The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Sea Ray Relays
McSwain Finishes Fifth In Heptathlon At Sea Ray Relays
4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
April 15, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ----- UAB sophomore Akira McSwain finished fifth in the heptathlon here Thursday to wrap up the second day of competition at the 45th Annual Sea Ray Relays.
McSwain finished with a seven-event total of 4,843 points to better her 2010 performance in the Sea Rays meet when she tallied 4,812 points and placed eighth.
On Thursday the final three events (long jump, javelin, and 800 meters) of the heptathlon were held.
Georgia's Lucie Ondraschkova won all three events to win the overall competition with a total of 5,447 points. Kentucky's Precious Nwokey was second in the final scoring with 5,309 points.
McSwain was fifth in the long jump with a leap of 18-0 1/4 (5.49 meters), was seventh in the javelin at 77-0 (23.48m) and placed third in the 800 with a time 2:28.49.
"I think Akira was a little disappointed after the heptathlon," said UAB head coach Kurt Thomas. "She knows she left some big points out there in the high jump and the javelin. Those are things we need to go back and fix. She's a great athlete and a great competitor, so she will bounce back and be fine.
"This meet was a good chance to show us some things that she needs to work on, and Coach (Kiamesha) Otey and the heptathlon will do that. Overall, Akira isn't pleased, but she had a solid two days and it will help make her better."
UAB will have a full contingent of competitors on the track Friday as a full schedule of track events begin.
UAB has two competitors participating in the 53rd Annual Mt. SAC Relays, distance runners Krtisina Vaughn and Rhiannon Johns. Vaughn ran in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday evening and finished eighth, clocking a personal-best time of 10:45.85. Johns will run in the 5,000 meters Friday night.
"Kristina ran a good race," Thomas said. "Coach (Tony) Houchin had a good plan in place, and Vaughn left there with a PR and moved up the NCAA list a little. She is light years ahead of where she was last year. I'm sure she and Coach Houchin aren't satisfied, but anytime you PR, it's a good day. She knows where she can improve, and as hard as she works, she'll be ready for a big race at conference."
