The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB's Johns, Mehl Competing At NCAA East Preliminary Round
5/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 26, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Junior distance runner Rhiannon Johns and senior high jumper Nora Mehl are representing the UAB track and field program this week at the 2011 NCAA East Preliminary Round Championships at Indiana University.
The three-day meet will be held at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex at E.C. "Billy" Hayes Track, Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28.
Johns qualified in two events -- the 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs -- while Mehl was a qualifier in her specialty. Johns will be competing in her second consecutive NCAA meet while Mehl qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary for the second straight spring and for postseason competition a third consecutive year.
Johns will enter this week's meet with a season-best time in the 5,000 of 16:13.32, recorded at the Mt. SAC Relays April 16. Her top time this spring in the 10,000 is the 34:14.04 she ran at the Stanford Invitational on March 26. She won her second consecutive Conference USA 10,000-meter title last weekend at Houston.
Mehl has had a consistent season with her best jump of 1.76m (5-9 1/4) recorded at the Birmingham-Southern Invitational.
Johns will run in the 10,000 on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET and follow up Saturday with the 5,000 at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Mehl will compete in the high jump on Friday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The pair will be looking to qualify for and advance to the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Des Moines, Iowa, June 8-11.
"We're excited to have Rhi and Nora competing at the NCAA East Prelims," said UAB head coach Kurt Thomas. "They both have a good chance of moving on to the NCAA finals. That's always the goal, to have athletes qualify and compete for a national title.
"Rhi has been running very well, defended her conference title in the 10k, and is coming in with more big-race experience this year. Her first race will be the 10k Thursday night, but will have a chance to come back and race the 5k Saturday night.
"Nora has had a great career here, and this will be her last chance at NCAA's," Thomas said. "She's been jumping well, but has been working out some kinks, and will be ready to be at her best. This is the type of meet to step up. THese girls have been here before and I hope that experience pays off. We're really proud of what these two have accomplished this year and we want to keep it going."
