The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Track and Field Opens Season
12/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB track and field team opens its season on Friday at the Birmingham-Southern Panther Icebreaker at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
“We are always so excited to begin our season,” said head coach Kurt Thomas. “We have such a large number of newcomers who have all been working hard in the fall, and we're anxious to put on our Blazer uniforms and compete. We use this December meet to shake the rust off, get into the competitive spirit and test to see where we are after fall training. The cross country ladies competed so hard and strong in the fall, now have to transition onto the track. This meet is a great opportunity to do that.”
Field events will begin at 9 a.m. and running events are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. with the women’s 3,000-meter run. The last event of the day will be the women’s 1,600-meter relay at 6:15 p.m.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Blazers have begun their campaign at the BSC Icebreaker. In last season’s edition, UAB tallied 11 top-five finishes led by Shelby Barker’s first-place performance in the high jump with a mark of 1.65 meters and Shakima Knox’s time of 7.49 seconds in the 60-meter dash to clinch first place.
The Blazers return six athletes that finished in the top-five of their respective events last year. Barker leads the way for UAB after earning third team All-Conference USA honors in the heptathlon.
The Blazers come into the 2015 indoor season with 11 freshmen. Jessica Shelley leads the way in the hurdles, posting a time of 8.67 in the 60-meter hurdles in 2014. In the sprints, UAB loses its top two performers from a year ago and will look to Fanta Diabate as the top returner in the 200-meter and 300-meter dashes.
The distance corps features a stable of young talent after the graduation of All-American Elinor Kirk. Sophomore Sarah Livett enters her sophomore season after a record-setting freshman campaign, breaking four freshmen records, including the indoor mile with a time of 4:59.14.
The Blazers enter the year deep in the jumps, led by a pair of seniors in Barker and Kendra Gipson.
“Amidst all that is going on in our athletic department, we are proud to represent all of UAB’s student-athletes in competing with great effort and a great attitude," Thomas said.
Live results can be followed through Xpress Timing at the link above. A meet recap will be available at the conclusion of Friday’s competition.
For more information on the UAB track & field team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_TrackXC). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
Players Mentioned
