The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Conference USA Championships
UAB Starts Strong At C-USA Outdoor Championships
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 15, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB track and field team turned in an impressive first day on Thursday at the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Tulsa, Okla. with performances in the heptathlon and the 10,000-meter run. Timara McMillan and Nora Mehl finished the first half of the heptathlon in third and sixth place, respectively. In the 10,000-meter run, Stephanie Gammon posted a third-place finish, while Rhiannon Johns finished close behind in sixth.
After the first four events in the heptathlon, McMillan was in first place with 2,982 points and Mehl was in third with 2,872 points.
In the first event of the heptathlon, the 100-meter hurdles, McMillan claimed first place with a new personal best time of 14.02. Mehl's 12th-place time of 15.79 was also a new personal best for the event.
In the high jump portion, Mehl captured the top spot with a height of 1.75m. McMillan finished tied for seventh with a height of 1.54m.
Mehl placed seventh in the shot put with a throw of 10.10m and McMillan came in ninth place with a new personal best of 9.80m.
In day's final event, the 200-meter dash, McMillan's time of 25.69 was good enough for second place and Mehl finished in 14th place with a time of 27.39.
Another Blazer, Sterling Cross, finished the first day of the heptathlon in fifth place with 2,707 points.
The heptathlon will conclude on Friday, as the athletes will compete in the long jump, the javelin throw and the 800-meter run.
In the 10,000-meter run Gammon finished third after setting a new personal record of 35:43.67 and became the first Blazer to medal in the three-day competition. Johns' finished in sixth place after turning in a time of 37:30.59.
After the first day, UAB is in fifth place with nine points. East Carolina leads all teams with 20 points while SMU and Rice are tied for second with 15 points. Tulsa is in fourth place, just ahead of the Blazers with 10 points.
Championship action continues Friday at 10 a.m. with the decathlon and heptathlon events, as well as the prelims of the runner events.
