The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Announce Five Track & Field Signees
6/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
June 27, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB head track and field coach Kurt Thomas has announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Blazers' 2011 signing class.
Shelby Barker (Jumps/Roswell, Ga./Roswell HS), Kendra Gibson (Jumps/Tuscaloosa, Ala./Northridge HS), Toni Hawkins (Pole Vault/Pelham, Ala./Pelham HS), Kristie Leybourne (Middle Distance/Preston, England) and Jenna Wesley (Middle Distance/Fayetteville, Ga./Spalding HS) have signed National Letters of Intent to join UAB's track and field program.
"We really feel good about our signing class this year," said Thomas. "We were able to add some depth to the distance team in an attempt to get cross country to NCAAs this year. Kristie and Jenna will be able to help in that.
"Shelby and Kendra add to our good jumps group and we're looking forward to having them join our program. I'm excited to add Toni to our team as a pole vaulter. That is an area I know we can score more points in at the conference meet."
Barker is a three-time Georgia state meet qualifier and has finished in the top six at the state 6-AAAAA meet in the triple jump and high jump in the past two years. Barker also was awarded the Faculty Cup at Roswell High School in metro-Atlanta, an award that is given annually by the school's faculty and staff for academics, community service and athletics.
"Shelby had some injuries her senior season which I'm sure was disappointing to her. But Coach (Kiamesha) Otey will give her a great opportunity to be a better jumper and a consistent jump threat."
Gibson was the AHSAA Class 6A state champion in the triple jump as a junior in 2010 and finished runner-up this past spring. She helped lead Northridge to a fourth-place finish as a team at the 2010 state meet. Gibson is also a top-50 ranked triple jumper nationally. She is the cousin of former UAB hurdler/jumper Erin Harris (2004-07).
"Kendra is a great sign for us," Thomas said. "She comes from a Northridge program that has a great coach in Jeff Sparks, so I know she knows fundamentals. She has a talent and a knack for winning and that's something you can't always teach. I'm really excited for what she'll be able to accomplish here under Coach (Kiamesha) Otey."
Hawkins, from Pelham High School just south of Birmingham, will help fill a void for the Blazers as a pole vaulter. She finished third at the 2011 AHSAA Class 6A Championships in May. In 2009 Hawkins finished first in the pole vault at the Alabama Junior Olympic Championships.
"Toni is well-coached and is fundamentally sound in her vaulting which is huge to start out a college career," Thomas said. "She brings great experience to our team."
Leybourne will bring her talents to UAB from Great Britain where she has enjoyed a highly-successful career as a junior distance runner. She represented Northern England and finished 10th at the Home Countries Cross Country Championships in Antrim, Ireland. Leybourne has been Lancashire County Champion in the 1,500-meter run three times.
"Kristie has good range and will give Coach (Tony) Houchin great depth in cross country and in our track distance group," Thomas said.
Wesley is another outstanding prospect from the state of Georgia, twice winning GHSA Class 4-AAA state titles in the 800 meters. As a senior at Spalding High School, she won captured the 800 championship and finished fourth in the 1,600. She also was 800 champ in 2010 as a junior.
"Jenna is a two-time state champ in Georgia, which is an excellent accomplishment, and she will give us another conference scorer in the middle distance events," said Thomas.
