a point where you want to protect your runners.’’

The semifinal race she runs Saturday will be her first non-relay 1,500 since way back on March 29, when she opened the outdoor season with a personal-best of 4:16.89. That time led the nation for a while. It ranks seventh now.

Bowman is anxious to toe the line again and see what’s in the tank. She isn’t, however, into predictions.

“I feel like I’m ready,’’ she said, “but I don’t really like to throw out numbers.

“I’d rather run the times than tell somebody I’m going to run the times. I’ll let the numbers do the talking.’’

Meet Preview: Defending indoor and outdoor champ LSU is the team to beat. Tennessee finished second indoors but will be pressed to match that level outdoors.

The sprint corps has taken two hits. One senior All-American, Courtney Champion, did not run outdoors. Another, Cleo Tyson, has been trying to regain her form after an injury suffered indoors.

“She’s doing the best she can,’’ Clark said. “There’s just not a lot of time for recovery.’’

Freshman Annie Alexander has the leading discus mark and Shanna Dickenson the top hammer distance.

Bowman ranks No. 2 in the 1,500 behind Dacia Barr of Arkansas.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.