The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Belmont Opener
UAB Takes Third At Belmont Opener
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 4, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The UAB cross country team kicked off the 2009 season with a third-place finish at the Belmont Opener Friday evening.
Sophomore Rhiannon Johns was the leading runner for the Green and Gold, placing fifth overall and first for the Blazers with a time of 14:37.01.
Vanderbilt claimed the meet's title with 42 points, while Alabama was the runner-up with 57 points. UAB rounded out the top-three finishers of Belmont's 12-team field with 109 points.
"This meet provided valuable experience for us," head cross country coach Blake Boldon said. "It was our first race of the season and allowed us to see where we are at fitness-wise. The meet also showed us which girls are going to step up in race situations."
Other top finishers for the Blazers included junior Stephanie Gammon, who claimed 18th place overall with a time of 15:00.65, and sophomores Colleen Standridge and Kristina Vaughn. Standridge posted a time of 15:16.31, while Vaughn finished close-behind with a time of 15:20.79.
"I liked what I saw from Colleen and Kristina today," Boldon said. "Coming into this meet I wanted to see who would fill spots three through seven on the team, and I think Colleen and Kristina proved that they have the potential to be runners three and four for us this season."
The Blazers will be back in action next Saturday, Sept. 12, to compete in the Earl Jacoby Memorial in Huntsville, Ala.
