The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Track and Field Hosts Blazer Invite
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Live Results | Meet Schedule | Heat Sheet
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB track and field team returns to action at the fourth edition of the Blazer Invite at the Birmingham CrossPlex from Friday to Saturday.
"We are always excited and honored to host the best opening weekend meet in America each year, the UAB Blazer Invite,” said head coach Kurt Thomas. “We take pride in putting on a quality meet, and we have so many people working very hard to make it a success. We have many great teams and professionals compete here each year, and it really makes each Blazer Invite special.”
Running events begin on Friday at 2:30 p.m. with the women’s 60m hurdle preliminaries. The men’s weight throw opens field event competition at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
More than 20 teams will be participating this weekend at the CrossPlex, highlighted by the Southeastern Conference’s Florida and Mississippi State. The Gators enter the weekend ranked No. 1 by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in both the men’s and women’s polls, while the Bulldogs’ women’s team is ranked No. 20.
“For our own team, we are just pumped to compete,” Thomas said. “We have a young team, and they all need race experience, so that's what we'll get this weekend. Lucy Crookes raced well in cross country, so we're excited to see what she can do. Our hurdlers ran well in December, so we hope they can pick up where they left off. We'll be able to really tell where we are after this meet and work to improve after that.”
Crookes leads UAB’s distance team after claiming first place at the BSC Icebreaker on Dec. 5 with a 9:45.21 in the 3,000-meter run. Last time out, sophomore Kandiss Briggs ran in the finals of the 60-meter dash, turning in a time of 7.81.
Admission for the event is free. Results from this weekend’s competition can be found at UABsports.com. Live results will be provided by xpresstiming.com.
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).
