The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Florida Relays
Track Team Wraps Up Competition Saturday At Three Meets
4/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
April 7, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB women's track and field team wrapped up a busy weekend Saturday as the Blazers sent representatives to three different invitational meets. The Blazers also had three competitors Friday at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.
At the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., UAB had three relay teams turn in outstanding performances. The Blazers' 400-meter relay team won its section with a season-best time of 45.87, UAB's top performance in the event in more than six years.
The time by foursome of Kelli Smith, Angel Watson, Thelyssa Katchen and Alexis Bates is also the best time since head coach Kurt Thomas assumed his position.
The UAB 4x400 relay of Rachel Harley, Akira McSwain, Lytrice Thomas and Angel Watson was first in its section at 3:43.84, also a best this spring.
The Blazers' 4x800-meter relay team finished sixth overall as the group of Lytrice Thomas, Jenna Wesley, Lauren Fayen and Lucy Taylor clocked a time of 9:08.11.
"Our sprint relays ran very well today," said Thomas. "They really stepped up against top competition, and that's really important in our league. The time (of) 45.8 is the fastest 4x100 we've run since I've been here and I'm proud of the girls for breaking the 46 second barrier.
"The 4x400 team ran great. They've really progressed well. Some other events didn't go like we wanted. The whole team still has room to get better, but we can leave Gainesville feeling good about where we are."
Meanwhile at the Tiger Track Classic at Auburn, Ala., the Blazers had three participants. Shelby Barker finished sixth in the high jump at 5-3 while Kyana White placed 23rd overall in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.71. Kara Woods failed to finish in the 800-meter run.
UAB sent one student-athlete, Toni Hawkins, to the Tennessee Challenge at Knoxville, Tenn. Hawkins finished fifth in the pole vault with a best performance of 10-8.
The Blazers will next be in action next weekend when they compete at the Mississippi State Invitational at Starkville, Miss.
