The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Conference USA Championships
UAB's Elizabeth Ambrus Wins Title At Conference USA Championships
10/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 29, 2005
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. ----- UAB junior Elizabeth Ambrus captured the individual title at the 2005 Conference USA Cross Country Championships here Saturday morning at Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex, leading the Blazers to a second-place finish at the championships. Not only is Ambrus the first UAB runner to win the individual title, the Blazers' second-place performance as a team is the best in school history.
Additionally, Ambrus was named first team all-conference for her performance. Sophomore Elizabeth Hilligoss earned a spot on the All-Conference USA second team, while Whitney Mays and Jakia Williams were named third team all-conference. Williams was also named Freshman of the Year by the conference making her the second straight Blazer to receive the award, as Hilligoss was the 2004 winner.
"What an amazing championship," said UAB head coach Ray Stanfield. "Elizabeth was tremendous, as was the whole team. I'm so proud of how every one performed today. It's a huge honor for Elizabeth to be the first Blazer to win the Conference USA individual title and it's a huge honor for this team to record the best performance in school history. Additionally, I'm so thrilled for Jakia, Elizabeth Hilligoss and Whitney Mays. They've all worked so hard this year and it paid off."
Ambrus secured the women's 5K race with a strong final push to the finish line, as she caught Rice's Kate Gorry in the final 100 meters to earn the top spot with a personal best of 17:02.95. Hilligoss was 10th overall, running the course in 17:55.72, a season-best time. Williams placed 13th in the championship with a career-best time of 18:02.11, while sophomore Mays recorded a career-best time of 18:04.92. The Blazers fifth top-20 finisher was junior Jennifer Thompson, who tallied a time of 18:15.93 and placed 18th.
Junior Ryanne Fortney was 34th overall, running the course in a season-best 18:46.47, while freshman Katie Stepp placed 48th for UAB with a time of 19:19.67.
The Blazers' 57 points placed second behind 24th-ranked Rice, who tallied 46 points in the meet. SMU was third with 86 points, while Tulsa and Southern Miss rounded out the top five.
