The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Kamp Fender
Kyla Horn Leads Hurdle Group as Season Approaches
11/26/2019 12:01:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM – With its first indoor meet on the horizon, the UAB track and field team is gearing up to open the 2019-20 indoor season at the Birmingham Southern Ice Breaker on Dec. 6 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
One of the unit leaders for the Blazers is senior Kyla Horn, who specializes in hurdles. A local product from Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala., Horn finished off last year's indoor regular season with her best mark in the 60-meter hurdles yet, an 8.95 in the 2019 Bulldog Invite hosted by Samford at the Birmingham CrossPlex to finish just outside the top 10.
The senior followed that performance with a 10th place finish in the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, also held at the Birmingham CrossPlex, narrowly missing a career-best result. Horn will have an opportunity to surpass her mark at the same venue to open the indoor season this year at the BSC Ice Breaker.
"I'm very excited about this year," said Horn. "We have been training very hard this preseason. I have been running with the 400-meter hurdle runners. I feel very confident, and everyone else is feeling confident. We are a little over a week away from our first meet. I plan to PR and be top eight this year. I'm very excited. Coach Thomas is very excited about what we're doing for this year."
To open outdoor competition a year ago, Horn kicked off the season with a first place finish as part of a crew that ran the 4x100 relay in the South Alabama Jaguar Opener. On her own later in the season, she notched a second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at Samford's 2019 Alabama Track Challenge. She finished the season in the 2019 Conference USA Outdoor Championships, placing just outside the top 10 in the 100-meter hurdles.
"We think the hurdles can be a strength for us this indoor season, and Kyla is leader of that group. She's a senior who knows what it takes to be good in Conference USA," said coach Kurt Thomas. "Our sprint group will be talented this year with newcomers and experienced returners. Karri Green, Ebony Tolliver and Marielle Lewis will lead the way to try to score as many points as possible in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 4x4 events. Lisa Petkov is a very good newcomer for us that should make some noise in C-USA. This fall, they have all been very focused and worked hard to be able to score points at conference. They've been fun to coach, and I can't wait for them to start racing and competing soon."
One of the unit leaders for the Blazers is senior Kyla Horn, who specializes in hurdles. A local product from Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala., Horn finished off last year's indoor regular season with her best mark in the 60-meter hurdles yet, an 8.95 in the 2019 Bulldog Invite hosted by Samford at the Birmingham CrossPlex to finish just outside the top 10.
The senior followed that performance with a 10th place finish in the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, also held at the Birmingham CrossPlex, narrowly missing a career-best result. Horn will have an opportunity to surpass her mark at the same venue to open the indoor season this year at the BSC Ice Breaker.
"I'm very excited about this year," said Horn. "We have been training very hard this preseason. I have been running with the 400-meter hurdle runners. I feel very confident, and everyone else is feeling confident. We are a little over a week away from our first meet. I plan to PR and be top eight this year. I'm very excited. Coach Thomas is very excited about what we're doing for this year."
To open outdoor competition a year ago, Horn kicked off the season with a first place finish as part of a crew that ran the 4x100 relay in the South Alabama Jaguar Opener. On her own later in the season, she notched a second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at Samford's 2019 Alabama Track Challenge. She finished the season in the 2019 Conference USA Outdoor Championships, placing just outside the top 10 in the 100-meter hurdles.
"We think the hurdles can be a strength for us this indoor season, and Kyla is leader of that group. She's a senior who knows what it takes to be good in Conference USA," said coach Kurt Thomas. "Our sprint group will be talented this year with newcomers and experienced returners. Karri Green, Ebony Tolliver and Marielle Lewis will lead the way to try to score as many points as possible in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 4x4 events. Lisa Petkov is a very good newcomer for us that should make some noise in C-USA. This fall, they have all been very focused and worked hard to be able to score points at conference. They've been fun to coach, and I can't wait for them to start racing and competing soon."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
/ Women's Track & Field
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