The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Southeast Cross Country Showdown
UAB Cross Country Takes Title At Samford Invitational
10/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 9, 2010
HOOVER, Ala. -- The UAB cross country team claimed the Samford Invitational title and placed five runners in the top 10 Saturday at Veterans Park in Hoover, Ala.
Blazer junior Rhiannon Johns took the meet's individual title, completing the challenging Veterans Park 5K course in a time of 17:52.53.
UAB placed first with 29 points, while Samford finished as the runner-up with 42 points. Belmont took third with 68 points, and Kennesaw State and Birmingham-Southern rounded out the field with 97 and 122 points, respectively.
"I am very happy," UAB head coach Blake Boldon said. "Our primary goal for today was to place five runners in the top 10 and we did that. I also set a lofty goal of finishing with a score of 25 points and we almost did that, finishing with 29 points against good Samford and Kennesaw State programs."
Junior Clara Cid ran a personal-best 5K Saturday, crossing the line in 18:26.72 to take fourth. Senior Stephanie Gammon finished close-behind in fifth with a time of 18:49.16. Juniors Kristina Vaughn and Colleen Standridge completed the top 10, recording times of 19:03.02 and 19:06.30, respectively.
Freshman Emily Trotter clocked a time of 20:52.22 which was good for 29th place, while fellow freshman Amanda Horton ran to a time of 24:48.52. Lucy Taylor and Bianca Le'Blanc also ran Saturday, but both ran a planned two mile time trial as part of their training.
Several Blazer track & field athletes also competed Saturday. Sophomore Rachel Harley led the way, recording a time of 22:45.24 to finish 37th.
"We originally weren't planning on racing our top runners, so they did a really tough workout Tuesday," Boldon said. "I'm really proud of the way they ran today. We will get some rest this week and be a very competitive team next weekend."
The Blazers return to action next Saturday at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by Arkansas.
