The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Takes Momentum Into NCAA Regionals
11/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 11, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB cross country team heads to Gainesville, Fla., for the 2005 NCAA South Regional Cross Country meet hosted by the University of Florida on Saturday, Nov. 12. The women's race, which will take place at the University of Florida Golf Course, will begin at 11 a.m. (ET). The top two teams in each race and the top four individuals not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on Monday, Nov. 21.
"The regional championships are always exciting," said UAB head coach Ray Stanfield. "When a trip to the national meet is on the line, it becomes a great experience. As a team we are as ready as possible. Individually, Elizabeth (Ambrus) has put herself in a very good position to have a shot at one of the individual qualifying spots."
The South Regional meet will consist of 32 teams and 183 athletes from schools in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. Some of the teams competing are Alabama, Auburn, Birmingham-Southern, UCF, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Miami, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. There will also be individuals competing as well.
In addition to UAB's Elizabeth Ambrus, who won the 2005 Conference USA individual title last month, the women's race features two conference team title winners and five individual conference champions. Tennessee won its second straight Southeastern Conference title, while Samford won the Ohio Valley Conference. Angela Holman of Auburn was the SEC's individual championship for the third straight year, Shannon Womack of Chattanooga won the Southern Conference, Ebanie Lewis of Jackson State won the SWAC and Lauren Blakenship of Samford won the Ohio Valley title.
UAB is looking to improve on its performance at the 2004 regionals. The Blazers placed ninth overall, as Elizabeth Hilligoss led UAB with her 23rd-place finish.
Results will be available at www.ncaasports.com and www.GatorZone.com as soon as possible following each race.
