The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
NCAA Championships
Ambrus Earns All-America Status in 5K Run
3/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
March 14, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- UAB senior Elizabeth Ambrus earned All-America status in the 5,000-meter run after placing eighth at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship Friday.
Ambrus finished the 5K run in 16:18.92, earning the biggest individual accolade during her collegiate career. She also becomes the first UAB All-American since 1996.
"Elizabeth ran an absolutely perfect race," head coach Ray Stanfield said. "She had her best performance when it counted most and executed our game plan to perfection."
Her finish, which was six seconds faster than her previous mark, helped her set the school record in the 5K run for the third time this season. Coming into the year the UAB school record in the 5K race was 16:57.16. The last UAB All-American was Vonetta Jeffrey who was a seven-time All-American over her four years.
Ambrus adds the 5K All-American award to a lengthy list of accolades that she has received.
She won the Conference USA title in the 5,000-meter run for the third time in her career earlier this month in Houston. Her time of 16:31.83 set a then-school record and helped her become the first league runner to win three league titles in the 5K run. She also set the C-USA Indoor meet record and also the track record.
This was the fourth national championship meet that Ambrus competed in. She ran in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships and the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Sally Kipyego from Texas Tech won the event with a time of 15:31.91.
