The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Cross Country Lands In Preseason Poll
8/28/2017 3:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB Cross Country is ranked No. 12 in the USTFCCCA South Region Preseason poll.
The Blazers finished last season No. 19 in the South Region but return a strong core of runners from 2016 and added to that group with some talented freshman. UAB also returns its top four runners from a year ago in Rebecca Evans, Sarah Livett, Emily Drouin and Jenna Hind.
Evans was one of three runners to compete in all six meets for the green and gold last season, she was the lead runner in four of the six meets. Livett also ran in all six races in 2016 and posted a season-best 17:55.5 at the C-USA Championship, finishing 13th and earning a spot on the All-conference team.
Drouin ran in five of six races during the 2016 season and posted a personal best time of 18:26.6 in the 5K at the conference meet. Hinds was the third runner to race in all six meets last season and posted the fastest time of any freshman in 2016 at the Greater Louisville Classic, running 19:02.90.
Bethan Evans was the Welsh Athletics Cross Country Bronze Medalist in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. She has also represented Wales 14 times internationally since the age of 12. Morgan Mihalis was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track at Lakeside in Atlanta, Ga. She also was a three-time region winner in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in cross country.
Also a four-year letterwinner at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, Kan. Maggie Sieben placed fourth in the state in 5A for cross country in 2014 and was named to the all-metro, all-region and all-state teams in 2014. Karlee Stortz was named to the All-Region team all four years of high school and was also All-Conference every year. She helped her team to a fifth place finish at the state championships her freshman and sophomore year.
Head coach Matt Esche said it is an honor to have the program ranked in the preseason poll and shows the level of respect UAB Cross Country has built over the past several years.
"With the ranking comes a little pressure but also excitement," Esche said. "Our goal is to not only validate that ranking each week we compete but also to improve upon it."
For more information about UAB Cross Country follow along on Twitter (@uab_tf_xc).
The Blazers finished last season No. 19 in the South Region but return a strong core of runners from 2016 and added to that group with some talented freshman. UAB also returns its top four runners from a year ago in Rebecca Evans, Sarah Livett, Emily Drouin and Jenna Hind.
Evans was one of three runners to compete in all six meets for the green and gold last season, she was the lead runner in four of the six meets. Livett also ran in all six races in 2016 and posted a season-best 17:55.5 at the C-USA Championship, finishing 13th and earning a spot on the All-conference team.
Drouin ran in five of six races during the 2016 season and posted a personal best time of 18:26.6 in the 5K at the conference meet. Hinds was the third runner to race in all six meets last season and posted the fastest time of any freshman in 2016 at the Greater Louisville Classic, running 19:02.90.
Bethan Evans was the Welsh Athletics Cross Country Bronze Medalist in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. She has also represented Wales 14 times internationally since the age of 12. Morgan Mihalis was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track at Lakeside in Atlanta, Ga. She also was a three-time region winner in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in cross country.
Also a four-year letterwinner at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, Kan. Maggie Sieben placed fourth in the state in 5A for cross country in 2014 and was named to the all-metro, all-region and all-state teams in 2014. Karlee Stortz was named to the All-Region team all four years of high school and was also All-Conference every year. She helped her team to a fifth place finish at the state championships her freshman and sophomore year.
Head coach Matt Esche said it is an honor to have the program ranked in the preseason poll and shows the level of respect UAB Cross Country has built over the past several years.
"With the ranking comes a little pressure but also excitement," Esche said. "Our goal is to not only validate that ranking each week we compete but also to improve upon it."
For more information about UAB Cross Country follow along on Twitter (@uab_tf_xc).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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