The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Picked As Preseason Conference USA Favorites
8/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Aug. 29, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB cross country team has been selected as the Conference USA preseason favorite to win the 2007 title as voted by the league's head coaches.
The Blazers received seven of 11 first-place votes for a total of 134 points, beating out Rice University by three points.
"It's good to be picked like this, because it shows the respect our program has received over the last few years," head coach Ray Stanfield said. "It's a nice honor but it doesn't mean anything until we line up."
Stanfield returns a total of nine runners from a team that edged out Rice by one point to win the 2006 C-USA championship.
Rejoining the team is the talent of redshirt senior Elizabeth Ambrus, who missed last season with an ankle injury. Ambrus, the 2005 C-USA individual champion, is the Blazers' top returning runner and could contend for All-America honors.
Also returning are seniors Whitney Mays and Elizabeth Hilligoss, as well as sophomore Kristina Olsen. The three runners were instrumental in the Blazers capturing last year's title.
Rice received three first-place votes, while Tulsa was picked third, followed by SMU. The Mustangs received the two other-first place votes.
UAB will race for the conference championship on Oct. 27 in El Paso, Texas. The season opener is this Friday, when the Blazers compete at the Belmont Opener in Nashville.
2007 Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UAB (6) - 122
2. Rice (3) - 120
3. Tulsa - 109
4. SMU (2) - 101
5. Tulane - 81
6. UCF - 77
7. Memphis - 60
8. UTEP - 60
9. Houston - 48
10. East Carolina - 36
11. Marshall - 24
12. Southern Miss - 17
