The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis Twilight Classic
UAB Cross Country Finishes Third At Memphis Twilight Classic
9/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The UAB cross country team placed third Saturday evening at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic hosted by Christian Brothers University.
Blazer junior Rhiannon Johns finished second overall after crossing the line in a personal-best 5K time of 17:29.06.
Stephen F. Austin claimed the meet's title with 60 points, while Eastern Kentucky registered 73 points to finish as the runner-up. UAB rounded out the top three finishers with a score of 85 points.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't win, but we did finish third out of 32 teams," UAB head coach Blake Boldon said. "We beat some quality teams and considering this was our real first race out of the gate, the girls did a tremendous job."
Senior Stephanie Gammon placed 13th with a time of 18:08.73 and junior Kristina Vaughn clocked a personal-best 18:24.99 to finish 19th. Junior Clara Cid finished fourth for the Blazers and 21st overall with a personal-best 18:32.62, while junior Colleen Standridge ran to a personal-best 18:40.31 to finish 30th overall.
Junior Lucy Taylor and freshman Emily Trotter also ran personal-best races, bringing the total to six Blazers recording career bests Saturday.
"When you can leave here with the vast majority of the team running personal-best races, we are well on course for a good season," Boldon said. "Rhi Johns finished behind an All-American, which says a lot about her fitness. Stephanie Gammon also did a superb job and is right on track with where she was two years ago."
The Blazers return to action on Oct. 9 at the Southeast Cross Country Showdown hosted by Samford.
