The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Furman Invitational
UAB Cross Country Takes Second At Furman Invitational
10/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 10, 2009
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The UAB cross country team placed three runners in the top five individually Saturday morning on the way to a second-place team finish at the Furman Invitational. The only squad to finish better than UAB in the 16-team field was host Furman.
Kristina Olsen led the Blazers by finishing second overall with a time of 18:57.47 in the 5K race at the Furman University Golf Course. Kristina Vaughn (19:15.15) and Colleen Standridge (19:16.83) finished within two seconds of each other for fourth and fifth place, respectively.
"Kristina Vaughn and Colleen Standridge raced together and fought hard the whole way," UAB head cross country coach Blake Boldon said. "When you can put three runners in the top five, you're doing something well."
Furman's Chloe Kowalski earned the top spot individually with a time of 18:20.71.
UAB placed each of its competitors in the top 30 out of 122 runners. Kendel Hood finished 13th with a time of 19:53.02, followed by Lucy Taylor in 17th at 20:08.77. Lauren Fayen took 20th place at 20:19.66, and Clara Cid rounded out the Blazer contingent in 27th place with a time of 20:32.20.
In the team competition, Winthrop (third), Berry (fourth) and Marshall (fifth) rounded out the top five, following Furman and UAB in the top two spots.
The Blazers were competing Saturday without their top two runners, Rhiannon Johns and Stephanie Gammon, who both missed the meet because of injuries.
"We competed well against a good team from Furman," Boldon said. "Any time you can take second at a meet like this, it's always good. The girls that ran for us competed hard and competed well. We're still trying to build the depth that we'll need for the upcoming conference meet."
Saturday's invitational was the fourth and final regular-season event for the Blazers. UAB is back in action in three weeks at the Conference USA Championship, scheduled for Oct. 31 in Houston, Texas.
