The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Cross Country Set For NCAA South Regionals
11/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 11, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB cross country team will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to compete at the 2011 NCAA South Regionals hosted by Alabama on Saturday. The women’s 6K race is slated for an 11:15 a.m. CT start at the Harry Pritchett Cross Country Course.
The NCAA South Regional will feature a 35-team field competing for the chance to advance to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind. As one of nine regional competitions, the meet will ultimately determine the field for the NCAA Championships with the top two teams from each region advancing and the top four individuals not on a qualifying team moving on.
The top program in the competition is Florida State, which is ranked first in the country. UAB will also face Conference USA opponents Memphis, Southern Miss and UCF, and Southeastern Conference teams Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, which is ranked No. 4 in the national poll.
According to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings released on Nov. 1, Florida State ranks No. 1 in the south region, Vanderbilt sits at No. 2 and Florida rounds out the top three.
Rhiannon Johns, Clara Cid, Lauren Fayen, Kristina Vaughn, Sarah Hudak, Colleen Standridge, Lucy Taylor, Kristie Leybourne, Jenna Wesley and Kara Woods will represent UAB, as the Blazers are ranked No. 13 in the south region.
At the C-USA Championship on Oct. 31 at Rice in Houston, Texas, UAB claimed a sixth-place finish and landed three runners on the all-conference teams.
Senior Rhiannon Johns placed ninth individually with a 17:33.70 time, earning second-team all-conference accolades. Senior Kristina Vaughn crossed the line at 17:54.40 to finish 16th, and junior Sarah Hudak finished with a season-best time 18:04.10 to place 21st. Both earned third-team all-league honors.
