The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Vulcan Invitational
Hawkins Pole Vaults To New School Record
2/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 11, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Freshman Toni Hawkins pole vaulted to a new UAB school and freshman record as the Blazers completed the final day of the Vulcan Invitational Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Hawkins vaulted 3.40m (11'-01.75"), surpassing her previous jump and indoor school record of 3.25m (10'-08").
"We got some really nice marks today," head coach Kurt Thomas said. "Some girls did a great job of putting themselves in a better position going into the conference meet in two weeks."
Angel Watson placed fifth in the 60 meters with a time of 7.62, just a tenth of a second from her personal best. Alexis Bates finished the same race in sixth place, logging a time of 7.63.
Watson shaved set a new personal best in the 200 meters, taking second place with a time of 24.22.
Junior Rachel Harley crossed the line in the 400 meters with a personal-record time of 58.47.
Junior Akira McSwain also set a personal-record, jumping 5.46 meter in the long jump. Freshman Kendra Gipson set a season-best 5.21m in the same event.
Freshman Shelby Barker triple jumped to a new personal-record 11.79m (38'-8.25")
Competing unattached, redshirt Rhiannon Johns ran the 3,000 meters in 9:24.
UAB 4x400-meter relay team comprised of sophomore Kyana White, Harley, Watson and junior Lytrice Thomas placed third with a time of 3:52.32.
"We had a solid weekend with a lot of good performances that will help us compete at the conference championship," Thomas said. "We have learned how to compete better, and we need to keep working to keep getting better."
The Blazers will take next weekend off as they prepare to host the C-USA Indoor Championships Feb. 25-26 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
