The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Track and Field Signs Two
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB track and field program and head coach Kurt Thomas announced the signing of Keila Robertson and Marielle Lewis to National Letters of Intent on Thursday.
A native of Gaithersburg, Md., by way of Magruder High School, Robertson will compete in both the long and triple jump upon joining the Blazers next season.
Robertson enters her senior year with the Colonels featuring a personal best long jump mark of 17-9 to go along with a distance of 38-6 in the triple jump.
Last season at the Maryland 4A State Meet, Robertson turned in a third place showing in the triple jump following a mark of 37-8.5 and a seventh place finish in the long jump with a distance of 17-5.25. In addition, Robertson competed in the triple jump at the 2015 New Balance Indoor Nationals – Championship Section in New York, N.Y.
Robertson was named First Team All-County and was the 4A West Montgomery County Region long jump champion in 2014. She would go on to place sixth in the long jump at Emerging Elites New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Robertson was also tabbed Second Team All-County during the indoor season.
In 2013, Robertson was named Second Team All-County en route to helping the Colonels capture an outdoor conference championship.
Robertson, who has a sister that competes for the track and field team at Jackson State, plans to major in chemistry.
“Keila is an athlete we think has a lot of upside,” Thomas said. “She competes in the jumping events and can really round out that event group. We are excited to have her as a Blazer."
Lewis is a standout distance runner at Campbell High School in Symrna, Ga., and is expected to compete in the 400, 800 and 1500 meters as well as run for the cross country team.
Last season, Lewis was the 2015 5A Georgia State Track and Field State Champion in the 1600 meters and the runner-up in the 800 meters.
She holds personal best times of 57.0 (400 meters), 61.6 (400 meter hurdles), 2:13 (800 meters), 5:06 (1600 meters) and 19:04 (5K).
“Marielle can be a very special athlete for us due to her ability to produce quality times in both the 400 meters and 400 meter hurdles, and she is equally gifted in her ability to run long distance for our cross country team” Thomas added. “She comes from a high school in Georgia that has produced several successful Blazers in the past, including our current distance runner, Laurie Pray. Marielle’s ceiling is very high, and we are excited to add her to our program.”
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