The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis Invitational
UAB Track and Field Team Competes At Memphis Invitational
4/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
April 30, 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ----- The UAB track and field team had several outstanding performances, including a pair of first-place efforts, here Saturday at the Memphis Invitational.
The Blazers used the meet as a tune-up for the upcoming Conference USA Championship that will be held May 12-15 at Houston, Texas.
Junior Lauren Fayen and senior Nora Mehl were winners in their respective specialties, capturing first place in the 800-meter run and the high jump.
Fayen clocked a time of 2:10.93 to win the 800 while teammate Bianca LeBlanc finished third at 2:12.00. In the high jump, Mehl claimed top honors with a best leap of 5-8 3/4. Blazer freshman Taylor Simpson was fifth in the high jump at 5-5, a personal-best effort.
The Blazers registered second and third-place finishes in the 100-meter dash with Alexis Bates edging teammate Shakima Knox as both were officially clocked at 11;75. Bates' time was a personal best while Knox equaled her previous best performance.
In the 400-meter dash, Kyana White was fourth at 58.26 and Veronicia Johnson was fifth at 58.60
UAB's Akira McSwain was fifth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.67 while the Blazers' Rachel Harley was fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:02.52.
The Blazers' 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams both finished second in the meet Saturday. The 4x100 foursome of Thelyssa Katchen, White, Knox and Bates finished with a time of 46.64. In the 4x400, UAB's White, Katchen, McSwain and Karina Expose clocked a time of 3:52.03.
UAB also stood out in the long jump as McSwan turned in a leap of 18-6 1/2 to finish second in the event.
"The girls came out and ended up with some solid performances today," said UAB head coach Kurt Thomas. "The wind wasn't ideal, but we didn't let it bother us much and we came away with some real good seasonal bests, and a few personal bests. Lauren and Bianca ran well again in the 800m and will be a force at conference.
"Akira long jumped really well, and that bodes well for her heptathlon in two weeks. Taylor had a real good high jump. She's been showing signs in practice and really did a nice job. Alexis and Shakima ran well in the 100m. There are still some technical things to improve on in the next two weeks, but you can't argue with the time and they'll be prepared at conference.
"There are always things to improve on," Thomas said. "And we have a important week of training to get those things done. When this team puts it all together they will be really good. As a coaching staff we are excited to see that happen."
