The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Niswonger Invite
UAB Track & Field Concludes Niswonger Invitational
2/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 5, 2011
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- UAB recorded six top three finishes Saturday as the Blazer track & field team concluded the Niswonger Invitational hosted by East Tennessee State.
Sophomore Shakima Knox crossed the line in 7.64 to claim the 60-meter title. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., product also finished as the runner-up in the 200-meter with a personal-record time of 24.74.
Junior Rhiannon Johns claimed the top spot in the mile, finishing just shy of the school record with a personal-record time of 5:01.11. Also in the mile event, junior Kristina Vaughn ran a personal-record 5:11.88.
"I think the team accomplished a lot this weekend," UAB head coach Kurt Thomas said. "We set out to come here and improve in a lot of areas and I felt like we did that. When you have this many top three finishes, that's a positive thing. Shakima had two great races, and Rhi had a great mile race and was just off the school record."
Freshman Kelli Smith leaped a personal-record 5.84m (19-02.00) in the long jump to record a second-place finish.
In the 60-meter hurdle invite, sophomore Akira McSwain crossed the line in 8.97 to place third.
The 4x400-meter relay team placed third after running a season-best time of 3:51.94.
Senior Stephanie Gammon ran to a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter.
"The 4x400-meter relay had a season best time and Akira continues to hurdle well," Thomas said. "I think we worked on a lot of things in a lot of different areas and improved. The goal is to continue to improve and be at our best for the conference championships."
UAB returns to action next weekend. The Blazers will send one squad to the Tiger Paw Invite hosted by Clemson and another squad to the Tyson Invite hosted by Arkansas.
