The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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South Alabama Invitational and Multi.
Hensley Wins Heptathlon at South Alabama Invitational
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Complete Results
MOBILE, Ala. -- Hannah Hensley scored 4,845 points and won the heptathlon to highlight competition for UAB at the South Alabama Invitational from the Jaguar Track.
Hensley, who was competing in her first collegiate heptathlon, owns the fourth-highest point total of anyone in Conference USA.
On day one on Thursday, Hensley stood in fifth place with 2,835 points following a second-place finish and an outdoor personal-best mark in the high jump (5-06.00), a fourth-place finish and an outdoor personal-best time in the 200 meters (26.50), a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (15.39) and a ninth-place finish in the shot put (29-04.00).
The Southern Pines, N.C., native returned to action Friday with a second-place finish in the long jump (18-05.34), a second-place finish in the javelin throw (108-09.00) and a individual title in the 800 meters (2:26.62). All three marks are new outdoor personal bests.
"Hannah has battled injuries all season long, so it's a huge plus for her to win the heptathlon in her first try," UAB head coach Kurt Thomas said. "She has certainly put herself in contention for points at the Conference USA Championships."
Sophomore Ali Meister took third place with a personal-best 4,758 points, 327 points higher than her previous best to rank fifth in Conference USA.
Meister collected 2,991 points on day one after competing in the 200 meters, 100-meter hurdles, high jump and shot put. The Spencer, Iowa, native placed third in the 200 meters (26.22), 100-meter hurdles (14.75) and high jump (5-05.00) and fifth in the shot put (33-05.75). In addition, Meister turned in personal-best marks in the 200 meters, high jump and shot put.
She began day two with a third-place finish in the long jump with a distance of 17-10.75 and followed that with a ninth-place finish in the javelin with a mark of 82-01.00. Meister closed the day with a personal-best time of 2:29.59 in the 800 meters en route to a third-place finish.
"Ali has worked so hard and improved in each meet since she arrived at UAB," Thomas said. "Her performance over the last two days has also put her in position to score at the conference championships."
Jimmeshia Wilder racked up 2,475 points on day one and followed that with 1,522 on Friday to finish in seventh place with 3,997 points. Her total score ranks 200 points higher than her previous personal best.
Wilder placed fifth in the 200 meters with an outdoor personal-best time of 26.97 and seventh in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.40 to highlight day one. On day two, Wilder featured a personal-best distance in the long jump (15-09.75) and a personal-best time (2:30.15) in the 800 meters.
"Jimmeshia did a great job and continues to get better," Thomas added. "All three of the ladies left some good points out there, so we know where we need to get better going forward. I'm proud of them and their great efforts."
In running events, sophomore Melany Frierson turned in a personal-best time of 25.22 in the 200 meters en route to an eighth-place finish. Frierson also registered an eighth-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 12.18.
Middle distance runner Hannah Coffin placed fifth in the 1500 meters with a personal-best time of 4:44.70, while freshman Victoria Roughsedge followed in sixth place with her personal-best time of 4:50.61. Junior Sarah Livett also recorded a personal-best mark when she finished in eighth place with a time of 4:53.42.
Senior Avril McGhee leaped to a personal-best distance and a third-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 39-05.00. Sophomore Shanice Leach earned a fifth-place finish in the event after she jumped a personal-best mark of 39-00.50.
UAB returns to action Friday when the Blazers travel to Atlanta, Ga., to compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational.
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