The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, November 15
Tallahassee, FL
7:30 a.m.
UAB
at
NCAA South Regional
UAB Cross Country Pegged No. 15, Set to Compete in NCAA South Region
11/4/2019 3:26:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
NEW ORLEANS – The UAB cross country team has been ranked No. 15 ahead of competing in the NCAA South Region at Florida State on Friday, the USTFCCCA announced on Monday. Following its most successful meet of the season in a sixth-place finish at the Conference USA Championship on Saturday, the Blazers earned an NCAA Regional ranking for the first time since 2017.
UAB is scheduled to run the 6k at 7:30 a.m. amongst a field of 35 of the region's best, including host No. 12 Florida State and No. 27 Ole Miss.
"It's exciting to see the hard work and determination the ladies have put in recognized by the USTFCCCA," said coach Matt Esche. "The performances by the ladies these past couple of weekends show that we are a team to be reckoned with when championship season comes around."
UAB made a late push to slide into the NCAA rankings, most notably with its Conference USA 5k finish as senior Serena Martinez led the way for the Blazers for the second time this season. The Hackensack, N.J., native landed in 18th place with a personal-best time of 17:59.72 to earn All-Conference USA Third Team honors for her first all-conference selection. All eight runners competing clocked career-best times in the event.
Other solid finishes for UAB this season included the home-hosted Blazer invitational and season opening City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic. In the Blazer Invitational, UAB most earned a 10th-place finish against a field of 30 teams. Eight different girls clocked career-best times in the 6k race as redshirt junior Celestial Moon paced the Blazers by shattering her previous career best by over a minute to finish in 37th place.
Prior to last weekend, the UAB's best finish as a team to date was in the season-opening Memphis Twilight Classic, when the team finished sixth overall. Freshman Lauren Robinson and Martinez both placed in the top-20 in the 5k event, running 18:37.95 and 18:41.98, respectively.
The future of the Blazers' season hinges on their performance in the upcoming NCAA South Regional with a chance to advance to the NCAA Championships.
For more information on the UAB cross country team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_TF_XC) and Instagram (UAB_TF_XC).
UAB is scheduled to run the 6k at 7:30 a.m. amongst a field of 35 of the region's best, including host No. 12 Florida State and No. 27 Ole Miss.
"It's exciting to see the hard work and determination the ladies have put in recognized by the USTFCCCA," said coach Matt Esche. "The performances by the ladies these past couple of weekends show that we are a team to be reckoned with when championship season comes around."
UAB made a late push to slide into the NCAA rankings, most notably with its Conference USA 5k finish as senior Serena Martinez led the way for the Blazers for the second time this season. The Hackensack, N.J., native landed in 18th place with a personal-best time of 17:59.72 to earn All-Conference USA Third Team honors for her first all-conference selection. All eight runners competing clocked career-best times in the event.
Other solid finishes for UAB this season included the home-hosted Blazer invitational and season opening City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic. In the Blazer Invitational, UAB most earned a 10th-place finish against a field of 30 teams. Eight different girls clocked career-best times in the 6k race as redshirt junior Celestial Moon paced the Blazers by shattering her previous career best by over a minute to finish in 37th place.
Prior to last weekend, the UAB's best finish as a team to date was in the season-opening Memphis Twilight Classic, when the team finished sixth overall. Freshman Lauren Robinson and Martinez both placed in the top-20 in the 5k event, running 18:37.95 and 18:41.98, respectively.
The future of the Blazers' season hinges on their performance in the upcoming NCAA South Regional with a chance to advance to the NCAA Championships.
For more information on the UAB cross country team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_TF_XC) and Instagram (UAB_TF_XC).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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