The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB To Open 2009 Slate At Belmont Opener
9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 3, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB cross country team will open its 2009 season by traveling to Nashville, Tenn. Friday to compete at the Belmont Opener for the eighth consecutive year. The 4K race will start at 5:30 p.m at Vaughn's Creek Course in Percy Warner Park.
"I'm excited to get the season started Friday," head coach Blake Boldon said. "It will be a great opportunity to see where our team is at and help us to quantify fitness. We have been training hard and are excited to see how we match up against other teams."
UAB will face an 11-team field at the Belmont Opener that includes Alabama, Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Belmont, Cumberland (Tenn.), Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, Tennessee, Union (Ky.) and Vanderbilt.
Last season the Green and Gold placed third at the Belmont Opener and they look to improve their finish this year. Junior Stephanie Gammon and senior Kristina Olsen will help lead the way for the veteran Blazer squad that returns all but one runner from last season.
In 2008, Gammon and Olsen recorded top-five finishes at Belmont with times of 14:41.55 and 14:45.34, respectively. UAB will also be looking to sophomore Rhiannon Johns to help the team run to a top finish.
With Gammon, Olsen and Johns establishing themselves as the top three runners for the Blazers in the preseason, Boldon is ready to see them and the rest of the squad compete Friday. Additionally, Boldon is looking for the Belmont Opener to help him determine runners four through seven on his team.
