The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Raleigh Relays (N.C. State)
UAB Track and Field Concludes Day One at Raleigh Relays
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Results | Meet Schedule
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Renay Ransaw led the UAB track and field team on day one of the Raleigh Relays with a victory in the long jump at the Paul Derr Track and Field Facility.
Ransaw leapt a distance of 5.70 meters (18-08 1/2 feet) to finish first in the long jump in as many entries in the event this outdoor season. The junior from Montgomery, Ala. jumped 5.71 meters (18-09 feet) at the Battle of I-65 at Samford to account for her other long jump win in 2015.
The Blazers rounded out a solid showing in the long jump with a 15th-place finish from Shelby Barker, who posted a mark of 5.16 meters (16-11 1/4 feet), as well as from Kelli Smith, who finished 18th after jumping 5.11 meters (16-09 1/4 feet).
"We really had to battle the weather today, but still had some good performances and good races," UAB head coach Kurt Thomas said. "The times and distances for jumps weren't a great indicator of how we performed. It was wet and really cold today, but Renay had a great win in the long jump and Lucy Crookes, Sarah Livett and Rebecca Evans ran well in the 5k's."
Despite low temperatures and rainy conditions, Crookes ran her fastest time in the 5,000-meter run for either of the 2015 indoor or outdoor seasons, finishing the race in 17:06.17. Her previous best for 2015 was a time of 17:09.71 at the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Livett finished the 5,000 in 17:20.21, while Evans clocked a time of 17:32.54.
UAB narrowly missed qualification for the 100-meter hurdles final, as Jessica Shelley finished ninth with a time of 14.22. Autumnn Burnett clocked a time of 14.60 in the same event, finishing 14th.
Kandiss Briggs rounded out the Blazers' top performers with a 10th-place finish in her second foray in the 100-meter dash this season. The sophomore ran a 12.332, edging James Madison's Annie Johnson for second in the third heat.
"Kandiss executed a good 100 and Jessica Shelley showed good consistency in the 100-meter hurdles, so there's a lot of good things to build upon," Thomas said. "We have some relays and the triple jump tomorrow amidst the cold weather, but we'll look to go execute, race hard regardless and try to get the most out of the weekend."
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