2011-12 UAB Track and Field Information Guide by UAB Athletics

Track

Field

Akira McSwain Junior

Rachel Harley Junior

2012 UAB Track and Field Schedule 2012 Indoor Track Schedule

Dec. 7, 2011 Dec. 8, 2011

Birmingham Ice Breaker Birmingham Ice Breaker

Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex

All Day All Day

Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 25 Jan. 26

Blazer Invite Blazer Invite Birmingham Invitational Birmingham Invitational

Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex

All Day All Day All Day All Day

Feb. 3 Feb. 4 Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb. 25 Feb. 26 March 3 March 9-10

Meyo Invitational - Notre Dame Meyo Invitational - Notre Dame Vulcan Invitational Vulcan Invitational C-USA Championships hosted by UAB C-USA Championships hosted by UAB

South Bend, Ind. South Bend, Ind. Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham CrossPlex

All Day All Day All Day All Day All Day All Day

NCAA Qualifiers NCAA Indoor Championships

Birmingham Ala. Nampa, Idaho

All Day All Day

March 16 March 17 March 23 March 24

Samford Invitational Samford Invitational Alabama Relays Alabama Relays

Birmingham, Ala. Birmingham, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala.

April 6 April 7 April 13 April 14 April 20 April 21 April 28

Florida Relays/Stanford Invitational Florida Relays/Stanford Invitational Mississippi State Invitational Mississippi State Invitaitonal Mt. SAC Relays/Auburn Invitational Mt. SAC Relays/Auburn Invitational Golden Eagle Classic

Gainesville, Fla./Palo Alto, Calif. All Day Gainesville, Fla./Palo Alto, Calif. All Day Starkville, Miss. All Day Starkville, Miss. All Day Walnut, Calif./Auburn, Ala. All Day Walnut, Calif./Auburn, Ala. All Day Hattiesburg, Miss. All Day

May 11-14 May 24-26

C-USA Championships hosted by Tulane NCAA East Preliminaries

New Orleans, La. Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day All Day

NCAA Outdoor Championships USA Olympic Trials

Des Moines, Iowa Eugene, Ore.

All Day All Day

June 6-9 June 21-23

2012 Outdoor Track Schedule All Day All Day All Day All Day

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General Information Table of Contents

Quick Facts

Team Information 2012 Roster.................................................................................................... 2 Coaching and Support Staff........................................................................ 3 Head Coach Kurt Thomas.......................................................................... 4 Assistant Coach Tony Houchin................................................................. 5 Assistant Coach Kiamesha Otey ............................................................... 6 Volunteer Assistant Mary Houchin.......................................................... 6 Volunteer Assistant John Alcazar.............................................................. 6 Birmingham CrossPlex............................................................................... 7

Location: Birmingham, Ala. Founded: 1969 Enrollment: 17,543 Nickname: Blazers Colors: Forest Green and Old Gold President: Dr. Carol Garrison Athletics Director: Brian Mackin Faculty Representative: Dr. Frank Messina TRACK & FIELD STAFF Head Coach: Kurt Thomas Assistant Coach: Tony Houchin Assistant Coach: Kiamesha Otey Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mary Houchin Volunteer Assistant Coach: John Alcazar Athletic Trainer: Melissa Adams ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Associate AD/Media Relations: Norm Reilly Associate Director: Aaron Jordan Assistant Director: Tyson Mathews Assistant Director: Ben Warnick Media Relations Asst./Track Contact: Lauren Rupert Email: lrupert@uab.edu Office Phone: 205-934-0724 Cell Phone: 724-516-4577

Call Us UAB The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been an autonomous member of the University of Alabama system since 1969, and has had an intercollegiate athletic program since 1977. UAB is sometimes confused with the University of Alabama (Crimson Tide), which is located in Tuscaloosa; while this is inevitable, it is important to note that the two are indeed separate institutions. In addition, the UAB name is often altered by various media, opponents, merchandisers, etc. Please note that there are only two correct versions of our name, the acronym “UAB,” or the full “University of Alabama at Birmingham.” In addition, the Associated Press sports stylebook now uses UAB on first reference, not Alabama-Birmingham. We are: UAB University of Alabama at Birmingham

The 2012 Blazers 2012 Season Outlook................................................................................... 8 Clara Cid....................................................................................................... 9 Sterling Cross.............................................................................................. 10 Lauren Fayen.............................................................................................. 11 Rhiannon Johns.......................................................................................... 12 Lucy Taylor................................................................................................. 13 Kristina Vaughn......................................................................................... 14 Rachel Harley.............................................................................................. 15 Sarah Hudak............................................................................................... 16 Thelyssa Katchen....................................................................................... 17 Shakima Knox............................................................................................ 18 Akira McSwain........................................................................................... 19 Lytrice Thomas........................................................................................... 20 Alexis Bates / Shaquela Leatherwood..................................................... 21 Renay Ransaw / Taylor Simpson............................................................. 22 Kelli Smith / Angel Watson...................................................................... 23 Kyana White / Kara Woods..................................................................... 24 Newcomers........................................................................................... 25-27 2011 In Review 2011 Season In Review.............................................................................. 28 2011 Top Indoor Performances............................................................... 29 2011 Top Outdoor Performances............................................................ 30 Record Book All-Time Indoor Performances......................................................... 31-32 All-Time Outdoor Performances...................................................... 33-34 All-Time Records...................................................................................... 35 Freshman Records..................................................................................... 36 Conference USA........................................................................................ 37 This Is UAB UAB Administration........................................................................... 38-39 UAB At A Glance................................................................................ 40-42 Birmingham............................................................................................... 43 Campus Recreation Center...................................................................... 44 Gene Bartow............................................................................................... 45 Proud Past, Bright Future.................................................................. 46-48 Blazer Highlights....................................................................................... 49 UAB All-Americans.................................................................................. 50 Excellence At The Next Level.................................................................. 51 Academics............................................................................................. 52-53 Sports Medicine................................................................................... 54-55 Strength and Conditioning................................................................ 56-57 CREDITS: The 2012 UAB track & field media guide is an official production of the UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. The guide was compiled, designed, written and edited by Lauren Rupert, with editorial assistance by Norm Reilly, Ben Warnick and Kurt Thomas. Cover design by Jamie Barker and Jai Giffin, Provations Group, Nicholasville, Ky.

We are not: Alabama-Birmingham, Ala.-Birmingham, UA-Birmingham or U.A.B. 1

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Roster Alphabetical Roster Name Shelby Barker Alexis Bates Clara Cid Sterling Cross Lauren Fayen Kendra Gipson Rachel Harley Toni Hawkins Sarah Hudak Rhiannon Johns Thelyssa Katchen Shakima Knox Shaquela Leatherwood Kristie Leybourne Akira McSwain Renay Ransaw Jessica Shelley Taylor Simpson Kelli Smith Lucy Taylor Lytrice Thomas Kristina Vaughn Angel Watson Jenna Wesley Kyana White Kara Woods

Yr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. RS So. Fr. So. So.

Event(s) Jumps Sprints Distance Multi/Jumps Mid-Distance Jumps Hurdles/Sprints Pole Vault Distance Distance Sprints/Jumps Sprints Jumps Distance Multi/Hurdles/Jumps Multi/Hurdles Sprints/Hurdles Jumps Jumps Mid-Distance Hurdles/Sprints Distance Sprints Mid-Distance Sprints Mid-Distance

Hometown/Previous School Roswell, Ga./Roswell HS St. Joseph, Mo./Central HS Zaragoza, Spain/I.E.S. Felix de Azara Montgomery, Ala./Alabama Christian Wellington, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Northridge HS Mason, Ohio/William Mason HS Pelham, Ala./Pelham HS Manchester, England/Loughborough University Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada/Sir James Dunn HS Clarksville, Tenn./Rossview HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Northridge HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Stillman College Poulton-Le-Fylde, England/Baines School Nashville, Tenn./Hunters Lane HS Montgomery, Ala./Hampton (Va.) HS Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS Calhoun, Ga./Gordon Central HS Chattanooga, Tenn./Brainerd HS Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect HS Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS Madison, Ala./Bob Jones HS Mobile, Ala./St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal HS Griffin, Ga./Spalding HS Kennesaw, Ga./Campbell HS Montgomery, Ala./Lamp Magnet HS

Coaches Head Coach: Kurt Thomas Assistant Coach: Tony Houchin Assistant Coach: Kiamesha Otey Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mary Houchin Volunteer Assistant Coach: John Alcazar

Class Breakdown Seniors (6) Clara Cid Sterling Cross Lauren Fayen Rhiannon Johns Lucy Taylor Kristina Vaughn

Juniors (6) Rachel Harley Sarah Hudak Thelyssa Katchen Shakima Knox Akira McSwain Lytrice Thomas

Sophomores (8) Alexis Bates Shaquela Leatherwood Renay Ransaw Taylor Simpson Kelli Smith Angel Watson Kyana White Kara Woods

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Freshmen (6) Shelby Barker Kendra Gipson Toni Hawkins Kristie Leybourne Jessica Shelley Jenna Wesley

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Coaching and Support Staff

Coaching and Support Staff (L-R): John Alcazar, Melissa Adams, Kurt Thomas, Tony Houchin and Kiamesha Otey.

Support Staff

Melissa Adams Athletic Trainer

Lauren Rupert Media Relations

Charlie Hogan Academic Advisor

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Tony Dollison Compliance

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Coaching Staff

Kurt Thomas Head Coach | Fifth Season Tennessee | 2004

Kurt Thomas was named head coach of the track & field program in December 2010, after serving as the interim head coach for the 2010 season. He is in his fifth year overall with the Blazers after serving as an assistant track & field coach from 2008-09. Thomas enjoyed success in his first year as head coach throughout the 2011 season as several student-athletes posted personal records, two school records were shattered and two athletes competed in the NCAA East Preliminaries. Rhiannon Johns qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 5,000 meters for her first collegiate NCAA final. In addition, Johns also captured her second-straight Conference USA 10,000-meter title, earning first-team all-conference honors. Akira McSwain also earned all-conference accolades as she finished third in the heptathlon at the C-USA Outdoor Championships. During his season as the interim head coach, UAB had five athletes qualify for the preliminary round of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and Nora Mehl provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in two events. At the league indoor championships, Mehl became a Conference USA champion for the second time after taking the pentathlon title. Mehl and Akira McSwain received all-conference honors. At the C-USA Outdoor Championships, Johns won the 10,000-meter to become a C-USA champion and Lytrice Thomas and Bianca Le’Blanc both received all-conference accolades. Thomas spent his first two years at UAB as an assistant track and field coach to former head coach Ray Stanfield. During those years Thomas primarily coached the jumpers, multi-event athletes, throwers and middle distance runners, along with the sprinters and hurdlers. During the 2008 season, Thomas coached Erica Russ to a firstplace finish in the 100m hurdles at the C-USA Outdoor Championships as she ran a 13.41 to set her own personal record. J.J. Scruggs was also crowned C-USA champion in the 400m hurdles, giving the Blazers conference champions in both outdoor hurdle events under Thomas’ guidance. Also at the C-USA Championships, senior Tara Colvin was the runner-up in the 400m with a time of 53.93. 4

To add to the records in 2008, Thomas’ athletes Colvin, Scruggs and Alina Varpiotaite teamed up with middle distance senior Genoah Collins to shatter the 4x400m relay school record at the Texas Relays. The foursome ran a regional-qualifying time of 3:38.54 to finish runner-up to USC in Austin, Texas. During the 2007 season, Thomas coached three school record holders, three freshman record holders and 12 regional qualifiers. He guided fifth-year senior Penny Shields in breaking seven-time All-American Vonetta Flowers’ school record in the triple jump with a jump of 41 - 6 1/2. Freshman Samantha Hamilton set the frosh record under Thomas’ coaching eye, jumping 41- 4. Scruggs also set a freshman record in the 400m hurdles, running 58.95 over the one-lap barriers. Prior to coming to UAB, Thomas spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State. His primary responsibilities included coaching hurdlers, jumpers and women’s sprinters. While there, he coached several relay teams and individuals to first-place finishes. He also helped his athletes break four Mississippi State Outdoor Track and Field records and set 33 personal-best marks. Before his stint at Mississippi State, Thomas was a student assistant at the University of Tennessee. During his three years in Knoxville, Thomas assisted with the men’s program and was a member of two Southeastern Conference championship teams and two NCAA national championship squads. Thomas also assisted with the UT Championship Track and Field Camps and coached the Knoxville Track Club. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Thomas has three USATF Level II certifications in sprints, hurdles, relays, combined events and jumps. He is a native of Hobbs, N.M., where he graduated from Hobbs High School as an all-state sprinter. Thomas and his wife Jill have two sons, Toliver Knox (2) and Lucas David, who was born in August 2011.

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Coaching Staff

Tony Houchin Assistant Coach | Second Season Oklahoma State | 1999

Tony Houchin enter his second year as an assistant coach with the track and field program. Houchin, who was hired in January 2011, also serves as the head coach for UAB’s cross country program. With his main concentration on the cross country team, Houchin will also work with the distance runners during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. “I was looking for someone who could help take our program to the next level, and I feel we have done that in hiring Tony Houchin,” UAB head track & field coach Kurt Thomas said at the time of announcing the hiring of Houchin. “He has a tremendous background from his running days at a great distance program like Oklahoma State and from coaching under a great mentor like Joe Franklin when they were at Butler. He took those things and made great leaps with the distance program at UNLV, and I look forward to him putting his stamp on UAB’s proud distance tradition.” While at UNLV, Houchin coached the Rebels’ first-ever middledistance Mountain West Conference champion in Charlotte Browning, who claimed the league’s outdoor 1,500m title in 2007 and was named the MWC Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year. He also coached two All-MWC cross country athletes. During his tenure, his athletes added 41 marks to UNLV’s Top 10 All-Time Performer Lists.

first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships that season. In 2005, he coached Victoria Mitchell to the NCAA title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. During his two-year stint, Butler produced four conference champion cross country teams and four individual conference champions. Houchin served as a graduate assistant for the men’s cross country and track & field teams at Oklahoma State from 1999-2002. He coached middle-distance and distance athletes along with serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During those four seasons, he coached four track & field NCAA qualifiers, three NCAA All-Americans and eight track & field conference champions. As an athlete, Houchin competed on Oklahoma State’s track & field team from 1994-1997, earning three All-Big 8 Conference honors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1999. He is married to the former Mary Duerbeck, who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the UAB cross country and track & field teams.

Prior to his time at UNLV, Houchin was the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams and assistant coach for the men’s and women’s track & field teams at McNeese State for the 2005-06 season. He coached one NCAA regional qualifier, two league champions and nine all-conference athletes. Before arriving at McNeese State, Houchin served as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs at Butler from 2003-05. He helped lead the men’s cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and coached All-American Olly Laws. He also assisted the women’s cross country team to its 5

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Coaching Staff

Kiamesha Otey Assistant Coach | Second Season Virginia | 2003 Kiamesha Otey joined the UAB track and field staff as an assistant coach in September 2010. Otey, a three-time All-American at the University of Virginia, will primarily work with the jumpers and multi-event athletes. The New Kent, Va., native has been a professional athlete since 2003 and most recently participated in the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. Following a successful athletic career at Virginia from 1999-2003, Otey served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cavaliers from 2003-04. While at Virginia, Otey was a six-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer and a two-time ACC champion in the long jump. She holds the current ACC outdoor long jump record (6.54 meters/21-5.50) and the Virginia indoor 60-meter record (7.37). She ranks second in school history in the 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump events. In 2003, Otey became a USA Indoor Track & Field champion in the long jump with a leap of 6.33 meters (20-9.25). Otey graduated from Virginia in 2003 with a degree in sociology. A New Kent High School alum, she still holds six school records, three state records and won the state championship in 1999.

Mary Houchin

John Alcazar

Volunteer Asst. Coach Second Season Arizona State | 2001

Volunteer Asst. Coach First Season

Mary Houchin enters her second season as a volunteer assistant John V. Alcazar enters his first season as a volunteer assistant coach coach with the Blazer track & field program. Houchin, who also as- with the Blazer track & field program. Alcazar will primarily worksists with the cross country team, will primarily work with the dis- er with the pole vaulters. tance runners. Alcazar has been the pole vaulting coach at Pelham High School Houchin has earned roster spots on three Team USA internation- and the Southern Running Track Club for the past three years. Unal squads. She competed at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country der his guidance, the Lady Panthers produced three Shelby County Championships in Mombasa, Kenya as a member of Team USA, champions and two state championship meet qualifiers. which finished eighth overall. With the Southern Running Track Club Alcazar coached four AlaHouchin was a volunteer assistant with the cross country and track bama Sports Festival champions and three USATF Junior Olympic & field teams at McNeese State from 2005-06 and prior to that, was a state champions. volunteer assistant at Butler from 2003-05. Alcazar graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business adminisHouchin graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State with a de- tration from the University of Maryland in 1973. He is married to gree in broadcast journalism in 2001. She is married to UAB head the former Susan E. Bogs and has three children. cross country coach and assistant track & field coach, Tony Houchin. 6

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Birmingham CrossPlex

The Birmingham CrossPlex is a 750,000 square foot, multi-purpose athletic and meeting facility located in Fair Park, Alabama. Just a few miles from UABâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus, the world-class Birmingham CrossPlex opened in August 2011. It houses a six-lane oval hydraulic track, eight 60-meter lanes for sprint/hurdle events and a 50-meter indoor Olympic swimming pool. The UAB track and field team co-hosted the first-ever track meet at the CrossPlex when they took part in the Birmingham Ice Breaker on Dec. 7-8, 2011. The Blazers will utilize the arena to compete in four additional home meets, including the 2012 Conference USA Championships, which UAB will host Feb. 25-26. The hydraulic track boasts a Mondotrack surface and is one of only six in the United States and one of eight world-wide. The stateof-the-art six lane oval track takes just 10 minutes to raise or lower for banked corners. The track facility also features an eight-lane sprint track and four-lane warm-up track. There is a double apparatus for all field events -- long, triple and high jumps as well as the shot put and pole vault. The track arena holds 4,000 spectators including seven VIP suites with 22 outdoor seats overlooking the track and indoor space with furniture seating. The Olympic-sized swimming pool has 10 50-meter lanes, 10 25-meter lanes and 20 25-yard lanes. There are two 1-meter and two 3-meter diving boards. It also includes full-size locker rooms and showers for both men and women, plus a first aid room and a meet management/multi-purpose classroom. The pool natatorium can hold up to 1,300 spectators in the stands and on the deck. The Crossplex is capable of housing nine indoor volleyball courts, as well as wrestling, cheering and gymnastic events. Furthermore, it also holds training, hospitality and meeting rooms, a broadcast-ready press box and studio, a 54-foot jumbo screen with split-screen video/replay/scoring and a 500-seat multi-purpose auditorium with full kitchen. 7

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2012 Season Outlook The UAB track and field team looks to build upon its success in 2011 as it prepares for an action-packed 2012 season. The Blazers return 17 letterwinners from a year ago, including six seniors, five juniors and six sophomores. UAB will have additional depth provided by eightnewcomers consisting of two transfers and six true freshmen. Head coach Kurt Thomas and the team are excited for the 2012 season as they move into the brand new state-of-the-art Birmingham CrossPlex for five home meets throughout the indoor season, including hosting the 2012 Conference USA Indoor Championships. Sprints Junior Shakima Knox and sophomore Alexis Bates lead the way for the sprint squad this season along with junior Thelyssa Katchen, sophomore Kyana White and redshirt sophomore Angel Watson. Knox recorded the top indoor 55-meter, 60-meter and top 200-meter (indoor and outdoor) times for the Blazers last season, while Bates posted the top 100-meter (outdoor) time. Katchen was the top UAB performer in the indoor and outdoor 400-meter. White and Watson will also be looked upon to contribute for UAB. After redshirting the 2011 season, Watson looks to build on her performances from her freshman year when she set the UAB rookie record in the 200 meters (24.81). Hurdlers Senior Sterling Cross and juniors Rachel Harley and Akira McSwain will lead the hurdlers this season. Harley has scored for UAB in the 400-meter hurdles at the outdoor Conference USA meet in her first two years as a Blazer. Harley recorded the top 400-meter hurdle time for the Blazers in 2011 with a 1:00.96. McSwain clocked the top times in the 60-meter hurdles (8.76) and the 100-meter hurdles (14.10) last season. Junior Lytrice Thomas and newcomer Jessica Shelley will also compete in the hurdles this season. Thomas will be a key returner for UAB as she was an all-conference performer in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles as a freshman. Shelley was a two-time Alabama state champion in the 100-meter hurdles while attending Hoover High School. Jumps With the graduation of Nora Mehl, a 2011 Capital One Academic AllAmerica First Team selection, sophomore Kelli Smith will take the reigns as UAB’s primary jumper. Smith scored for the Blazers at the 2011 outdoor conference championships, placing seventh in the high jump (5.93m). In addition, freshman Kendra Gipson will be looked upon to make an immediate impact. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native set the Northridge high school record in the triple (39-4) and long (18-3) jumps and looks to build on her success as a Blazer.

Sophomore Taylor Simpson, transfer Shaquela Leatherwood and freshman Shelby Barker will provide depth for the Green and Gold. Newcomer Toni Hawkins will contribute significantly to the team, as she is the one and only pole-vaulter on the roster. A native of Pelham, Ala., Hawkins is a two-time USATF Junior Olympics state champion and National Junior Olympics qualifier. Multi-Events The multi group contains a diverse collection of student-athletes that includes senior Sterling Cross, junior Akira McSwain and sophomore Renay Ransaw. Cross, a true multi-event athlete, has the talent to score in both the indoor and outdoor multi-events. McSwain has been a standout multi-event athlete since her freshman year. The Nashville, Tenn. native is a two-time outdoor all-conference honoree in the multi-events. McSwain was the runner-up in the heptathlon her freshman year and placed third in the same event as a sophomore at the Conference Championships. Ransaw will round out the three competitors for UAB. In her first collegiate pentathlon a year ago, Ransaw tallied points in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump. Mid-Distance/Distance The distance group returns a solid corps of veterans in seniors Clara Cid, Lauren Fayen, Lucy Taylor and Kristina Vaughn. The talented squad will need to be at their best as Capital One All-America Second Team selection and NCAA qualifier (5,000m, 10,000m) Rhiannon Johns will redshirt the 2012 season. Fayen ran a time of 2:15.60 in the 800m to claim the event title and set a new meet record at the ‘Southern Invitational and was UAB’s top finisher in the 600 and 800 meters last season. Vaughn was the front-runner for UAB in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and completed the event with a meet-record time of 11:19.17 to place first at the `Southern Invitational. The Blazers have additional depth in junior transfer Sarah Hudak, sophomore Kara Woods and true freshmen Kristie Leybourne and Jenna Wesley. Relays UAB returns the primary members of its indoor and outdoor relay squads. With a deep pool of talent to choose from, the Blazers will have several student-athlete combination options to form a relay team. The Blazers return Alexis Bates, Rachel Harley, Thelyssa Katchen, Shakima Knox, Akira McSwain, Lytrice Thomas and Kyana White as members of the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400-meter relay teams. Returning distance runners Clara Cid, Lauren Fayen and Lucy Taylor will compete in the 4x800-meter and distance-medley relay teams.

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Meet The Blazers

Clara Cid

Senior | Distance Zaragoza, Spain | I.E.S. Felix de Azara

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Redshirted. OUTDOOR: UAB’s top finisher in the 5,000m (17:45.03) at the Alabama Relays ... placed third in the same event with a time of 17:32.09 at the Mt. SAC Relays ... won the 3,000m at the Vanderbilt Invitational with a personal-best time of 10:06.02 ... top finisher for the Blazers at the C-USA Championships in the 5,000m, running a personal-best 17:12.65. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Ran an indoor-best 3,000m at the C-USA Championships (10:07.32). OUTDOOR: Ran an outdoor-best 5,000m at the Mississippi Open (17:47.85) to take the event title ... placed ninth in the 1,500m at the LSU Alumni Gold (4:50.85) ... crossed the line in 18:16.21 in the 5,000m at the Sea Ray Relays to place 12th. AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Ran to an eighth-place finish in the 5,000m run at the Houston Opener (18:21.97). OUTDOOR: Ran the 1,000m run in 5:05.66 at the Alabama Relays to finish in 26th place ... placed 32nd in the 1,500m run at the War Eagle Invitational (5:09.38) ... recorded a season-best time of 4:57.34 in the 1,500m run at the Ole Miss Invitational. HIGH SCHOOL Attended I.E.S. Félix De Azara in Zaragoza, Spain ... coached by Jesús Romero ... placed fourth in the 1,500m at the Indoor Spain Championships ... came in eighth at the Cross Country Spain Championship ... placed fifth in the 1,500m at the Outdoor Spain Championship. PERSONAL Full name is Clara Cid ... born Feb. 16, 1990 ... daughter of Juan Carlos Cid and Ángela Oreja ... majoring in communications.

Cid’s Collegiate Bests Indoor Mile 3,000m 5,000m Outdoor 1,500m 3,000m 5,000m

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5:11.69 2/12/10 10:07.32 2/27/10 18:21.97 1/16/09 4:50.85 10:06.02 17:12.65

4/17/10 4/22/11 5/12/11

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Meet The Blazers

Sterling Cross

Senior | Multi/Jumps Montgomery, Ala. | Alabama Christian Academy

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Redshirted. OUTDOOR: Launched the javelin 25.18m at the Twilight Invitational ... finished the 100-meter hurdles in 18.95 at the same meet ... crossed the line at 28.36 in the 200m at the Alabama Relays. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Competed in the 60m hurdles (11.01) at the Niswonger Invitational ... recorded a personal-record long jump at the Clemson Invitational with a jump of 4.99m (16-04.50). OUTDOOR: Redshirted. AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Ran a leg of the 4x400m relay at the Niswonger Invitational that finished 23rd (4:15.10) ... also timed a 2:48.02 in the 800m run and a 1:03.67 in the 400m dash at the Niswonger Invitational. OUTDOOR: Recorded two personal bests at the Southern Invitational in the high jump (1.47m) and the 800m (2:51.92) ... ran a leg of the distance medley relay that finished in sixth (12:38.82) at the Alabama Relays and leaped to a personalbest 1.55m in the high jump ... placed fifth in the heptathlon at the War Eagle Invitational with 3,116 points ... tied for fourth in the high jump at the Ole Miss Invitational (1.55m) ... had an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon event (4,223 points) at the C-USA Championships with personal bests in the shot put (9.75m) and 100m hurdles (15.44). HIGH SCHOOL Attended Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery, Ala. ... was the 2006 3A state champion in the 300m hurdles ... was named all-metro from 2006-08 ... finished in the top 20 in the long jump and hurdles at national competition in 2006 ... was captain of high school track & field team from 2006-08 ... high school team was sectional champions in 2006 and 2008 ... also played basketball and ran cross country. PERSONAL Full name is Sterling Nicole Cross ... born Jan. 3, 1990 ... daughter of Robert and Sharon Cross ... majoring in information systems.

Crossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 300m 400m 800m Long jump Outdoor 100m hurdles 200m 400m Javelin Heptathlon

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44.58 1:03.67 2:48.02 4.99m (16-4.5)

2/6/10 1/30/09 1/31/09 1/9/10

15.44 26.60 1:00.60 37.64m (123-6.0) 4,223 points

5/16/09 4/17/09 3/28/09 5/16/09 5/16/09

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Meet The Blazers

Lauren Fayen

Senior | Mid-Distance Wellington, New Zealand | Hutt Valley HS

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Part of the distance medley relay team that took third (11:56.65) at the C-USA Championships ... recorded a season-best 5:07.29 in the mile at the same meet ... ran a team-best 1:36.55 in the 600m at the Gladstein Invitational. OUTDOOR: Ran a time of 2:15.60 in the 800m to claim the event title and set a new meet record at the `Southern Invitational ... part of the 4x800-meter relay team that took first (9:09.69) at the Alabama Relays ... won the 1,500m with a season-best time of 4:34.90 at the Twilight Invitational ... recorded a personal-best time of 2:09.81 in the 800m at the Vanderbilt Invitational and won the same event (2:10.93) at the Memphis Invitational ... placed fifth in the same event (2:10.56) at the C-USA Championships. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Took the title in the 800m with a time of 2:26.20 at the Niswonger Invitational ... ran to a first-place finish in the 800m at the Tiger Paw Invitational with a time of 2:14.77 ... placed eighth at the C-USA Championships in the 800m (2:16.02) ... placed 19th at the Notre Dame Last Chance Qualifier with a personal-record time of 2:11.29. OUTDOOR: Broke the UAB 1,500m record at the LSU Alumni Gold meet with a time of 4:31.58 ... claimed the 1,500m title at the Southern Invitational (4:39.22) ... ran to a fifth-place finish in the 800m at the Sea Ray Relays with an outdoor-best time of 2:10.21 ... finished seventh in the 800m at the C-USA Championship (2:17.71). AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Took 17th in the 800m (2:24.43) at the Houston Opener ... ran a leg of the 4x400m relay that finished fourth at the Niswonger Invitational ... registered a season-best 800m (2:15.11) and ran on the 4x400m relay team that finished 19th (3:59.48) at the Meyo Invita- PERSONAL tional. OUTDOOR: Ran a season-best 1,500m (4:54.59) and finished Full name is Lauren Jean Fayen ... born April 11, 1989 ... daughter of fifth at the Alabama Relays ... recorded a 10th-place finish in the Kim and Chris Fayen ... majoring in psychology. 800m at the War Eagle Invitational (2:16.00) ... took eighth place at the Ole Miss Invitational in the 800m (2:15.48) ... finished 20th in the 800m prelims at the C-USA Championships with a time of 2:22.12. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Hutt Valley High School in Wellington, New Zealand ... placed fourth in senior girls 400m run at 2006 New Zealand Secondary School Championship ... placed fourth in Under-19 400m run at 2007 New Zealand National Championships ... was a member of Wellington representative team that won the Under-19 4x400m relay at 2007 New Zealand National Championships ...placed third in U-19 800m run at the 2008 New Zealand National Championships ... was a member of Wellington representative team that won the U-19 4x400m relay at 2008 New Zealand National Championships ... placed second in the junior woman mile at the 2008 Wanganui Mayoral Mile. 11

Fayenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 400m 600m 800m Mile Outdoor 800m 1,500m

2 0 11 -1 2 U A B Trac k & F i el d

1:00.34 1:36.55 2:11.29 5:07.29

1/30/09 1/22/11 3/6/10 2/26/11

2:09.81 4:31.58

4/22/11 4/17/10

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Rhiannon Johns Senior | Distance

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada | Sir James Dunn HS *2010 & 2011 C-USA Outdoor Champion (10,000m) *Outdoor 1,500m school record holder *2010 & 2011 NCAA Championships Qualifier *Outdoor 5,000m school record holder *2010 & 2011 First-team All-C-USA (Outdoor) *2011 honorable mention all-america honors

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Ran a personal and team-best 5:01.11 to take first in the mile at the Niswonger Invitational ... placed fourth in the 3,000m with a personal-best time of 9:34.92 and in the 5,000m with a season-best 16:58.82 at the C-USA Championships. OUTDOOR: Broke the UAB outdoor 1,500-meter record with a time of 4:28.59 at the `Southern Invitational ... clocked a personal-best 34:14.04 in the 10,000m at the Stanford Invitational ... shattered a five-year-old school record in the 5,000m with a time of 16:13.32 at the Mt. SAC relays ... took the 10,000-meter title (35:06.23) at the C-USA Championships ... qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000-meter run and posted a 34:15.07 in the preliminary round ... a Capital One Academic AllAmerica Second Team selection ... earned honorable mention AllAmerica honors ... named to the C-USA All-Academic team. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Took the 3,000m title at the Tiger Paw Invitational with a time of 9:40.86 ... also claimed the 3,000m title at the Niswonger Invitational (9:57.50) ... finished as the runner-up in the 3,000m at the Clemson Invitational. OUTDOOR: Named first-team All-C-USA after winning the 10,000m race at the Conference USA Championships with a time of 35:07.25 ... qualified for the East Preliminary Round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships after running the top 10,000m in C-USA (34:40.30) at the Stanford Invitational ... captured the 5,000m title at the Sea Ray Relays (16:54.09) ... tabbed to the C-USA All-Academic Team ... received Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades ... named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Runner-up in the 5,000m at the Houston Opener (17:40.10) ... won the 3,000m at the Niswonger Invitational and set a UAB freshman record with her time of 9:52.56 ... placed ninth in the 3,000m run PERSONAL (10:00.96) at the C-USA Championships and finished seventh in the Full name is Rhiannon Ellen Joan Johns... born June 11, 1990 ... 5,000m run (17:37.30). OUTDOOR: Ran to a season-best 18:00.63 in daughter of Kevin and Karen Johns ... majoring in mathematics. the 5,000m at the Southern Invitational ... recorded a personal-best in the 3,000m steeplechase (11:35.00) ... runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Ole Miss Invitational (11:19.18) ... finished sixth in the Johnsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests 10,000m (37:30.59) and 14th in the 5,000m (17:38.41) at the C-USA Championships. Indoor HIGH SCHOOL Attended Sir James Dunn High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada ... was cross country city champion in 2006 and 2008 ... Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) Regional cross country champion in 2008 ... also a member of the track team ... placed third at 2008 Provincial Indoor Championship in the 3,000 meters ... captured the city championship for both 1,500 and 3,000m for three consecutive years ... set numerous city and NOSSA records in 1,500 and 3,000m. 12

Mile 3,000m 5,000m Outdoor 1,500m 3,000m Steeplechase 5,000m 10,000m

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

5:01.11 9:34.92 16:50.28

2/5/11 2/26/11 3/6/10

4:28.59 11:19.18 16:13.32 34:14.04

4/22/11 5/2/09 4/16/11 3/26/11

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Lucy Taylor

Senior | Mid-Distance Arlington Heights, Ill.| Prospect HS *1,000m indoor school-record holder

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Crossed the line at 1:23.79 in the 500m and finished the 800m with a time of 2:26.74 at the Tiger Paw Invitational. OUTDOOR: Ran a season-best 800m 2:16.02 at the Vanderbilt Invitational ... part of the 4x800-meter relay team that took first (9:09.69) at the Alabama Relays ... finished in the top 10 in the 1,500m (4:53.34) at the Twilight Invitational. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Set a UAB school record in the 1,000m at the Tiger Paw Invitational with a time of 2:59.68 ... ran a personal-record 2:17.15 in the 800m at the Meyo Invitational ... placed sixth in the 800m at the Niswonger Invitational (2:19.13). OUTDOOR: Ran a personal-best 800m at the C-USA Championships with a time of 2:13.28 ... clocked a personal-record 4:49.42 in the 1,500m at the Alabama Relays. AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Ran to a 13th-place finish in the 800m at the Niswonger Invitational (2:23.63) ... recorded a time of 3:02.92 in the 1,000m and a time of 5:12.01 in the mile run at the Meyo Invitational ... posted a third-place finish in the mile run at the Tiger Twilight with a time of 5:16.26. OUTDOOR: Ran to a personalbest 5:05.35 in the 1,500m run at the Southern Invitational ... recorded a season best in the 800m with a time of 2:25.27 at the Alabama Relays. HIGH SCHOOL Ran both cross country and track at Prospect High School in Prospect, Ill. ... named to the all-conference cross country team in 2005 and 2006 ... high school cross country squad won the 2006 and 2007 division championship ... high school track team won the division championships from 2005-08 ... was a four-time state qualifier in 4x800m relay, placing second in 2008 ... in 2008 was a state qualifier in 800 and 1,600m ... holds the school record in the distance medley relay, 800m run and 4x800m relay ... holds high school indoor records in 800m, 1,600m and 4x800m relay ... was a conference All-Academic senior.

PERSONAL Full name is Lucy Eloise Taylor ... born Dec. 20, 1989 ... daughter of Alison and Paul Taylor ... majoring in business.

Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 500m 800m Mile 1,000m Outdoor 800m 1,500m

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

1:23.79 2:17.15 5:12.01 2:59.68

2/11/11 2/6/10 2/6/09 2/12/10

2:13.28 4:49.42

5/15/10 3/27/10

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Kristina Vaughn

Senior | Distance Madison, Ala. | Bob Jones HS

AS A JUNIOR (2011) INDOOR: Placed in the top five in the mile with a time of 5:13.07 at the Gladstein Invitational ... recorded a fourth-place finish (5:11.88) at the Niswonger Invitational in the same event ... anchored the distance medley relay team that took third (11:56.65) at the C-USA Championships ... ran a season-best mile time of 5:09.91 at the Tiger Paw Invitational. OUTDOOR: Finished the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a meet-record time of 11:19.17 to place first at the `Southern Invitational ... placed third in the 1,500m with a time of 4:44.38 at the same meet ... registered a runner-up effort (4:36.75) in the 1,500m at the Twilight Invitational ... set a personal-record (10:45.85) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays and recorded a top-10 finish in the same event (11:13.03) at the C-USA Championships ... named to the C-USA All-Academic team. AS A SOPHOMORE (2010) INDOOR: Ran a personal-record mile time of 5:10.43 at the Tiger Paw Invitational ... crossed the line with a personal-record 3,000m time of 10:13.23 at the Meyo Invitational. OUTDOOR: Placed fifth in the 3,000m steeplechase at the C-USA Championships with a personal-record time of 10:47.43 ... also posted a time of 17:48.56 in the 5,000m at the C-USA Championships ... selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team. AS A FRESHMAN (2009) INDOOR: Ran the mile in a time of 5:28.03 at the Houston Opener ... placed sixth in the 3,000m at the Niswonger Invitational with a time of 10:32.20. OUTDOOR: Ran to a ninth-place finish in the 5,000m with a time of 18:50.81 ... recorded a personal best in the 1,500m run at the Alabama Relays (4:45.40) ... placed fifth in the 5,000m run at the War Eagle Invitational (18:27.76) ... ran to a season-best time of 11:30.80 in the 3,000m steeplechase at the C-USA Outdoor Championships ... also ran a season-best 5,000m at the league meet with a time of 18:37.98. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala. ... coached by Robin Gaines ... was named to the all-state cross country team in 2007 ... was an all-metro and all-section selection in cross country and track in 2007 ... was named to the all-state outdoor track team in 2008 ... holds school records in the 800m run, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay and 5K.

PERSONAL Full name is Kristina Marie Vaughn ... born June 8, 1990 ... daughter of Jason and Sandra Vaughn ... majoring in biology.

Vaughnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 1,000m 3:03.91 2/6/09 Mile 5:09.91 2/11/11 3,000m 10:13.23 2/6/10 Outdoor 800m 2:21.72 3/13/10 1,500m 4:33.28 4/22/11 3,000m Steeplechase 10:45.85 4/14/11 5,000m 17:48.56 5/16/10

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

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Rachel Harley

Junior | Hurdles/Sprints Mason, Ohio | William Mason HS

AS A SOPHOMORE (2011) INDOOR: Placed third in the 500m with a team-best time of 1:18.61 at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational ... part of the distance medley relay team that took third (11:56.65) at the C-USA Championships. OUTDOOR: Ran a 2:25.08 in the 800m at the `Southern Invitational ... placed fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.97) at the Alabama Relays ... claimed third place in the same event with a time of 1:02.37 at the Twilight Invitational ... top finisher for the Blazers in the 400-meter hurdles with a personalbest time of 1:00.96 at the C-USA Championships ... tabbed to the C-USA Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honor Roll. AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Recorded an indoor-best time of 9.74 in the 60m hurdles at the LSU Twilight ... clocked a time of 59.57 in the 400m at the Meyo Invitational. OUTDOOR: Earned a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles at the Conference USA Championships (1:01.89) ... placed 12th in the 400m hurdles at the LSU Alumni Gold Invitational ... recorded a time of 1:03.79 in the 400m hurdles at the Alabama Relays to finish 12th. HIGH SCHOOL Attended William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio ... placed third in state in the 300m hurdles ... took seventh in state in the 4x400m relay ... holds a school record in the shuttle hurdle relay ... named to the Academic All-Ohio team at the state meet ... recipient of the Rotary International Academic Award. PERSONAL Full name is Rachel Ann Harley ... born Oct. 11, 1990 ... daughter of Bill Harley and Lorraine Knudsen-Harley ... has two older sisters, Elizabeth and Maria ... majoring in exercise science.

Harleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 55m hurdles 60m hurdles 400m 500m 600m 800m Outdoor 400m hurdles 800m

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

9.63 9.09 59.57 1:18.61 1:41.64 2:25.65

12/11/10 2/11/11 2/6/10 2/11/11 1/21/11 2/4/11

1:00.96 2:25.08

5/12/11 3/11/11

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Sarah Hudak

Junior | Distance Manchester, England | Loughborough University

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY Transferred to UAB after competing two years for Loughborough University in Manchester, England ... coached by Bill Foster ... placed first in the 800m (2:22.30) at the 2011 North of England League Division 2WC ... clocked a 4:48.80 for a firstplace finish at the 2011 North of England League Division 2WC 1,500-meter race ... finished sixth in the 1,500m at the English Schools Athletics Championships. PERSONAL Full name is Sarah Hudak ... born Feb. 18, 1990 ... daughter of Peter and Susan Hudak ... has two brothers, twins Joseph and James ... majoring in clinical nutrition as a graduate student.

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

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Thelyssa Katchen

Junior | Sprints/Jumps Clarksville, Tenn. | Rossview HS

AS A SOPHOMORE (2011) INDOOR: Top finisher for UAB in the 400-meter run (59.72) at the Middle Tennessee State Invitational ... crossed the line in a personal-best 57.92 in the 400m at the C-USA Championships. OUTDOOR: Surpassed the previous meet record in the 200m with a time of 24.98 at the `Southern Invitational ... placed third in the long jump (5.21m) at the same meet ... part of the 4x100meter and 4x200-meter relay teams that finished first (46.58, 1:38.78) at the Alabama Relays ... set a personal-best 400-meter time of 56.36 at the Vanderbilt Invitational. AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Crossed the line in 7.99 in the 60m at the LSU Twilight ... posted a 400m time of 59.84 at the Niswonger Invitational. OUTDOOR: Recorded a fourth-place finish in the 200m at the Southern Invitational with a time of 26.06 ... recorded a 400m time of 57.55 at the Conference USA Championships. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Rossview High School in Clarksville, Tenn. ... member of the state champion 4x400m relay team in 2006 ... placed 10th in the 400m at the state meet in 2008 ... ran to a fourth-place finish in the 400m her senior year ... team MVP three consecutive years. PERSONAL Full name is Thelyssa Jonee Katchen ... born Dec. 16, 1990 ... daughter of Joyce and Tony Katchen ... has three older sisters, Jasmine, Toni and Jay ... majoring in exercise science.

Katchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 60m 200m 300m 400m Long jump Outdoor 200m 400m Long jump

2 0 11 -1 2 U A B Trac k & F i el d

7.99 2/19/10 25.64 12/8/11 42.56 1/9/10 57.92 2/25/11 5.27m (17-3.5) 12/8/11 24.98 56.36 5.38m (17-8.0)

3/11/11 4/22/11 3/26/11

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Shakima Knox

Junior | Sprints Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Northridge HS

AS A SOPHOMORE (2011) INDOOR: Won the 200m with a 25.39 at the Saluki Open ... notched a third-place finish in the 55-meter dash with a personal-best time of 7.12 at the Middle Tennessee State Invitational ... claimed first place in the 60m (7.60) at the Gladstein Invitational ... recorded a first-place finish (7.64) in the 60m at the Niswonger Invitational ... placed second in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best 24.74 at the same meet ... ran a team-best 7.56 in the 60-meter dash at the C-USA Championships. OUTDOOR: Set a new meet record time of 12.02 in the 100m at the `Southern Invitational ... placed first in the 100m (11.75) at the Alabama Relays ... part of the 4x100-meter relay team that finished first (46.58) at the same meet ... claimed first place in the 200-meter dash at the Twilight Invitational with a time of 24.54 ... recorded top-five finishes in the 100m (11.80) and 200m (24.74) at the Vanderbilt Invitational ... ran to a personal-record 200m time of 24.10 at the C-USA Championships. AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Finished as the runner-up in the 60m dash at the Niswonger Invitational with a time of 7.67 ... recorded a sixth-place finish in the 60m at the LSU Twilight with a personal-record time of 7.64 ... clocked a time of 25.30 in the 200m at the Niswonger Invitational. OUTDOOR: Ran to a personal-record 100m time of 11.81 at the LSU Alumni Gold ... claimed a third-place finish in the 100m at the Alabama Relays (11.91) ... finished 12th in the 100m at the Sea Ray Relays (12.06). HIGH SCHOOL Attended Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ... was the 55m dash state champion ... placed third in the 100m (outdoor) and long jump (indoor) at the state meet ... runner-up at the state meet in the 200m (outdoor) ... team finished second in the Class 5A state meet. PERSONAL Full name is Shakima Monae Knox ... born Oct. 14, 1990 ... daughter of Cassandra Knox and Eric Boswell ... has a younger sister, Chandra ... majoring in history.

Knoxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 55m 60m 200m 300m Outdoor 100m 200m 400m

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

7.12 12/11/10 7.56 2/25/11 24.74 2/5/11 41.89 2/5/10 11.75 24.10 1:00.67

3/26/11 5/12/11 3/13/10

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Meet The Blazers

Akira McSwain

Junior | Multi/Hurdles/Jumps Nashville, Tenn. | Hunters Lane HS

AS A SOPHOMORE (2011) INDOOR: Finished as the runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.92 at the Saluki Open ... leaped a season-best 5.40m in the long jump at the Gladstein Invitational ... jumped a season-best 1.60m in the high jump for a fifth-place finish at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational ... ran a season-best 8.76 in the 60-meter hurdles at the same meet ... tallied 3,534 points in the pentathlon at the CUSA Championships. OUTDOOR: Placed third in the high jump (1.67m), tying the previous meet record at the `Southern Invitational ... won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.43 and threw the javelin 31.22m at the same meet ... finished in the top five in the 100-meter hurdles (14.45) and was part of the 2x400-meter relay team that took first (1:38.78) at the Alabama Relays ... claimed third place with a time of 25.03 in the 200m at the Twilight Invitational ... recorded a personal-best 14.10 in the 100-meter hurdles at the Vanderbilt Invitational ... took first place in the heptathlon with 4,843 points at the Sea Ray Relays and placed third in the same event with 5,051 points at the C-USA Championships, earning allconference third team honors. AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Placed second in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.86 as part of the pentathlon at the C-USA Championships ... placed sixth in the pentathlon at the C-USA Championships and set a UAB freshman record with 3,527 points ... recorded a personal-record 8.84 in the 60m hurdles at the Clemson Invitational ... posted a long jump of 5.31m (17-05.05) at the Meyo Invitational. OUTDOOR: Earned second-team all-conference honors and set a UAB freshman record after scoring 4,983 points and finishing as the runnerup in the heptathlon at the C-USA Championships ... leaped 1.60m (5-03.00) in the high jump at the Alabama Relays. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Hunters Lane High School in Nashville, Tenn. ... captured the gold at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics in the heptathlon ... all-state performer in the 100 and 300m hurdles in 2008 ... took third in the pentathlon at the 2008 state meet ... won the heptathlon at the USA Youth Championships in 2008. PERSONAL Full name is Akira Lashawn McSwain ... born Dec. 14, 1990 ... daughter of Christie McSwain ... has a younger brother, James ... majoring in criminal justice.

McSwainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 60m hurdles 200m High jump Shot put Long jump Pentathlon Outdoor 100m hurdles 200m High jump Javelin throw Long jump Heptathlon

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

8.76 2/11/11 25.26 1/22/10 1.61m (5-3.25) 1/22/10 10.78m (35-4.5) 2/19/10 5.40m (17-8.75) 1/22/11 3,527 points 2/26/10 14.10 25.03 1.67m (5-5.75) 31.22m (102-5.0) 5.67m (18-7.25) 5,051 points

4/22/11 4/1/11 3/11/11 3/11/11 3/26/11 5/12/11

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Lytrice Thomas

Junior | Hurdles/Sprints Cordova, Tenn. | Cordova HS

AS A SOPHOMORE (2011) INDOOR: Redshirted. OUTDOOR: Ran a season-best 1:00.16 in the 400m at the Twilight Invitational ... recorded a seasonbest 1:07.09 in the 400-meter hurdles at the C-USA Championships. AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Clocked a 9.52 in the 60m hurdles at the Clemson Invitational ... also placed fifth in the 400m dash at the Clemson Invitational ... timed a personal-record 57.75 in the 400m at the Meyo Invitational. OUTDOOR: Earned third-team allconference accolades after placing third in the 400m hurdles at the C-USA Championships with a time of 1:01.47 ... recorded a 400m hurdle time of 1:03.18 at the LSU Alumni Gold meet. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Cordova High School in Cordova, Tenn. ... holds the school record in the 300m ... member of the state champion 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams ... was the president of the National Spanish Honor Society. PERSONAL Full name is Lytrice Chanteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Thomas ... born Sept. 13, 1991 ... daughter of Douglas Thomas and Loretha Cotton-Thomas ... has a younger brother, Daiwante ... majoring in health care management.

Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 60m hurdles 400m Long jump Outdoor 100m hurdles 400m hurdles 400m

2 0 11 -1 2 U A B Trac k & F i el d

9.35 12/8/11 57.75 2/6/10 5.16m (16-11.25) 2/6/10 16.02 1:01.47 1:00.16

3/13/10 5/16/10 4/1/11

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Alexis Bates

Sophomore | Sprints St. Joseph, Mo. | Central HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Ran a season-best 7.81 in the 60m and a season-best 26.31 in the 200m at the C-USA Championships. OUTDOOR: Finished second in the 100m (12.26) at the `Southern Invitational ... crossed the line at 12.11 for a third-place finish in the 100m at the Alabama Relays ... top finisher for the Blazers in the 200m (25.11) in the same meet ... part of the 4x100-meter relay team that finished first (46.58) at the Alabama Relays ... turned in a personal-best time of 11.75 in the 100-meter dash at the Memphis Invitational.

time of 7.16 in the 55m dash ... finished third in the 2009 Missouri State Track Championships after clocking a personal-best 11.77 in the 100m dash.

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo. ... was the 2007 Missouri Class 4 state champion in the 100m dash ... recipient of the 2007 St. Joe News Press Female Athlete of the Year award ... placed first in the 2008 UCM Mule Relays with a personal-best

7.61 26.31

12/8/11 2/25/11

11.75 24.61

4/30/11 5/12/11

PERSONAL Full name is Alexis Chantal Bates ... born Nov. 26, 1991 ... daughter of Lisa Hughes and Phil Bates ... has a sister, Jada ... majoring in criminal justice.

Batesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 60m 200m Outdoor 100m 200m

Shaquela Leatherwood

Sophomore | Jumps Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Stillman College

STILLMAN COLLEGE Transferred to UAB from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ... qualified for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finals in the 1,500m and 800m in 2011. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ... a fourtime Alabama state meet qualifier ... finished in the top five (2:22.09) at the state championships in the 800m as a senior ... a top five finisher in the state meet in the triple jump (35-9.5) in her senior year ... placed sixth out of 70 in the triple jump (36-5) at the 2010 AHSAA 6A - Section 3 Championships.

PERSONAL Full name is Shaquela Chrisheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Leatherwood ... born Feb. 15, 1992 ... daughter of Cynthia Leatherwood ... has one brother, Brandon Harris and one sister, Jasmine Leatherwood ... majoring in health care management.

2 0 1 1-12 U A B Trac k & F i el d

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Renay Ransaw

Sophomore | Multi/Hurdles Montgomery, Ala. | Hampton (Va.) HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Second-place finisher for the Blazers in the 60-meter hurdles (9.54) at the Saluki Open ... claimed sixth-place in the long jump (5.62m) at the Niswonger Invitational ... took first in the long jump after leaping 5.70m at the Tiger Paw Invitational ... recorded a top-10 finish in the long jump (5.84m) and finished second in the 55-meter hurdles with a team and season-best time of 8.44 at the Middle Tennessee State Invitational. OUTDOOR: Raced to a 16.00 in the 100-meter hurdles at the `Southern Invitational ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Lee High School in Montgomery, Ala. through her junior year ... captured the Alabama state long jump title both her sophomore and junior years at Lee ... attended Hampton High School in Hampton, Va. as a senior and earned all-state honors ... recorded the nation’s 10th-best high school performance in the long jump in 2010 at the Landstown Invitational

when she jumped 6.01m (19-9) ... earned high school AllAmerica honors with her effort in the 100m hurdles at the New Balance National meet in Greensboro, N.C. in 2010. PERSONAL Born Dec. 11, 1991 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. ... daughter of Otis and Veronica Ransaw ... has an older sister, Nicole, and two younger sisters, Evette and Mercedes ... major is undeclared.

Ransaw’s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 55m hurdles 60m hurdles High jump Long jump Pentathlon Outdoor 100m hurdles

8.44 9.09 1.50m (4-11) 5.84m (19-2) 3,156 points

12/11/10 2/11/11 12/11/10 12/11/10 12/8/11

16.00

3/11/11

Taylor Simpson

Sophomore | Jumps Calhoun, Ga. | Gordon Central HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Redshirted. OUTDOOR: Jumped 1.57m to finish fifth in the high jump at the `Southern Invitational ... placed fourth in the high jump (1.60m) at the Twilight Invitational ... high jumped a season-best 1.65m at the Memphis Invitational ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Gordon Central High School in Calhoun, Ga. ... recorded the top high jump mark 1.67m in Georgia’s Class 2A to capture the 2010 Region 7-AA title ... went to the state meet three years in a row ... placed third in the high jump at the 2010

state meet ... leaped to a fourth-place finish in the high jump at the 2009 state meet ... member of the National Honor Society ... graduated in the top seven percent of her class. PERSONAL Full name is Taylor Renee Simpson ... born Aug. 16, 1992 ... daughter of Jimmie Pope and Tammie Simpson ... has a younger sister, Anikia ... majoring in English.

Simpson’s Collegiate Bests

Outdoor High jump

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1.65m (5-5)

4/30/11

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Kelli Smith

Sophomore | Jumps Chattanooga, Tenn. | Brainerd HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Leaped 5.74m in the long jump to earn a second-place finish at the Saluki Open ... tied for fourth in the high jump (1.57m) and claimed a top-five finish in the long jump (5.91m) at the MTSU Invitational ... jumped 5.84m in the long jump for a second-place finish at the Niswonger Invitational. OUTDOOR: Placed first in the long jump (5.54m) setting a new meet record at the `Southern Invitational ... jumped a season-high 5.93m in the long jump at the C-USA Championships ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Brainerd High School in Chattanooga, Tenn. ... earned a second-place finish in the long jump at the 2010 Tennessee Class A-AA state meet with a leap of 5.79m ... also placed third in the triple jump at the 2010 state meet ... named one of the Best of Prep and selected to the 2010 All-City Track & Field Team by the Chattanooga Times Free Press ... also played on the basketball and volleyball

teams ... member of the National Honor Society ... graduated fourth in her class. PERSONAL Full name is Kelli Denise Smith ... born Dec. 5, 1991 ... daughter of Vickie Merrell ... has a brother, Corey, and two sisters, Janita MervellBonner and Michelle Bradley ... majoring in criminal justice.

Smith’s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 55m 60m High jump Long jump Outdoor 100m Long jump High jump

Angel Watson

7.39 8.09 1.57m (5-1.75) 5.91m (19-4.75)

12/11/10 1/21/11 12/11/10 12/11/10

12.68 5.93m (19-5.5) 1.55m (5-1)

3/11/11 5/12/11 4/22/11

Redshirt Sophomore | Sprints Mobile, Ala. | St. Paul’s Episcopal HS *Indoor 200m Freshman Record Holder

REDSHIRT YEAR (2011) Redshirted for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

the Junior Olympics in 2001 and 2003.

AS A FRESHMAN (2010) INDOOR: Set a new UAB freshman record after running a 24.81 in the 200m at the Meyo Invitational ... placed fifth in the 200m at the Niswonger Invitational (25.17) ... clocked a personal-record 7.76 in the 60m at the Niswonger Invitational. OUTDOOR: Ran personal-record 100m (11.92) and 200m (24.26) times at the C-USA Championships ... claimed third in the 400m at the Southern Invitational with a time of 57.88. HIGH SCHOOL Attended St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, Ala. ... was the 2008 state champion in the 100 and 200m ... team won the state title 2006-09 ... holds the 100m and 200m records at St. Paul’s Episcopal ... recipient of the Robert Kendall Leadership Award ... won the gold in the 200m at 23

PERSONAL Full name is Angel Sarai Watson ... born April 26, 1991 ... daughter of Louis and Sharon Watson ... has a brother, Louis, and two sisters, Amiracle and Nicole ... double majoring in psychology and social work.

Watson’s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 60m 200m 300m Outdoor 100m 200m 400m

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7.77 24.70 40.54

1/23/10 12/8/11 2/6/10

11.92 24.26 57.88

5/15/10 5/15/10 3/13/10

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Kyana White

Sophomore | Sprints Kennesaw, Ga. | Campbell HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Recorded a then-personal-best 26.16 in the 200m at the MTSU Invitational ... crossed the line at 41.46 in the 300-meter dash at the Tiger Paw Invitational ... claimed a sixthplace finish with a season-best 58.80 in the 400m at the same meet. OUTDOOR: Part of the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams that finished first (46.58, 1:38.78) at the Alabama Relays ... claimed fourth place in the 400m (58.26) at the Memphis Invitational ... ran a personal-best 57.03 in the 400m at the C-USA Championships ... a C-USA Academic Medal recipient and Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Campbell High School in Smyrna, Ga. ... was a member of the 2010 state champion 1,600m relay squad ... named Atlanta Track Club’s 2010 Woman of the Year as a part of the 1,600m relay team ... three-time regional champion, capturing the 1,600m relay title in both 2009 and 2010 and the 400m relay

title in 2010 ... three-time All-Cobb County selection ... claimed the 2010 county title in the 200m dash. PERSONAL Full name is Kyana Da’Nise White ... born June 19, 1992 ... daughter of Troy and Carlene White ... has a younger sister, Kadisha ... double majoring in communications studies and Spanish.

White’s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 200m 300m 400m Outdoor 200m 400m

25.79 41.46 58.80

12/8/11 2/11/11 2/11/11

25.81 57.03

4/1/11 5/12/11

Kara Woods

Sophomore | Mid-Distance Montgomery, Ala. | LAMP HS

AS A FRESHMAN (2011) INDOOR: Crossed the finish line in 1:24.31 in the 500m and finished the 800m with a season-best 2:32.26 at the Tiger Paw Invitational ... completed the 600m with a time of 1:47.19 at the Gladstein Invitational. OUTDOOR: Finished in the top 10 in the 800m (2:31.90) at the Sea Ray Relays ... recorded a seasonbest 2:27.57 in the same event at the Alabama Relays ... ran a 5:31.78 in the 1,500m at the Twilight Invitational. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School in Montgomery, Ala. ... was a member of the Class 3A state champion 1x400m relay team in 2008 and 2009 ... finished as the runner-up in the 400m at the state meet in both 2009 and 2010 ... was the senior class president and president of the 24

government club. PERSONAL Full name is Kara Alexis Woods ... born Nov. 25, 1991 ... daughter of Darryl and Janet Woods ... has a younger sister, Kayla ... majoring in criminal justice.

Wood’s Collegiate Bests

Indoor 500m 600m 800m Outdoor 800m 1,500m

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1:24.31 1:47.19 2:32.26

2/11/11 1/22/11 2/11/11

2:27.57 5:31.78

3/26/11 4/1/11

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Meet The Blazers

Shelby Barker

Freshman | Jumps Roswell, Ga. | Roswell HS

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Roswell High School in Roswell, Ga. … high jumped 5-4 and triple jumped 35-11 to take first in each event at the 2011 Fulton County Championships … earned first place at the 5ARegional Championships in the triple jump (39-9.5)… placed second in the 400 meters (59.28) at the 2011 Fulton County Championships … led her team to the 2010 Regional Championships … three-time Georgia state meet qualifier … also played varsity basketball … led the basketball team to 2009 and 2011 region titles … awarded the 2011 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 … named the 2008 Roswell High School Track Athlete of the Year.

PERSONAL Full name is Shelby Lee Barker … born May 5, 1993 … daughter of Leonardo and Tamara Barker … has one older sister, Sydney … majoring in health care management.

Kendra Gipson

Freshman | Jumps Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Northridge HS

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. … placed third at the 2010 state championships in the triple jump (37-1.75) … triple jumped 38-7.75 to place fifth out of a field of 396 at the 2011 state championships … holds the school record in the triple (39-4) and long (18-3) jumps … leaped 38-4 to take first in the 2010 outdoor AHSAA 6A – Section 3 Championships in the triple jump … member of the Art Honor Society ... president of the Spanish Honor Society her senior year.

PERSONAL Full name is Kendra Koleen Gipson … born Aug. 19, 1992 … daughter of John and Hellen Gipson … has three brothers, Ivan Treadway, Zack Gipson and Seth Gipson and one sister, Khadira Gipson … majoring in nursing.

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Meet The Blazers

Toni Hawkins

Freshman | Pole Vault Pelham, Ala. | Pelham HS

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Pelham High School in Pelham, Ala. … a two-time AAU district and regional champion in the pole vault … won the 2010 ESPN Rise Games at Disney Wide World of Sports … a two-time USATF Junior Olympics state champion and National Junior Olympics qualifier … awarded the 2008 Most Improved Player and 2009 Most Valuable Jumper by Pelham High School … earned A-B honor roll honors.

PERSONAL Full name is Toni Marie Hawkins … born June 9, 1993 … daughter of Tony and Cynthia Hawkins … majoring in sociology.

Kristie Leybourne

Freshman | Distance Poulton-Le-Fylde, England | Baines School

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Baines School in Poulton-Le-Fylde, England ... coached by Stan Taylor ... finished first in the in the 1,500m at the Lancashire County Championships in 2011 (4:44.50), 2010 (4:42.50) and 2007 (4:47.60) ... ran for the U20 Sale Harrier Manchester/Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde in 2011 ... member of the 2010 U20 Newham & Essex Beagles/Blackpool Wyre & Fylde ... represented North England and finished 10th at the Home Countries Cross Country Championships.

PERSONAL Full name is Kristie Ann Leybourne ... born May 3, 1992 ... daughter of Philip and Susan Leybourne ... has one brother, Hayden and one sister, Abi ... majoring in psychology.

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Meet The Blazers

Jessica Shelley

Freshman | Sprints/Hurdles Hoover, Ala. | Hoover HS

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. … won the 100-meter hurdles in 2009 (14.72) and 2010 (14.35) at the state championships … placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (14.54) at the 2011 state championships … garnered the Hoover High School Leadership Award her junior year and the Best Attitude Award her senior year … named to the honor roll in her first three years.

PERSONAL Full name is Jessica Brooke Shelley … born Sept. 18, 1992 … daughter of Jonathan and Angela Shelley … has one older sister, Samantha … major is undeclared.

Jenna Wesley

Freshman | Mid-Distance Griffin, Ga. | Spalding HS

HIGH SCHOOL Attended Spalding High School in Griffin, Ga. ... coached by Dolores Owen ... two-time GHSA Class 4-AAA state title winner in the 800m in 2010 and 2011 ... finished fourth in the 1,600m as a senior ... selected by her high school as the most valuable player in cross country and track and field four-straight years ... placed eighth in the 1,500m at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2010 ... received her high school’s Outstanding Freshman Award ... earned the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Georgia Women in Sports Organization.

PERSONAL Full name is Jenna Brooke Wesley ... born Dec. 19, 1992 ... daughter of Doug and Sharon Wesley ... has one brother, John ... major is undeclared.

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2011 Season Review Six Blazers Set Meet Records At Southern Invite

Johns, a Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, native, boasted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in her major of mathematics. The distance runner is a three-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient and C-USA Honor Roll selection.

Shakima Knox and Lauren Fayen both set new meet-records. Knox clocked a time of 12.02 in the 100 meters while Fayen took the 800-meter title with a time of 2:15.60.

Mehl, from Rottweil, Germany, is a two-time C-USA All-Academic Team member and was the 2010 C-USA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for track and field. She has earned a 3.93 GPA at UAB. Mehl, an all-conference performer in the high jump, is a three-time qualifier for either the NCAA East Regional or NCAA East Preliminaries. Mehl is a two-time league indoor champion in the pentathlon.

Six Blazers set new meet records at the outdoor Birmingham Southern Invite. Rhiannon Johns shattered the meet and school record in the 1,500 meters as she crossed the line in 4:28.59.

Kristina Vaughn finished first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a meet record time of 11:19.17 and high jumper Nora Mehl leaped a meet-best 1.76 meters. Akira McSwain tied the previous meet record with a leap of 1.67 meters in the high jump.

Rhiannon Johns Qualifies for NCAA Championships

Distance runner Rhiannon Johns qualified for the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 5,000-meter run after she finished in seventh place in her preliminary heat with a time of 16:27.04. Running in her first NCAA final of her three-year collegiate career, Johns placed 23rd in the 5,000-meter final, crossing the line in 16:29.21. By reaching the final of the 5,000, Johns earned USTFCCCA (United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honorable mention All-America honors.

Johns Takes 10,000m Title at C-USA Championships

UAB junior Rhiannon Johns won her second-straight 10,000-meter title at the 2011 Conference USA Outdoor Championships. In repeating the league outdoor crown she captured a year ago, Johns clocked the best time in the event by more than a minute over her closest competitor. Johns finished with a time of 35:06.23, a second better than her winning 2010 time.

Academic All-District Awards

Rhiannon Johns and Nora Mehl were named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team for women’s track & field and cross country. Johns was an Academic All-District second-team selection in 2010 while senior Mehl was on the All-District team for the first time.

C-USA All-Academic Team

Rhiannon Johns and Kristina Vaughn were selected to the women’s Conference USA All-Academic Team. The all-academic team consists of student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a key contributor to their team. UAB was one of three schools to place two selections on the 11-member team as both Johns and Vaughn earned a spot on the league’s All-Academic Team for the second straight year. Johns, a 4.0 mathematics major, has received UAB Presidential Honors and named to UAB’s Dean’s List every semester of her career. Vaughn, a Madison, Ala., product, has earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in her major of biology. The distance runner is a three-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient and Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. She has also received UAB’s Presidential Honors (4.0 GPA) and named to UAB’s Dean’s List every semester of her career.

Johns Shatters 5,000m UAB Record

Rhiannon Johns bettered her personal best time by 35 seconds and shattered the five-year-old school record in the 5,000-meter run as she turned in an outstanding performance at the 53rd Annual Mt. SAC Relays. Johns clocked a time of 16:13.32 to improve on her previous best time of 16:48.38 by more than 35 seconds. She also broke the UAB mark of 16:33.48 set by Elizabeth Ambrus in 2006.

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2011 Top Indoor Performances 55 Meters 7.12 Shakima Knox............................... MTSU Invitational 7.39 Kelli Smith..................................... MTSU Invitational 7.64 Adriennie Bradley........................ MTSU Invitational 55-Meters Hurdles 8.44 Renay Ransaw............................... MTSU Invitational 9.63 Rachel Harley................................ MTSU Invitational 60 Meters 7.56(p) Shakima Knox.......................C-USA Championships 7.57(p) Shakima Knox................................Tyson Invitational 7.58(p) Shakima Knox........................Niswonger Invitational 60-Meter Hurdles 8.76(p) Akira McSwain....................... Tiger Paw Invitational 8.85(p) Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 8.88 Akira McSwain....................... Tiger Paw Invitational 200 Meters 24.74 Shakima Knox........................Niswonger Invitational 25.10(p) Shakima Knox........................Niswonger Invitational 25.19(p) Shakima Knox.......................C-USA Championships 300 Meters 41.46 Kyana White........................... Tiger Paw Invitational 43.51 Veronicia Johnson.................. Tiger Paw Invitational 43.80 Elin Andersson....................... Tiger Paw Invitational 400 Meters 57.92(p) Thelyssa Katchen..................C-USA Championships 58.07 Thelyssa Katchen..................... Gladstein Invitational 58.50 Kyana White........................... Tiger Paw Invitational 500 Meters 1:18.61 Rachel Harley.......................... Tiger Paw Invitational 1:23.79 Lucy Taylor............................. Tiger Paw Invitational 1:24.31 Kara Woods............................. Tiger Paw Invitational 600 Meters 1:36.55 Lauren Fayen............................ Gladstein Invitational 1:38.11 Bianca Le’Blanc........................ Gladstein Invitational 1:41.64 Rachel Harley........................... Gladstein Invitational 800 Meters 2:15.93 Bianca Le’Blanc......................Niswonger Invitational 2:16.70 Bianca Le’Blanc.....................C-USA Championships 2:17:25 Bianca Le’Blanc..............................Tyson Invitational

3,000 Meters 9:34.92 Rhiannon Johns....................C-USA Championships 9:38.43 Rhiannon Johns....................... Gladstein Invitational 10:15.60 Stephanie Gammon................. Gladstein Invitational 5,000 Meters 16:58.82 Rhiannon Johns....................C-USA Championships 17:01.18 Rhiannon Johns.............................Tyson Invitational 17:53.11 Stephanie Gammon..............C-USA Championships Long Jump 5.91m Kelli Smith..................................... MTSU Invitational 5.84m Kelli Smith..............................Niswonger Invitational 5.84m Renay Ransaw............................... MTSU Invitational High Jump 1.72m Nora Mehl.............................C-USA Championships 1.68m Nora Mehl......................................Tyson Invitational 1.65m Nora Mehl..............................Niswonger Invitational Shot Put 10.62m@ Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 9.94m@ Renay Ransaw.......................C-USA Championships Distance Medley Relay 11:56.65 Fayen-Harley-Le’Blanc-Vaughn..... C-USA Champs 4x400-Meter Relay 3:51.10 White-Katchen-Harley-McSwain.... C-USA Champs 3:51.94 UAB.........................................Niswonger Invitational 3:55.53 White-Katchen-Harley-McSwain... Tiger Paw Invite Pentathlon 3,534 Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 3,038 Renay Ransaw.......................C-USA Championships * - School Record # - Freshman Record (p) - Preliminary Time $ - NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time ! - NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time @ - Event Was Part of Pentathlon

1,000 Meters 3:07.18 Colleen Standridge................. Tiger Paw Invitational Mile Run 5:01.11 Rhiannon Johns.....................Niswonger Invitational 5:07.29 Lauren Fayen.........................C-USA Championships 5:08.18 Lauren Fayen..................................Tyson Invitational

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2011 Top Outdoor Performances 100 Meters 11.75 Alexis Bates.............................. Memphis Invitational 11.75 Shakima Knox.......................... Memphis Invitational 11.75 Shakima Knox.....................................Alabama Relays 200 Meters 24.10(p) Shakima Knox.......................C-USA Championships 24.50 Shakima Knox.......................................Sea Ray Relays 24.54 Shakima Knox............. Bulldog Twilight Invitational 400 Meters 56.36 Thelyssa Katchen...................Vanderbilt Invitational 56.84 Thelyssa Katchen........ Bulldog Twilight Invitational 56.86(p) Thelyssa Katchen..................C-USA Championships 800 Meters 2:09.81 Lauren Fayen..........................Vanderbilt Invitational 2:10.56 Lauren Fayen.........................C-USA Championships 2:10.93 Lauren Fayen............................ Memphis Invitational 1,500 Meters 4:28.59* Rhiannon Johns.......... Birmingham Southern Invite 4:33.28 Kristina Vaughn................... Vanderbilt Invitational 4:34.90 Lauren Fayen............... Bulldog Twilight Invitational 5,000 Meters 16:13.32* Rhiannon Johns..................................Mt. SAC Relays 16:27.04$ Rhiannon Johns...................NCAA East Preliminary 16:29.21 Rhiannon Johns.................... NCAA Championships 10,000 Meters 34:14.04 Rhiannon Johns.........................Stanford Invitational 34:15.07 Rhiannon Johns........................... NCAA Preliminary 35:06.23 Rhiannon Johns....................C-USA Championships 100-Meter Hurdles 14.10 Akira McSwain......................Vanderbilt Invitational 14.24 Akira McSwain........... Bulldog Twilight Invitational 14.33@ Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 400-Meter Hurdles 1:00.96(p) Rachel Harley........................C-USA Championships 1:01.51 Rachel Harley........................C-USA Championships 1:01.76 Rachel Harley........................................Sea Ray Relays 3,000-Meter Steeplechase 10:45.85 Kristina Vaughn.................................Mt. SAC Relays 10:52.23 Kristina Vaughn........................Stanford Invitational 11:13.03 Kristina Vaughn...................C-USA Championships Long Jump 5.93m Kelli Smith.............................C-USA Championships 5.71m@ Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 5.67m Akira McSwain...................................Alabama Relays High Jump 1.78m Nora Mehl............................NCAA East Preliminary 1.76m Nora Mehl................... Birmingham Southern Invite 1.76m Nora Mehl..............................Vanderbilt Invitational

Rhiannon Johns set new 1,500m and 5,000m outdoor UAB school records in 2011.

4x100-Meter Relay 46.55 Katchen-White-Knox-Bates....C-USA Championships 46.58 UAB....................................................... Alabama Relays 46.64 Katchen-White-Knox-Bates................. Memphis Invite 4x200-Meter Relay

1:38.78 UAB.......................................................... Alabama Relays 1:39.15 McSwain-Katchen-Knox-Bates.............. Sea Ray Relays 1:41.75 White-Harley-Johnson-Katchen............. Bulldog Invite

4x400-Meter Relay 3:45.89 White-Johnson-McSwain-Expose... Vanderbilt Invite 3:49.41 White-Katchen-McSwain-Johnson....C-USA Champs 3:51.02 UAB.......................................................... Alabama Relays 4x800-Meter Relay 9:09.69 UAB......................................................Alabama Relays 9:51.80 Cid-Fayen-Taylor-Le’Blanc................Sea Ray Relays Sprint Medley Relay

4:20.24 UAB.......................................................... Alabama Relays

Shot Put 10.78m@ Akira McSwain.....................................Sea Ray Relays 9.95m@ Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships Javelin Throw

31.22m

30.39m 27.40m

Akira McSwain..............Birmingham Southern Invite Nora Mehl.................................Vanderbilt Invitational Nora Mehl......................Birmingham Southern Invite

Heptathlon 5,051 Akira McSwain.....................C-USA Championships 4,843 Akira McSwain.....................................Sea Ray Relays * - School Record # - Freshman Record (p) - Preliminary Time $ - NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time ! - NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time @ - Event Was Part of Heptathlon

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All-Time Indoor Performances 55 Meters 1. Vonetta Jeffery 2. Taneeshia Jones 3. Stacey Adewakun 4. Stacey Adewakun 5. Oriana Carter

6.97 6.97 7.00 7.01 7.03

1995 1998 2005 2005 2005

60 Meters 1. Yolanda Cooper 2. Stephanie McCauley Stephanie McCauley Taneeshia Jones

7.36 7.47 7.47 7.47

2000 2007 2005 1998

200 Meters 1. Vonetta Jeffery 2. Angel Watson 3. Shakima Knox 4. Katrina Harrell 5. Stephanie McCauley

23.87 24.70 24.74 24.79 24.80

1995 2011 2011 2008 2007

300 Meters 1. Stacey Adewakun 2. Tara Colvin 3. Jacinta Scruggs 4. Tara Colvin 5. Angel Watson

39.47 39.59 40.13 40.16 40.54

2005 2007 2008 2007 2010

400 Meters 1. Tara Colvin 2. Tara Colvin 3. Tara Colvin 4. Lytrice Thomas 5. Thelyssa Katchen

53.64 55.47 55.49 57.75 57.92

2008 2008 2007 2010 2011

500 Meters 1. Tara Colvin 2. Alina Varpiotaite 3. Tara Colvin 4. Karina Expose 5. Rachel Harley

1:13.43 1:14.90 1:14.98 1:18.06 1:18.61

2006 2006 2006 2010 2011

600 Meters 1. Genoah Collins 2. Lauren Fayen 3. Bianca Leâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Blanc 4. Donna Pucke 5. Rachel Harley

1:35.42 1:36.55 1:38.11 1:39.10 1:41.64

2004 2011 2011 2003 2011

800 Meters 1. Alina Varpiotaite 2. Genoah Collins 3. Genoah Collins 4. Genoah Collins

2:07.58 2:07.70 2:08.34 2:08.75

2008 2005 2008 2005

5. Alina Varpiotaite

2:10.13

2008

1,000 Meters 1. Lucy Taylor 2. Whitney Mays 3. Colleen Standridge 4. Jakia Williams 5. Lucy Taylor

2:59.68 2:59.90 3:01.95 3:02.50 3:02.92

2010 2006 2009 2006 2009

Mile 1. Lori Usrey 2. Genoah Collins 3. Whitney Mays 4. Rhiannon Johns 5. Genoah Collins

4:59.60 4:59.82 5:00.75 5:01.11 5:01.63

1999 2008 2007 2011 2008

3,000 Meters 1. Elizabeth Ambrus 2. Rhiannon Johns 3. Elizabeth Ambrus 4. Rhiannon Johns 5. Rhiannon Johns

9:32.17 9:34.92 9:35.88 9:38.43 9:40.86

2008 2011 2008 2011 2011

5,000 Meters 1. Elizabeth Ambrus 2. Elizabeth Ambrus 3. Elizabeth Ambrus 4. Rhiannon Johns 5. Elizabeth Ambrus

16:18.92 16:24.85 16:31.85 16:50.28 16:57.16

2008 2008 2008 2010 2005

55-Meter Hurdles 1. Vonetta Jeffery Taneeshia Jones 3. Stacey Adewakun 4. Stacey Adewakun 5. Oriana Carter

6.97 6.97 7.00 7.01 7.03

1995 1998 2005 2005 2005

60-Meter Hurdles 1. Nakeshia Jackson 2. Theresa Smith Theresa Smith 4. Theresa Smith 5. Theresa Smith

8.46 8.48 8.48 8.51 8.52

2000 2005 2003 2005 2005

4x400-Meter Relay 1. Adewakun-Varpiotaite-Collins-Colvin 2. Scruggs-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin 3. Adewakun-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin 4. Adewakun-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin 5. Scruggs-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin

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3:44.07 2007 3:44.55 2008 3:44.75 2007 3:45.48 2007 3:46.81 2008

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All-Time Indoor Performances Distance Medley Relay (DMR) 1. Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays 2. Hood-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays 3. Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays 4. Collins-Minnifield-Colvin-Ambrus 5. Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays

11:37.50 11:46.80 11:48.32 11:53.12 11:53.31

Pentathlon 1. Nora Mehl 2. Judy Shepherd Akira McSwain 3. Akira McSwain 4. Judy Shepherd

3,774 3,599 3,534 3,527 3,462

2008 2007 2008 2005 2008 2010 2004 2011 2010 2005

Long Jump 2. Deborah Hawkins 19-05 1/4 (5.92m) 2007 3. Kelli Smith 19-05 (5.91m) 2011 Renay Ransaw 19-02 (5.84m) 2011 4. Deborah Hawkins 19-02 (5.84m) 2007 Triple Jump 1. Kim White 41-2 1/2 (12.56m) 1998 2. Deborah Hawkins 40-8 3/4 (12.41m) 2007 Penny Shields 40-8 3/4 (12.41m) 2006 4. Penny Shields 40-6 3/4 (12.36m) 2008 5. Penny Shields 40-5 1/2 (12.33m) 2008 High Jump 1. Nora Mehl 2. Meredith George 3. Nora Mehl 4. Nora Mehl 5. Nora Mehl Shot Put 1. Dina Katsoulis 2. Cherie Adams 3. Akira McSwain 4. Cadetric Walker 5. Alecia Robertson Pole Vault 1. Toni Hawkins 2. Rebecca Brown Anna Fearon

5-11 1/4 (1.81m) 5-09 3/4 (1.77m) 5-08 3/4 (1.75m) 5-08 3/4 (1.75m) 5-07 3/4 (1.72m)

2010 2000 2010 2010 2011

36-05 (11.09m) 35-10 (10.92m) 34-04 1/2 (10.78m) 35-03 3/4 (10.76m) 35-01 1/4 (10.69m)

2001 2010 2010 1992 1995

10-08 (3.25m) 10-00 (3.05m) 10-00 (3.05m)

2011 2005 2006

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All-Time Outdoor Performances 34:40.30

2010

13.25 13:41 13.69 13.69 13.70

2000 2008 2010 2004 1997

400-Meter Hurdles 1. Nakeshia Jackson 2. Jacinta Scruggs 3. Michelle Lovelace 4. Jacinta Scruggs 5. Jacinta Scruggs

58.44 58.96 59.40 1:00.14 1:00.44

2000 2008 1997 2008 2008

1988 2005 2008 2006 2008

3,000-Meter Steeplechase 1. Whitney Mays 2. Whitney Mays 3. Whitney Mays 4. Whitney Mays 5. Kristina Vaughn

10:31.90 10:42.11 10:42.32 10:45.60 10:45.85

2007 2008 2006 2005 2011

2:08.33 2:08.90 2:09.08 2:09.24 2:09.81

2008 2007 2009 2006 2011

1,500 Meters 1. Rhiannon Johns 2. Lauren Fayen 3. Kendel Hood 4 Alina Varpiotaite 5. Kristina Vaughn

45.22 45.45 45.51 45.53 45.62

1995 2004 2005 1996 1995

4:28.59 4:31.58 4:32.77 4:32.91 4:33.28

2011 2010 2010 2008 2011

4x100 Meter Relay 1. Gibson-Thomas-Fincher-Jeffery 2. Smith-McCauley-Hunter-Carter 3. Smith-McCauley-Carter-Lockett 4. Thomas-Cameron-Lovelace-Jeffery 5. Gibson-Thomas-Christopher-Jeffery

3,000 Meters 1. Beth Groom 2. Melissa Hopkins 3. Sandra Lundberg 4. Jill Faulkner 5. Lori Usrey

9:47.18 9:52.86 9:53.39 10:01.20 10:04.92

1995 1999 2009 1988 1999

5,000 Meters 1. Rhiannon Johns 2. Rhiannon Johns 3. Rhiannon Johns 4. Elizabeth Ambrus 5. Elizabeth Ambrus

16:13.32 16:27.04 16:29.21 16:33.48 16:45.84

2011 2011 2011 2006 2006

10,000 Meters 1. Elizabeth Ambrus 2. Rhiannon Johns 3. Rhiannon Johns 4. Elizabeth Ambrus

34:07.95 34:14.04 34:15.07 34:17.65

2006 2011 2011 2008

100 Meters 1. Vonetta Jeffery 2. Taneeshia Jones 3. Oriana Carter 4. Yolanda Cooper 5. Michelle Lovelace

11.30 11.54 11.58 11.59 11.60

1995 1998 2005 2000 1997

200 Meters 1. Vonetta Jeffery 2. Taneeshia Jones 3. Barbara May 4. Kathy Gibson 5. Shakima Knox

23.05 23.88 23.98 24.06 24.10

1995 1998 1988 1995 2011

400 Meters 1. Barbara May 2. Tara Colvin 3. Tara Colvin 4. Tara Colvin 5. Tara Colvin

53.30 53.85 53.92 53.96 54.39

800 Meters 1. Alina Varpiotaite 2. Alina Varpiotaite 3. Alina Varpiotaite 4. Genoah Collins 5. Lauren Fayen

5. Rhiannon Johns 100-Meter Hurdles 1. Nakeshia Jackson 2. Erika Russ 3. Timara McMillan Theresa Smith 5. Michelle Lovelace

Elizabeth Ambrus

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All-Time Outdoor Performances 4x200 Meter Relay 1. Gibson-Thomas-Christopher-Jeffery 2. Gibson-Fincher-Christopher-Jeffery 3. Thomas-Cameron-Lovelace-Jeffery 4. Knox-McSwain-McMillan-Watson 5. Knox-McMillan-McSwain-Watson

1:35.44 1995 1:36.54 1995 1:37.11 1996 1:37.48 2010 1:37.75 2010

4x400 Meter Relay 1. Scruggs-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin 2. Jennings-Duke-Minnifield-Colvin 3. Scruggs-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin 4. Jennings-Duke-Minnifield-Colvin 5. Jennings-Collins-Minnifield-Colvin

3:38.51 3:40.58 3:41.45 3:41.87 3:42.28

2008 2005 2008 2005 2005

4x800 Meter Relay 1. Hood-Collins-Varpiotaite-Leâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Blanc 2. Collins-Mays-Varpiotaite-Hood 3. UAB 4. Minnifield-Jennings-Collins-Walton 5. UAB

9:04.02 9:08.05 9:09.69 9:12.52 9:13.30

2008 2007 2011 2005 2010

11:34.37 11:43.63 11:46.25 11:48.67 11:49.96

Shuttle Hurdle Relay 1. Shepherd-Russ-Smith-Harris 56.96 2. McMillan-Pruitt-Hamilton-Chambers 58.20 3. McSwain-Thomas-McMillan-Hamilton 58.28 4 Hamilton-McMillan-Chambers-Russ 59.92 5. Russ-Harris-Hawkins-Sykes 1:02.76

21-8 3/4 (6.62m) 20-0 1/4 (6.10m) 19-11 (6.07m) 19-9 1/2 (6.03m) 34

19-9 1/2 (6.03m) 2006 19-9 1/2 (6.03m) 1988 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) 5-10 (1.78m) 5-10 (1.78m)

2010 2000 1988 1988 2011

Triple Jump 1. Penny Shields 2. Penny Shields 3. Vonetta Jeffery 4. Samantha Hamilton

41-5 3/4 (12.64m) 41-5 (12.62m) 41-4 1/4 (12.60m) 41-3 (12.57m)

2008 2008 1995 2008

Shot Put 1. Cadetric Walker 2. Jacque Nero 3. Dina Katsoulis 4. Angela King 5. Jennifer Roosevelt

40-8 (12.39m) 36-2 3/4 (11.04m) 36-2 (11.02m) 36-0 1/2 (10.98m) 35-4 1/2 (10.78m)

1988 1992 2003 1988 1986

Javelin 1. Olivia Ross-Hurst 2. Nakeshia Jackson 3. Tiffany Parker 4. Denise Milite 5. Christy Mixon

163-7 (49.86m) 127-1 (38.74m) 125-10 (38.35m) 118-1 (35.99m) 117-10 (35.92m)

2003 2000 2004 1991 2006

2008 2006 2007 2009 2004

Discus 1. Cadetric Walker 2. Donna Burke 3. Christy Mixon 4. Christy Mixon 5. Cherie Adams

143-3 (43.66m) 1988 124-9 (38.02m) 1987 119-4 (36.37m) 2004 107-11 (32.89m) 2003 102-17 3/4 (31.53m) 2010

2005 2009 2010 2008 2006

Heptathlon 1. Angela King 2. Nakeshia Jackson 3. Vonetta Jeffery 4. Akira McSwain 5. Akira McSwain

5,436 5,282 5,059 5,051 4,983

1988 2000 1994 2011 2010

Pole Vault 1. Tiffany Parker 2. Anna Fearon 3. Rebecca Brown

3.05m 3.05m 3.04m

2005 2006 2005

Sprint Medley Relay (SMR) 1. Carter-Lockett-Colvin-Collins 3:52.77 2005 2. Harrell-McCauley-Colvin-Varpiotaite 3:54.55 2007 Adewakun-McCauley-Colvin-Varpiotaite 3:54.55 2007 4. Adewakun-Carter-Colvin-Varpiotaite 3:55.23 2006 5. UAB 3:56.05 2008 Long Jump 1. Vonetta Jeffery 2. Kathy Gibson 3. Erin Harris 4. Erin Harris

Erin Harris Angela King

High Jump 1. Nora Mehl Meredith George Carla Turnbough 4. Angela King Nora Mehl

4x1,500-Meter Relay 1. Vaughn-Hood-Varpiotaite-Lundberg 18:59.09 2009 2. Kelly-Jackson-Caywood-Usrey 19:01.44 1999 3. Hilligoss-Ambrus-Mays-Fortney 19:15.84 2005 4. Olsen-Gammon-Ambrus-Mays 19:16.23 2008 5. UAB 19:19.34 2006 Distance Medley Relay (DMR) 1. Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays 2. Mays-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Ambrus 3. Hood-Walker-Collins-Mays 4. Hood-Leâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Blanc-Varpiotaite-Lundberg 5. Ambrus-Minnifield-Collins-Ivanova

1994 1995 2006 2007

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All-Time Records Indoor: 55 Meters 60 Meters 200 Meters 300 Meters 400 Meters 500 Meters 600 Meters 800 Meters 1,000 Meters Mile 3,000 Meters 5,000 Meters 55-Meter Hurdles 60-Meter Hurdles 4x400 Relay Distance Medley Relay High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Pole Vault Pentathlon

Vonetta Jeffery Yolanda Cooper Vonetta Jeffery Tara Colvin Tara Colvin Tara Colvin Genoah Collins Alina Varpiotaite Lucy Taylor Lori Usrey Elizabeth Ambrus Elizabeth Ambrus Theresa Smith Nakeshia Jackson Adewakun-Varpiotaite-Collins-Colvin Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays Nora Mehl Vonetta Jeffery Kim White Jessica Moore Toni Hawkins Nora Mehl

6.97 7.36 23.87 39.59 53.64 1:13.43 1:35.42 2:07.58 2:59.68 4:59.60 9:32.17 16:18.92 8.00 8.46 3:44.07 11:37.50 5-11 1/4 (1.81m) 21-8 3/4 (6.62m) 41-2 1/2 (12.56m) 40-9 1/2 (12.43m) 10-8 (3.25m) 3,774 points

1995 2000 1995 2007 2008 2006 2004 2008 2010 1999 2008 2008 2003 2000 2007 2008 2010 1995 1998 2004 2011 2010

Outdoor: 100 Meters 200 Meters 400 Meters 800 Meters 1,500 Meters 3,000 Meters 5,000 Meters 10,000 Meters 100-Meter Hurdles 400-Meter Hurdles 3000-Meter Steeplechase 4x100 Relay 4x200 Relay 4x400 Relay 4x800 Relay 4x1500 Relay Distance Medley Relay Shuttle Hurdle Relay Sprint Medley Relay Long Jump Triple Jump High Jump Shot Put Discus Javelin Pole Vault Heptathlon

Vonetta Jeffery Vonetta Jeffery Barbara May Alina Varpiotaite Rhiannon Johns Beth Groom Rhiannon Johns Elizabeth Ambrus Nakeshia Jackson Nakeshia Jackson Whitney Mays Gibson-Thomas-Fincher-Jeffery Gibson-Thomas-Christopher-Jeffery Scruggs-Collins-Varpiotaite-Colvin Hood-Collins-Varpiotaite-Leâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Blanc Usrey-Kelly-Caywood-Hopkins Collins-Colvin-Varpiotaite-Mays Shepherd-Russ-Smith-Harris Carter-Lockett-Colvin-Collins Vonetta Jeffery Penny Shields Nora Mehl Meredith George Cadetric Walker Cadetric Walker Nakeshia Jackson Tiffany Parker Anna Fearon Angela King

11.30 23.05 53.30 2:08.33 4:28.59 9:47.18 16:13.32 34:07.95 13.25 58.44 10:31.90 45.22 1:35.44 3:38.51 9:04.02 19:01.76 11:34.37 56.96 3:52.77 21-8 3/4 (6.62m) 41-5 3/4 (12.64m) 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) 5-10 1/2 (1.79m) 40-8 (12.39m) 143-3 (43.66m) 127-1 (39.49m) 10-0 (3.05m) 10-0 (3.05m) 5,436

1995 1995 1988 2008 2011 1995 2011 2006 2000 2000 2007 1995 1995 2008 2008 1999 2008 2005 2005 1994 2008 2010 2010 1988 1988 2000 2005 2006 1988

*Bold indicates current UAB athletes 35

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Freshman Records Indoor:

55 Meters 60 Meters 200 Meters 300 Meters 400 Meters 500 Meters 800 Meters Mile 3,000 Meters 5,000 Meters 60-Meter Hurdles High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump Pentathlon Pole Vault

Outdoor:

100 Meters 200 Meters 400 Meters 800 Meters 1,500 Meters 3,000 Meters 5,000 Meters 10,000 Meters 100-Meter Hurdles 400-Meter Hurdles 3,000-Meter Steeplechase High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump Shot Put Heptathlon

Stacey Adewakun Taneeshia Jones Angel Watson Jacinta Scruggs Tara Colvin Alina Varpiotaite Alina Varpiotaite Kendel Hood Rhiannon Johns Elizabeth Hilligoss Taneeshia Jones Meredith George Vonetta Jeffery Samantha Hamilton Akira McSwain Toni Hawkins

7.00 7.47 24.81 40.13 56.40 1:14.90 2:13.90 5:07.85 9:52.96 17:23.09 8.58 5-8 1/2 (1.74m) 19-11 (6.07m) 39-7 (12.07m) 3,527 10-8 (3.25m)

2005 1998 2010 2008 2005 2006 2006 2007 2009 2005 1998 1999 1993 2008 2010 2012

Taneeshia Jones Teneeshia Jones Tara Colvin Alina Varpiotaite Lori Usrey Sandra Lundberg Sandra Lundberg Rhiannon Johns Nakeshia Jackson Nakeshia Jackson Whitney Mays Meredith George Vonetta Jeffery Samantha Hamilton Alecia Robertson Akira McSwain

11.54 23.88 53.85 2:10.78 4:36.55 9:53.39 17:10.35 36:47.51 13.86 59.00 10:45.60 5-6 1/2 (1.69m) 20-9 3/4 (6.34m) 41-3 (12.57m) 35-1 1/4 (10.67m) 4,983

1998 1998 2005 2006 1996 2009 2009 2009 1998 1998 2005 1999 1992 2008 1995 2010

*Bold indicates current UAB athletes

Rhiannon Johns

Akira McSwain 36

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Conference USA After marking its 15-year milestone during the 200910 season, Conference USA is still going strong. From the beginning, dedication to excellence has been the league’s guiding principle and remains today Britton Banowsky a common thread C-USA Commissioner for a promising future. C-USA is home to 12 nationally prominent, tradition-rich members in East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances men’s and women’s programs that are immersed in athletic success and academic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities.

5 CIT) live streaming of non-televised events, video on de• One National Championship title game appear- mand, a weekly C-USA studio show, podcasting, ance regular season and championship event highlights • Three Final Four teams and C-USA produced feature stories. Monthly and • Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams yearly subscriptions will offer access to events offered • One NIT Champion and four NIT semifinalists on all 12 of the C-USA member institution’s athletic • Inaugural CBI Champion websites as well as C-USA network programming.

All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I-A football, along with several other men’s and women’s athletic programs, many of which compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA sponsors competition in 20 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 11 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, softball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball).

In addition, 35 volleyball teams, 55 men’s and women’s soccer teams and 30 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C-USA has sent three men’s soccer teams to the NCAA College Cup, five softball teams to the Women’s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had six national champions in NCAA track and field competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team competitors in cross country, golf, swimming, tennis and track and field. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals have made more than 600 NCAA appearances.

The league sponsors numerous academic awards, including the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA annually awards 12 postgraduate scholarships, along with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award. Conference USA also added a Spirit of Service Award, recognizing student-athletes three times a year for a combination of significant community service efforts, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top conferences in the nation. Football • 62 teams have earned bowl bids • Member of the Bowl Championship Series • Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Military Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl and the TicketCity Bowl Men’s Basketball • Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in the country • 97 postseason teams (47 NCAA, 39 NIT, 6 CBI,

Women’s Basketball • 46 NCAA Tournament appearances • 36 WNIT appearances • One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 • Two WNIT semifinalists • One WBI Champion Baseball • 53 NCAA appearances • Six College World Series appearances (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001), including five of the last seven • 13 Super Regional appearances • Has produced at least four NCAA teams in eight of the last 10 seasons

SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic performance among student-athletes, bolstered by the fact that student-athletes at league schools have a higher graduation rate than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,000 student-athletes, there are champions off the playing field as well. In 15 years, 153 student-athletes earned national ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, while 541 were named All-District. In addition, more than 20,000 student-athletes have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA ON TV C-USA enjoys significant television exposure through a multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnerships with FOX Sports Media Group and CBS Sports Network. By partnering with FOX Sports Media Group and extendiith CBS Sports Network, the league has substantially increased the number of national and regional appearances for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and all other conference sports. C-USA DIGITAL NETWORK The C-USA Digital Network will officially launch in August of 2011. Network programming will include 37

C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY The conference’s footprint is concentrated with 12 members in nine states and a combined area population of nearly 17 million. More than 1.1 million living alumni represent C-USA schools across the nation. With a renewed commitment to community involvement, the conference has begun development of several initiatives to maintain strong ties in CUSA cities, as well as with fans and alumni across the country. C-USA schools also place a priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer service with local and national organizations. GOVERNANCE Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac10 and SEC, Conference USA is one of the seven conferences having significant representation in the NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the member institutions serve as the league’s Board of Directors. A PROUD HISTORY; A PROMISING FUTURE Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top conferences. The conference unveiled its name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995 in Chicago. The league’s charter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven of the institutions began athletic participation in 1995, while Houston joined competition in the fall of 1996. The league’s headquarters were established in Chicago and after nine years, relocated to the current office in Irving, Texas. Britton Banowsky was named Commissioner in October 2002, succeeding Mike Slive, the league’s first commissioner. C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members. ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in 1999. The league added TCU and ECU (1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF started C-USA football in 2003. After celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2004-05 season, C-USA began a new chapter in 2005-06 when its current membership came together to form the new look of the league. Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong foundation, an identity and a history that reflects the league’s national presence. Fifteen years of remarkable history has reinforced the league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the next decade and beyond.

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UAB Administration

Dr. Carol Garrison, President

AB President and alumna Carol Garrison has had an extraordinary view of her alma mater. She took her first full-time job in UAB Hospital, during the university’s formative years in the 1970s, then earned her master’s degree from UAB. When she returned to campus in fall 2002, as UAB’s sixth president, the young, dynamic institution had evolved into a world-renowned research university and medical center. A Montclair, New Jersey native, Dr. Garrison earned her bachelor’s (1974) and Ph.D. in epidemiology (1982) from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She was a faculty member, department chair,

dean and provost at the University of South Carolina (1982-1997). She joined the University of Louisville as provost in 1997 and was appointed interim president there in early 2002. As president of UAB, Dr. Garrison also chairs the board of the UAB Health System, which includes UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and other of UAB’s nationally ranked patient care facilities. During Dr. Garrison’s tenure, UAB has enjoyed remarkable growth and development. Recent years have seen the opening of state-of-the-art facilities such as the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, Heritage Hall and the burgeoning Campus Green along University Boulevard, and most recently, the UAB Women & Infants Center and Hazelrig-Salter Radiation-Oncology Facility.

The growth of the physical campus and academic programs has been guided by UAB’s Strategic Plan. Developed with campus-wide participation in 2003, the Strategic Plan has led to the recruitment of internationally known faculty and physicians, and the creation of innovative new curricula and honors programs for undergraduates. In 2011, UAB saw its largest enrollment ever (17,575). UAB has also recently been ranked among the top 15 percent of all U.S. universities in The Princeton Review (5th in diverse student population and 11th in student satisfaction). Now in her 10th year as president, Dr. Garrison continues working in partnership with the campus and the community towards an extraordinary vision for UAB and for Birmingham.

Brian Mackin, Athletics Director

rian Mackin was named UAB’s Director of Athletics on February 14, 2007. He moved into the position after spending five years as senior associate athletic director for external affairs for the Blazers. A former UAB baseball letterman, Mackin has a deep-rooted passion for the University and its athletics program. With an eye on the future, his commitment to continue to grow the program has been clear in the time since he became athletics director. He has made success in the classroom and improving athletic facilities two of his top priorities. Mackin was able to secure the first-ever naming rights for the athletics program with the generous gift from Don and Marsha Hire for the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center. With the opening of the Academic Center, an abundance of new computer equipment has been added. Mackin has also strengthened the academic area by creating additional staff positions. Under Mackin’s watch, the Academic Reform Group (ARG) was initiated. This group is made up of athletics staff members and academic support staff. With its mission to create an environment of academic excellence in the department, the group addresses every aspect of a student-athlete’s experience while at UAB. Mackin has also demonstrated his commitment to academic success by initiating a penalty structure for student-athletes and making them accountable if they miss classes or tutorial sessions. Mackin’s commitment to academics has shown

positive results. For the 2009-10 academic year, UAB student-athletes accounted for nearly 25 percent of Conference USA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, awards that are handed out annually to the top student-athlete in each sport that the league sponsors. Since Mackin became athletics director, he has made facility improvements another objective of emphasis. A new 10,000-square foot weight room has opened for Blazer teams, as well as a new, spacious, state-of theart athletic training facility which opened in the fall of 2008. With the renovation of the Ullman Building, the Blazers’ Olympic sports coaches have been able to relocate into brand new offices. Other facilities improvements have included the resurfacing of the track for the Blazers’ track and field team. In spring 2010, the first phase of the new, on-campus UAB softball facility was completed. The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed as UAB has been named as host site for the 2012 Conference USA Softball Championship. The baseball and softball programs also enjoy the hitting and pitching facility additions that were completed in spring 2010. New state-of-the-art video boards are now in place in Bartow Arena, Young Memorial Field and the new softball facility. The upgrades and progress of the program under Mackin have not been limited to facilities and academics. In the last three years, the athletics program entered an agreement with Nike that provides apparel and equipment for all of UAB’s athletics teams. Mackin came on board at UAB in the spring of 2002 as senior associate AD for external affairs. In that role, he was responsible for fund-raising, corporate sup-

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port and marketing for the athletic department. In 2006, Mackin was named Division I-A Fundraiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors. Under Mackin’s leadership, contributions to UAB athletics nearly tripled from $1.3 million in 2001 to about $3.7 million in 2006. Additionally, he has been responsible for the creation of several affinity groups including the Athletic Investors Group, the Champion Club and the Blazer Club, which brought together the two annual funds supporting football and men’s basketball. Prior to joining UAB, Mackin served as Manager of Corporate Business Development at Vulcan Materials, where he was responsible for examining potential new markets for business development and locating growth opportunities in the industry. Mackin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from UAB in 1983. He was a member of the Blazer baseball team four seasons and then moved into the Houston Astros baseball organization for one season. Mackin then joined Vulcan Materials, where he held management positions in sales and market analysis. In 1990, he joined Southern Ready Mix as sales manager before joining Dunn Construction in 1993 where he rose to vice president in 1999. His responsibilities included business development, sales and project management. Mackin’s community activities include the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, which hosts the State High School Final Four, the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Birmingham Rotary Club. He has served as the president of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club. Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: Ragland (23), Brian Jr. (21), Ferrell (18), Mary Aileen (17), and Ella (14).

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UAB Administration Dr. Frank Messina, Faculty Athletics Representative

r. Frank M. Messina, professor and chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Accounting and Information Systems (ACIS) in the UAB School of Business, was named fac-

ulty athletics representative in 2008. He has been on staff at the university for 16 years. Messina has previously been chair of ACIS and is the school’s Ernst & Young Scholar. A Birmingham native, he came to UAB in 1993 as an assistant professor in accounting. He received a doctorate in business administration (D.B.A.) from Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1993, a master’s in professional

accountancy at MSU in 1990 and a bachelor’s in business administration at the University of West Alabama in 1986. Messina and his wife, Natalie, have two sons: Taylor (18) and TJ (8). A third son, Thomas, passed away in the spring of 2010 at the age of 15.

Administrative Staff

Shannon Ealy

Senior Associate AD for External Affairs

Norm Reilly

Associate AD for Media Relations

Derita Ratcliffe

Senior Associate AD Senior Woman Administrator

Matt Wildt

Associate AD for Ticket Operations & Football Administration

Coleman Barnes Associate AD for Development

Reid Adair

Assistant AD for Facilities and Operations

Corey Bray

Associate AD for Compliance

Mike Jones

Assistant AD for Athletic Training

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Timothy Garner

Danez Marrable

Brad Smith

Stacey Torman

Associate AD for Financial Affairs

Assistant AD for Marketing

Associate AD for Student Services

Director of Strength and Conditioning

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UAB AT A GLANCE UAB is a young, dynamic university that has, over four decades, won international renown for its leading-edge research, medical care and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Home to more than 17,500 students and 2,000 faculty members, UAB impacts every facet of the Birmingham community, improving the lives of residents through innovative health care, education, and active service and engagement. On a campus encompassing 86 city blocks, breakthroughs are made daily in the arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, health professions, medicine, nursing, optometry and public health.

Bharat Soni, one of America’s top computing experts and a UAB engineering professor, has created a high-performance virtual reality lab on campus. In more than 80 interdisciplinary research centers all over campus, faculty and students are pushing the envelope in science and medicine, developing new treatments and cures for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s to heart disease. UAB’s physicianresearchers, and the facilities in which they work, are recognized as among the best in the nation. UAB’s impact on its community and state is tremendous, and is seen not only in improved education and health care, but in a stronger economy. As Alabama’s largest single employer, UAB has some 18,000 employees and is responsible for more than 61,000 jobs statewide (that’s one of every 33 jobs), and has an annual economic impact of $4.6 billion. One of every 25 dollars in the state’s budget is generated by UAB.

A University Forging the Future • UAB has seen record overall enrollment for three consecutive years. In fall 2011, UAB welcomed 17,575 students and its largest freshman class ever (over 1,600), with two-thirds of those freshmen living on campus. • Forbes lists UAB among the top 20% of all U.S. undergraduate institutions and The Princeton Review has ranked the university in the top 10 nationally for student diversity for three consecutive years (currently 5th).

UAB enriches Birmingham’s cultural landscape through a diversity of people and activities such as athletics, performing arts, theatre, social service, and much more.

• An exciting nexus of the sciences, business and education, and the arts and humanities, UAB is forging the ideas and technologies of tomorrow with intensely collaborative research and scholarship. It’s where creativity and innovation are campus traditions—and where successful futures begin.

www.uab.edu

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Top-Quality Health

Care

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• UAB Hospital is the largest in the state and among the largest and most complex in the nation (1,146 beds), and the only Alabama hospital listed for 22 straight years in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” issue, which lists only 3 percent of hospitals nationwide. In the current issue, UAB has six medical specialties in the top 25. • UAB is the largest academic medical center in Alabama and one of the top four largest academic medical centers in the United States, treating 1,187,230 patients last year. • UAB provides vital resources and services that are offered nowhere else in Alabama, such as an adult level 1 trauma center, a burn center, and a Level III (highest level) regional neonatal intensive care unit. • UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of the nation’s first such centers designated by the National Cancer Institute and remains the only one in Alabama and a six-state region. • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated UAB as one of only six Diabetes Research and Training Centers in the country, putting the university at the forefront in development of new methods to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes.

• The UAB School of Health Professions provides advanced opportunities and is one of the largest schools of its type in the nation, with 21 innovative programs at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree levels within six departments: Critical Care, Diagnostic and Therapeautic Sciences; Health Services Administration; Nutrition Sciences; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy. U.S. News & World Report ranks several SHP programs among the nation’s top 25. • UAB Kirklin Clinic is a state-of-the-art, full-service clinic that furnishes a full range of adult outpatient care. Housing more than 25 specialties and more than 700 specialists under one roof, UAB Kirklin Clinic conveniently provides in-house diagnostic testing, surgery services, a pharmacy and educational seminars. • Several graduate programs at UAB have been recognized for excellence nationally. In the most recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report of graduate programs, the School of Nursing ranks 26th overall, with the School of Medicine being 27th and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 58th. Individual programs also have been cited, with the AIDS program within the School of Medicine ranked 5th and the School of Health Profession’s health administration program ranked 7th.

A Leading-Edge Research • UAB is ranked 31st nationally for federal research and development funding, attracting over $460 million in 2010, and is 21st in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). • UAB is among a handful of universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation for both “high research activity” and “community engagement,” which suggests how effectively the university harnesses that research to benefit the community—in terms of the economy, education, better health, and quality of life. • Recent breakthroughs include a novel bio-coating for cardiac stents that significantly reduces the need for follow-up surgery; using remote satellite imaging to discover ancient ruins in Egypt, featured in a recent BBC documentary; a new collaboration with HudsonAlpha (Huntsville) investigating the genetic roots of Parkinson’s disease; the opening the Materials Processing and Application Development (MPAD) facility, the largest academic research facility of its kind in the nation, offering the rare capability of developing both metals and composites under one roof. 41

Enterprise

• Innovation Depot, in which UAB is a founding partner, was recently named the Top High-Tech Business Incubator in the nation by the National Business Incubation Association. As the largest incubator in the Southeast, the Depot was responsible for 75 tenant companies and $274 million in sales impact in 2010 (and $1.4 billion in sales impact over the past five years). • Physician-researchers are at the top of their fields, serving as editors-in-chief of 25 peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, and in high-level national posts—UAB faculty are currently serving as President of the American Cancer Society and President-elect of the American Heart Association, and an alumna, Dr. Regina Benjamin, is U.S. Surgeon General.

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• UAB is one of only two academic institutions available nationwide receiving requests for Crew Robotics and U A B r a c k & F i e l d VehicleTEquipment (CRAVE) for NASA’s International Space Station, space shuttles, and beyond. Lee Moradi, CRAVE program manager in the Center for Biophysical Science and Engineering, says UAB will design, test, and manufacture high-precision research instruments and thermal carriers, he also foresees additional work to develop extravehicular activity and robotics equipment, crew health and conditioning systems, and environmental control and life-support technology.

Challenging, Distinctive

Academic Programs

• UAB offers one-of-a-kind programs, such as the only undergraduate biomedical engineering degree, the only industrial distribution degree in the Southeast, and one of only four forensic accounting and IT concentrations in the nation. • UAB also offers unrivaled research and scholarship opportunities for students at all levels, ranking 1st among all public universities in federal research funding per incoming freshman. Of the 138 undergraduates enrolled in the Science and Technology Honors Program (part of the acclaimed UAB Honors Academy) in 2010-11, 35 were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. • In the U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs, UAB has 13 programs in the top 25 and five in the top 10: Master’s in health administration, 5th; School of Medicine’s AIDS program, 6th; Medicine’s primary care, 10th; nurse practitioner (adult), 10th; nursing service administration, 10th. • The Scientist ranked UAB 22nd nationally (and 6th among public universities) in its “Best Places to Work as a Postdoctoral Fellow” issue. • UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary as Birmingham’s “home for the performing arts,” housing a 1,330-seat concert hall, intimate recital hall and state-of-the-art theatres. With 24 Steinway pianos in its music department, UAB is Alabama’s first “AllSteinway School” and one of only 125 in the world. • The School of Nursing is designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for International Nursing, one of only 10 such centers in the U.S. and 45 in the world.

Athletic Achievements

• Former UAB men’s golfer Graeme McDowell (right) won the U.S. Open in 2010. At UAB, he was the nation’s No. 1-ranked collegiate golfer in 2002. • In 33 seasons of competition, the Blazer men’s basketball team has enjoyed 29 winning seasons, has made 25 trips to postseason tournaments (14 NCAA, 11 NIT), and has won eight conference championships. With the 2011 NCAA berth, the Blazers have reached postseason play in eight of the past nine years (4 NCAA, 4 NIT). UAB advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004, knocking off tournament No. 1 seed Kentucky in the second round.

• Just in the past three years, UAB students earned 8 Goldwater Scholarships, 7 Fulbright scholarships, 3 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships and an NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship (one of only 15 in the nation).

• The men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time overall in 2006. The team won the 1999 C-USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Final 8. • The UAB women’s soccer team has won the C-USA Tournament title twice (2004 and 2006), earning NCAA trips both years. In 2003, the UAB women captured the C-USA regular season title.

• The UAB softball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and made a return trip in 2011. The Blazers defeated Florida State in the first round of the 2011 Athens Regional for their first ever NCAA tourney win.

• The Blazers field 18 intercollegiate teams as a Division I member of the NCAA and a founding member of Conference USA.

• The Blazer volleyball team has made two NCAA tournament appearances in the past five years (2006 and 2008). The program earned its first NCAA tournament victory in 2008 with a first-round win over Missouri State.

• Vonetta Flowers, a former UAB track & field AllAmerican, made history in February of 2002 when she won a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Flowers became the first Winter Olympics Gold Medalist ever from Alabama when she teamed with Jill Bakken to capture the two-woman bobsled competition.

• Blazer football earned its first postseason bowl appearance with a berth in the 2004 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Blazers have finished as Conference USA runner-up three times since they became a football-playing member of the league.

www.uabsports.com

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BIRMINGHAM U A B

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The Magic City

The statue of Vulcan — Roman God of Fire and Iron — is the symbol of the city of Birmingham.

ith a population of more than 230,000 (more than one million in the metropolitan area), Birmingham has a strong, diverse, service-oriented economy and is recognized as a Southeast leader. Founded shortly after the Civil War, Birmingham rapidly became known as “The Magic City” because of its phenomenal

rate of industrial growth in its beginning. Its mountainous strata and forest surrounding the city are rich with ore deposits, and it was that natural wealth that quickly transformed young Birmingham into a bustling steel metropolis. Today, Birmingham continues to earn the distinction, “The Magic City,” but this tribute is due to the city’s economic competitiveness, technological advancements and quality of life — offerings which are sought after by professionals with an eye toward the future. Birmingham has been recognized as one of America’s “Most Livable Cities” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors — as recently as 1993. Birmingham’s strategic location and diverse economy position the city as one of tremendous opportunity and growth. Centrally located and the largest municipality in Alabama, the city is home to a number of renowned individuals who have made an impression on the nation and the world in music and entertainment, education, medicine and sports, to name a few. There is never a lack of cultural entertainment in “The Magic City”. Dozens of neighborhood and city-wide festivals, museums, parks, sports competitions and much more provide unlimited activity and amusement. Residents and visitors to Birmingham enjoy the city’s recreational and historical attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens,

Vulcan Park, Sloss Furnaces, Southern Museum of Flight and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Sports enthusiasts will never be at a loss for activity at the heart of the “Football Capital of the South.” UAB plays all of its home football games at historic Legion Field, which also was the site of preliminary round soccer matches at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Professional athletic teams in the area include the Class-AA Birmingham Barons (baseball). Several annual fests are held in Birmingham. The biggest is City Stages, held each spring in the downtown City Center. City Stages attracts nearly a quarter of a million people for a three-day weekend of unlimited music. All of this and more makes Birmingham “The Magic City” to residents and visitors year-round.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum stands as a reminder of the past and a beacon of hope for the future.

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he state-of-the-art, $25 million Campus Recreation Center has covered all the T r a c k & F i e l d bases. It boasts 18,000 square feet of weight and fitness space outfitted with all-new equiptment and a one-eighth-mile oval running track that juts out of the building, curving toward University Boulevard and 15th Street South to provide panoramic views of the campus. And just to make sure no one gets bored, planners added a five-story, rock-climbing wall. The facility features four basketball courts, five racquetball courts, one of which converts to a squash court and a multi-purpose court that can be used for indoor soccer, volleyball, floor hockey or badminton. There are also four aerobic rooms and a swimming pool with four lap lanes and leisure and physical rehabilitation areas. The handicap-accessible pool has many special features. A continuous current in the “lazy river” carries swimmers around the outer edge of the pool in inner tubes – the ride ends under a waterfall – or individuals can walk against the flow as a part of a physical rehabilitation program. For more intense resistance training, center members can use the “vortex,” a circular area within the pool with forceful water jets.

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One of the four aerobics rooms is dedicated to spinning; the others host Pilates, general aerobics, yoga, step, and kickboxing classes along with other specialty offerings. The facility also includes the Kids Zone, a supervised area – equipped with toys, books, and movies – where parents can drop off children while they work out. The center also has

a juice bar, wireless internet access, and an Outdoor Pursuits Center that rents camping gear and leads backpacking, rafting, and skiing trips to desitnations around the United States. The first floor houses a wellness center that coordinates with UAB groups to offer nutritional counseling, body-fat measurements, personal training, and general fitness assessments.

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Gene Bartow U A B

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Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame ’89 National College Basketball Hall Of Fame ’09

ne of the most respected figures in intercollegiate athletics, Gene Bartow, forged the UAB athletic program into a well-rounded organization with outstanding teams in several sports. Bartow, considered the “founding father” of UAB athletics, grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports and an annual operating budget of more than $8 million by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Bartow, who passed away Jan. 3, 2012 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, guided the program through three conference changes, grew the football team from a club sport into a Division I-A program, and added several women’s sports to the university’s athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program’s second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments. In addition to his time at UAB, Bartow is one of the top college basketball coaches of all time. By the time he retired from collegiate coaching in 1996, he had led teams for 34 years at six universities (Central Missouri State, Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB), compiling 647 wins, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one national title game appearance and one national Coach of the Year Award (both with Memphis State in 1973), and no probation problems with the NCAA. In 2009, Bartow received the ultimate honor as he was inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. He entered the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and is also a member of both the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and the Northeast Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame. The Browning, Mo. native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, Memphis State University from 1970-74, and he led the Tigers to the ‘73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in the ‘71-’72 and ‘72-’73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to succeed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the job of creating an athletic program at UAB. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his honor. The Birmingham News has voted him one of the top 10 most influential figures in Alabama sports for the past century. Bartow is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Huffine, and three children, Mark, Beth and Murry, who is the head men’s basketball coach at East Tennessee State. 1-12 AaBc k Trac 4 5 45 2 0 1 1 - 1220 1U AB U Tr & kF i& e lFdi el d

“Founding Father” of UAB Athletics • UAB head basketball coach (1977-96) • UAB’s first Athletics Director (1977-2000) • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances at UAB • 14 postseason appearances during 18-year coaching career at UAB • 11 20-win seasons during UAB coaching career tenure • 647 career coaching victories • 366 victories at UAB • Led UAB to NCAA Sweet 16 in 1981 and Elite Eight appearance in 1982 • Voted by the Birmingham News as one of the top-10 influential figures in Alabama sports over the past century

Proud Past Bright Future

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Summer, 1977: Coach Gene Bartow is hired as UAB’s first intercollegiate Athletics Director and head basketball coach. Preparations begin for the hiring of coaches and support staff, recruitment of student-athletes, establishment of the Golden 100 scholarship foundation, scheduling, etc. Fall, 1978: UAB athletic teams begin intercollegiate competition for the first time; the university begins an 11-year association with the Sun Belt Conference. Nov. 24, 1978: The UAB men’s basketball team plays its first game, a 66-54 loss to Nebraska before a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center; UAB has gone on to win 20 or more games 15 times, appear in 11 NCAA Tournaments and eight NITs. March, 1981: The Blazer men’s basketball team defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Mideast Regional, and reaches the NCAA “Sweet 16.” This appearance marks the beginning of a streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments for UAB (1981-87). March, 1982: UAB adds to its amazing basketball success story, defeating Indiana and Virginia in the Southeast Regional, and reaching the NCAA “Elite Eight.” The Southeast Regional in Birmingham is the first of five NCAA Tournament events to be hosted by UAB (’82, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88). March, 1989: Blazer basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Michigan State for third place at Madison Square Garden. Fall, 1989: The UAB club football team is organized; the team goes 0-6 in its first season. 1990-91: The Blazer baseball team wins its first Sun Belt Conference Championship and becomes the first UAB team other than men’s basketball to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s tennis wins the first of five consecutive conference championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest Conferences. Volleyball wins the first of three consecutive championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest conferences and makes its first of four consecutive post-season appearances. 1991-92: UAB begins competition in the Great Midwest Conference. The UAB football team begins its first season of varsity play at the Division III level. Blazer volleyball and baseball win the first Great Midwest Championship. UAB places its first men’s tennis players, Frank Schaffner and Karl Steffen, in NCAA Tournament play. 1992-93: Men’s basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Alabama, Clemson, Southwest Missouri State and Providence. The nationally-ranked UAB men’s tennis team participates in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Blazer volleyball, cross country and tennis teams all win Great Midwest Conference championships. January, 1993: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-AA level, beginning with the 1993 season. 1993-94: Blazer teams win six league championships, and UAB wins the Great Midwest Conference Commissioner’s Cup, awarded to the university with the most successful overall athletics program. The Blazer basketball team goes 14-0 vs. GMW opponents and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball is nationally-ranked and participates in the NCAA Tournament. August, 1994: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-A level and that the school will field a women’s soccer team beginning with the 1996 season. 1994-95: UAB soccer wins the Great Midwest Conference championship and participates in the NCAA Tournament. UAB wins GMW championship in men’s and women’s 46 46

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The final score read 13-10 as the UAB football program earned its signature victory at LSU on Sept. 23, 2000.

Mirela Vladulesu took the collegiate tennis world by storm and was the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the country for much of the 1997-98 season.

tennis, women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s golf. April 24, 1995: UAB becomes a charter member of Conference USA. A B begins T r asacoach c k Gene & Bartow F i steps e l d March 26, 1996: One era ends andUanother down as head men’s basketball coach. November 14, 1996: Conference USA announces that UAB has been admitted as a football-playing member; the Blazers will begin C-USA play in 1999. 1997-98: UAB freshman Mirela Vladulescu takes the women’s collegiate tennis world by storm, winning both the ITA Clay Court National Championship and Riviera Women’s All-America Championship; she is the first UAB tennis player to win a collegiate grand slam event. Vladulescu will later be the top-ranked player in the NCAA rankings for much of the 1997-98 season. The men’s golf team receives a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 1998-99: The men’s basketball team makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Mirela Vladulescu returns to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, despite an injury-plagued season. 1999-00: UAB athletics has arguably its best season to date. The UAB football team becomes an official member of Conference USA and goes 4-2 in conference play during its inaugural season. The UAB men’s soccer team wins the Conference USA Championship and reaches the NCAA “Elite Eight”. Synchronized swimming finishes fourth in the country at the U.S. Collegiate Championships in its inaugural season. Women’s basketball reaches the “Sweet 16,” the men’s tennis team makes its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and men’s golf makes its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. July 10, 2000: Gene Bartow announces his retirement as athletics director after 23 years of service to the university. August 22, 2000: Herman Frazier is named UAB’s second athletics director. Sept. 23, 2000: In what was arguably the greatest win in UAB football history, the Blazers go to Baton Rouge, La. and upset SEC foe LSU, 13-10, on a game-winning field goal by Rhett Gallego in the waining seconds. 2000-01: Led by sophomore All-American Graeme McDowell, the men’s golf team finished ninth in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to its first NCAA Championship at Duke University, where it garnered a tie for 12th place. Senior women’s tennis player Mirela Vladulescu finished off a four-year career as one of the most successful athletes in UAB history. The men’s soccer team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The football team finished 7-4 overall, becoming the first “bowl-eligible” Blazer squad since UAB moved to the NCAA I-A level in 1996. The women’s basketball team, led by junior All-American Deanna Jackson, finished the season 20-11 and advanced to the WNIT. In just its second season, the synchronized swimming team placed fourth at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and eighth at the U.S. Nationals. 2001-02: Led by All-American Graeme McDowell, who was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the nation, the UAB men made their third consecutive appearance (fourth overall) in the NCAA Tournament. The Blazer football squad again boasted another “bowl eligible” season, as the team went 6-5 in 2001. The men’s soccer team made its third consecutive trip (fourth overall) to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the “Sweet 16.” The UAB softball team had its best season to date, advancing to the C-USA Championship game and boasting a 39-22 overall record. Denise Peters and Lisa Nowoslawski of the women’s soccer team were both named Verizon Academic All-Americans. In addition, Peters was named the C-USA Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. Synchronized swimming earned its highest finish to date at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, taking third. Four swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named AllAmericans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. April 4, 2002: Athletics Director Herman Frazier and UAB President Ann Reynolds announce the hiring of Mike Anderson as UAB’s third men’s basketball coach. November 21, 2002: Watson Brown is named UAB‘s third athletics director. 2002-03: In his first season at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Mike Anderson guided the Blazers to a 21-win season and a quarterfinal finish in the NIT. Lisa Nowoslawski capped off her career for the women’s soccer program by earning several prestigious academic awards, including an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the C-USA Postseason Scholarship Award and first-team Verizon / CoSIDA Academic All-America honors for the second straight year. The synchronized swimming team posted its second straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fourth place finish, its highest to date, at the U.S. National Championships. Six swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named All-Americans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee.

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Sept. 4, 2003: The UAB football team plays host to Southern Miss in front of the biggest Ucrown A B in UAB T r history, a c kand & F i people e l dever the most to watch a Conference USA football game when 44,669 people flocked to Legion Field. October 31, 2003: With a dominating 2-0 win on the road against USF, the UAB women’s soccer team earned its first Conference USA Championship and set the school record for shutouts in a season with nine. The Blazers’ Tara Kidwell and Jill Knottek each scored second half goals to lead UAB to its momentous victory. March, 2004: The UAB men’s basketball team shocks the college basketball world with its 76-75 upset over top-seeded Kentucky to advance to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers would finish the season with a 22-10 overall record and ranked No. 23 in the country. Also, the Blazers’ 12-4 record in Conference USA earned them a share of the first C-USA regular season championship. Head coach Mike Anderson was also named the 2004 Conference USA Coach of the Year. Spring, 2004: The synchronized swimming team posted is third straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fifth-place finish at the U.S. National Championships. Fall, 2004: The UAB women’s soccer team claimed the C-USA Tournament title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over host and regular-season champion Saint Louis in St. Louis, Mo., to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. The UAB football team made its first bowl game appearance in school history as the Blazers faced Hawai’i in the 2004 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. The Blazers fell to the Warriors, 59-40, on Christmas Eve in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Spring, 2006: The UAB men’s basketball team earned its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after finishing as Conference USA regular season and tournament runner-up. The synchronized swimming team took fourth place at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The Blazer softball team turned in one of its finest seasons in program history as the team won 31 games during the season to finish as the C-USA runnerup. Head coach Marla Townsend was named the C-USA Coach-of-the-Year. April 7, 2006: Mike Davis named as the fourth head basketball coach in the program’s 28-year history. Fall, 2006: UAB’s fall sports teams made three NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed three C-USA titles and beat the No. 1 team in the country. The UAB cross country team won the conference championship and head coach Ray Stanfield was named C-USA Coach of the Year. The women’s soccer team ran through the C-USA Tournament, and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. UAB’s men’s soccer team beat the No. 1 team in the country during the regular season and hosted a first-round NCAA Tournament game. To conclude the fall sports season, the Blazer volleyball squad won its firstever Conference USA Tournament title and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2006 UAB volleyball team won the Conference USA Tournament title and competed in the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament.

In 2011, the UAB men’s basketball team secured the program’s first outright Conference USA regular season championship. December 17, 2006: Former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway was chosen to lead the UAB football team, becoming the third coach in the program’s history, and the second coach to lead the Blazers since becoming a Division I program in 1996. Spring,

2007:

Zack Sucher matched UAB’s highest finish ever at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, closing the tournament tied for fourth place with a five-under 275 during four rounds of play. Sucher became just the fourth UAB men’s golfer in program history to earn All-American status, nabbing a spot on the honorable mention All-America team. In addition, the men’s golf team made its fifth NCAA Regional appearance in the past eight years.

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February 14, 2007: Former UAB baseball player and alumnus Brian Mackin was selected as the program’s fourth full-time Athletics Director. Spring, 2008: UAB men’s golf team captures the program’s first-ever Conference USA Championship. The Blazers went on to make the program’s seventh NCAA Regional and third NCAA National Championship appearances. Zack Sucher was tabbed second-team All-America and captured four individual titles during the 2007-08 men’s golf season. May 21, 2008: The UAB baseball team made history by recording the program’s first-ever win over the then-No. 5 Rice Owls, 8-2, in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament. Not only did the Blazers defeat the Owls for the first time in 10 tries, but it also was the second-highest ranked opponent the baseball team has defeated in program history. The Blazers would go on to match their best-ever result in the C-USA Tournament, making it to the semifinals. 2009-10: The softball team capped arguably the most successful season in program history with 37 wins and its first ever NCAA tournament berth. The men’s basketball team also Participated in the postseason, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals and hosting defending national champion North Carolina at Bartow Arena. Individually, football’s Joe Webb and men’s soccer’s Two-Boys Gumede were selected as C-USA Offensive Players of the Year for their sports. Jala Harris became the first C-USA women’s basketball player ever to earn Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year honors in the same season. Feb. 23, 2010:

The UAB softball team opened its new, on-campus facility, drawing a school-record crowd of 1,323 to its contest with Alabama. Spring,

2011:

The UAB men’s basketball team captured the program’s first-ever outright Conference USA regular season championship. The Blazers were also selected to the NCAA Tournament, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006 and the program’s 14th NCAA selection in its 32-year history. The softball team earned its second NCAA berth in as many seasons as well. Furthermore, women’s tennis standout Jenny Cape became the first Academic All-American for her sport, while track and field also received its first Academic All-America selections, as Nora Mehl and Rhiannon Johns received the nod.

Men’s Basketball • 14 NCAA Tournament and 11 NIT appearances • Eight conference championships • 28 winning seasons in 33 years • 21 20-win seasons in 33 years • Three Sweet 16 appearances • Four All-Americans Football • First bowl game appearance in 2004 (7-5 record) • First “bowl-eligible” season with 7-4 overall record in 2000 • Played first season at Division I-A level in 1996; now competes as a member of Conference USA • Roddy White selected in first round of 2005 NFL draft (No. 27 overall) • Bryan Thomas selected in first round of 2002 NFL draft (No. 22 overall) • Eight All-Americans Men’s Soccer • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006) • 1999 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and 2001 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 • Three conference championships (1994, 1995, 1999) • Eight All-Americans Women’s Basketball • 2000 NCAA Sweet 16 participant • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994) • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 2000) • Four-time WNIT participant (1990, 1991, 2001, 2007) • 2011 WBI Champions • Four All-Americans Baseball • Three conference championships (1991, 1992, 1994) • 1991 NCAA Tournament participant

• Shayne Carnes (1998) and Ryan Keedy (2008) named All-Americans by multiple publications U A B • Four All-Americans Men’s Tennis • Six All-Americans • Three Academic All-Americans • Five NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) • Top-30 ranking from 1993-2000 • Five conference championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) Women’s Tennis • Four conference championships (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) • Six national rankings (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) • Top-ranked singles player in nation (Mirela Vladulescu-1997-98) • One All-American Volleyball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2006 and 2008) • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 2006) • Five WIVC postseason appearances (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) • Two Academic All-Americans • Three AVCA All-America honorable mention honorees Men’s Golf • 2001, 2002 and 2008 NCAA Championship Participant • NCAA Regional Participants 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 • 2008 Conference USA Champions • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Champions • No. 1-ranked golfer and Fred Haskings Award winner (Graeme McDowell) • Six All-Americans

Blazer

Track & Field/ Cross Country T• 2002 r a Cross c kCountry & NCAA F i e l d All-Academic Team • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Champions • Three All-Americans • 1992 Women’s Great Midwest Conference Cross Country Champions • Two Olympic Trials Qualifiers • Cross Country conference champions, 2006 • 2005 Individual Cross Country C-USA Champion • Eight-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Softball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2010 and 2011) • 18 NFCA All-American Scholar Athletes • Five athletes named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I AllRegion Rifle • One C-USA Shootout third place finisher • 1997-98 Individual fifth place finisher at C-USA Championship Women’s Golf • Seven All-Conference USA Selections • C-USA Freshman of the Year Women’s Soccer • UAB Academic Award (1997, 1998, 2000) • Five All-Americans • Three conference championships (2003, 2004, 2006) • Two NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2006)

Highlights

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Aaron Johnson Clint Baumstark Jerome Mincy Peter Byaruhanga Steve Mitchell Leandro10deConference Oliveira y moving to the Atlantic Oliverfor Robinson Tony McManus the 1997 season, Villanova UniverFlavio Monteiro sity’s nine-year membership of the Yankee ConRumbani Munthali Football ference and the conference’s 50-year football Marinthe Pusek Rodregis Brooks legacy came to a close. Under direction of Cedrick Buchannon head coach Andy Talley, Houston VillanovaSmith compiled a Josh Evans lifetime mark of 38-31 in Yankee Conference Kerry Frazier Women’s Soccer contests. During their Yankee Conference hisRobertthe Leslie Kidwell tory, Wildcats shared Tara the league championDerrick Ingram ship twice, 1991 and 1989, finished second on John Whitcomb Tennis three occasions, in 1996, Men’s 1992 and 1990, and Roddy White Gerd Albiez third once in 1988. Kirsten The addition of threeMike college football proPaul Rosner Women’s grams in 1993 (James Madison, Northeastern Schaffner Basketball and William and Mary)Frank made the Yankee Vaughn Snyman I-AA Wanda Hightower Conference the largest NCAA Division Woisetschläger Deanna Jackson conference, with 12 totalMartin members. Each one

of the 12 schools competed for the conferBaseball Women’s Tennis ence title, playing an eight-game league slate. Shayne Carnes Mirela Vladulescu For scheduling purposes only, the league was Jay Cole into a New England Division (Boston divided Mitch Jones University ofTrack/ University, Connecticut, UniRyan Keedy Cross Country versity of Maine, University of Massachusetts, Elizabeth University of New Hampshire and Ambrus the UniverFlowers Divisity of Rhode Island), andVonetta a Mid-Atlantic Rhiannon Johns sion (University of Delaware, James Madison Angela King University, Northeastern University, University of Richmond, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Steve Mitchell and the College of William and Mary). Also, each individual school had to play each team in its own division, as well as three teams from the other division each year for a total of eight league contests. The Yankee Conference originally developed from the New England College Conference of Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern University offered its resignation from that group, the Land Grant institutions appointed a committee to form a new league. On December 8, 1945, that committee recommended an athletic conference formed by the six New England Land Grant colleges, namely; the University of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massachusetts State College (now the University of Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island), the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. On August 24, 1946, representatives from Elizabeth the schools met. A preamble and code of the Ambrus Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The On August 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The first league championships

Men’s Golf

Paul Dickinson Graeme McDowell Garrett Osborn Zack Sucher

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2008 UAB Outlook

Academic All-Americans

Baseball Brent Laircey

Men’s Soccer

Rebecca Johnson

Kristen Kramer Lane Knight 1996); Maine twice (1987, 1989); New HampLoucas Papaconstantinou Stacy Leiker shire twice (1991, 1994); James Madison twice Karen Meyer Men’s Lukasz Kwapisz (1994, 1995), William & Mary Saratwice Petrov (1993Basketball Synchronized 1996) and Richmond (1987) Sarah once.w PikalHampCarter Long Women’s Soccer Swimming shire and the University of Rhode Island), and a Moraine Ruddick Danielle Blair Morgan Clarke Mid-Atlantic ofTodd Delaware, Hallie Football BriannaDivision McCarty (University Meryl Grandia James Madison University, Northeastern UniJohnny Rea Lisa Nowoslawski Amanda Haeuser Softball Petersof Richmond, versity, Denise University VILLANOVA Stephanie Jackson Byrne and Volleyball Jill Porto and the CollegeAmanda UNIVERSITY of William Stacey Jackson Allisonhad Davis Suzie Johnson Woodward Mary). Vanessa Also, each individual school to play Patti Schroder Margareta Jakovac each team in its own division,Amanda as wellEllis as three Candice Hithe Synchronized Stacy Leiker teams from the other division each year for a Kris Lara Men’s Tennis Swimming Sara Petrov total of Vanessa eight league contests. Emily Scarbrough Sebastian Falk Dash Hallie Todd The Andrea YankeeDash Conference originally developed Megan Stephenson Frank Schaffner Bogdana Zareva from the New England College Conference of Martin Woisetschläger Kelli Dickerson Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern Track/Cross Amanda Haeuser Volleyball Country University offered its resignation from that Women’s Tennis Frances Halloran Ivana Bozic Rhiannon Johns a Jenny Cape Stacey Jackson group, the Land Grant institutions appointed Sam Serley Nora Stephanie Jackson committee to form a new league. OnMehl December Nevena Stefanov 8, 1945, that committee recommended an athletic conference formed by the six New England Land Grant colleges, namely; the University of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massachusetts State College (now the University of Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island), the Uniiate Athletics. When Northeastern University of New Hampshire and the University versity offered its resignation from of Vermont.Ryan that group, the Land Grant institutions Keedy On August 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. A preamble and code of the were conducted in the 1947-48 season. first league championships were conducted Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The On August in the 1947-48 season. In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. Division I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference disbanded in all sports with the exception of were adopted, and became effective on Decemfootball. Vermont, which had dropped football ber 3, 1946. The first league championships in 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, were conducted in the 1947-48 season. first league championships were conducted the Yankee Conference, after already adding Boston University in 1973, was six members in the 1947-48 season. In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of strong. In 1984, the University of Delaware and Division I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference University of Richmond joined the league, and disbanded in all sports with the exception of became eligible for the league title in 1986, football. Vermont, which had dropped football while the Villanova University Wildcats came in 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, on board in 1985. They became eligible for the the Yankee Conference, after already adding Boston University in 1973, was six members league title in 1988. The Yankee Conference was one of the strong. In 1984, the University of Delaware and original conferences to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978. University of Richmond joined the league, and Since the birth of NCAA Division I-AA, Bos- became eligible for the league title in 1986, Flavio ton University went Monteiro to the playoffs five times while the Villanova University Wildcats came (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1994); Rhode Island on board in 1985. They became eligible for the three times (1981, 1984, 1985); Massachusetts league title in 1988. The Yankee Conference was one of the three times (1978, 1988, 1990); Delaware six times (1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, original conferences to receive an automatic bid 1996); Villanova four times (1989, 1991, 1992, to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978. 50 50

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UAB Outlook Deanna Jackson

Years At UAB: 1998-2002

• First and only UAB player selected in the WNBA Draft, chosen Years At UAB: 1999-2002 eighth overall by 1989); the Cleveland Rock1996); Maine twice (1987, New Hampy moving to the Atlantic 10 Conference • Captured the 2010 U.S. Open Chamers in 2002 shire twice (1991, 1994); James Madison twice for the 1997 season, Villanova Univerpionship – the first major title by a former Competed Basketball (1994, 1995), •William & with MaryUSA twice (1993sity’s nine-year membership of the Yankee ConUAB golfer and the first U.S. Open win by a on the 2000 Jones Cup Team that 1996) and won Richmond once.w Hampference and the conference’s 50-year football European player in nearly 40 years the Gold(1987) in Taipei shire and the University of Rhode Island), player and a legacy came to a close. Under the direction of• Has won six professional tournaments, • Only women’s basketball Mid-Atlantic (University of Delaware, head coach Andy Talley, Villanova compiledfive a of which have come on the European in Division C-USA and UAB history to record more than 2,000 pointsUniversity, and 1,000 career reboundsUniJamescareer Madison Northeastern lifetime mark of 38-31 in Yankee ConferenceTour • A member of Europe’s Ryder Cup • Two-time C-USA Player ofofthe Year (2000-01, 2001-02) versity, University Richmond, VILLANOVA contests. During their Yankee Conference his- Team in 2008 and helped lift his team and the league’s Freshman ofand the the YearCollege in 1999of William and UNIVERSITY tory, the Wildcats shared the league championto the trophy in 2010 • UAB career leader in rebounds (1,118) and ranks second Mary). Also, each individual school had to play ship twice, 1991 and 1989, finished second on • Named 2010 ASWA Profes- in school history in points (2,144) sional Athlete of the Year and GWAA each team in its own division, as well as three three occasions, in 1996, 1992 and 1990, and Golfer of the Year teams from the other division each year for a third once in 1988. • Ranked as high as No. 4 in the total of eight league contests. The addition of three college football proworld golf rankings Bryan Thomas The Yankee Conference originally developed grams in 1993 (James Madison, Northeastern • First-team All-America selection Years At UAB: 1998-2001 from the New England College Conference of and William and Mary) made the Yankee and C-USA Golfer of the Year in 2001 Selected No. 22 overall by the Intercollegiate • Athletics. When Northeastern Conference the largest NCAA Division I-AA and 2002 New York Jets in 2002, becoming the • Winner of the 2002 Fred Haskins University Blazers’ offered highest-ever its resignation frompick that conference, with 12 total members. Each one NFL draft group, the Land Grant institutions appointed of the 12 schools competed for the confer- Award, given annually to the nation’s • Entering his 10th year as a Jet witha committee to a new league. December ence title, playing an eight-game league slate. top collegiate golfer 141form career games played,On compiling 91 starts, 404 tackles, 31 sacks, sevenanforced 8, 1945, that committee recommended athFor scheduling purposes only, the league was Roddy White fumbles and five recoveries letic conference formed by fumble the six New England divided into a New England Division (Boston Years At UAB: 2001-04 • Ranks namely; as UAB’s the all-time leader Land Grant colleges, University University, University of Connecticut, Uni• Drafted No. 27 overall by the in career sacks (36) and tackles for of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massaversity of Maine, University of Massachusetts, Atlanta Falcons in 2005 loss (56) • Was named as an NFL All-Pro State College the which University of University of New Hampshire and the Univer• Led thechusetts “Steel Shield” defense (now in 2001, topped Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College sity of Rhode Island), and a Mid-Atlantic Divi- wide receiver in 2010 the nation in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) and • Became the first UAB alum to earn wasUniranked No. in the nation inoftotal defense (265.9 (now5 the University Rhode Island), the yards Unision (University of Delaware, James Madison iate Athletics. When Northeastern an invitation to the NFL Pro Bowl, per game) versity of New Hampshire and the University University, Northeastern University, University receiving versity offered its resignation from the nod in three consecutive of Vermont. of Richmond, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY seasons that(2008-2010) group, the Land Grant institutions On August 24, 1946, representatives from and the College of William and Mary). Also,• First Falcon ever to have 80 catches and in four straightinseasons (2007-10) the schoolsDejan met. A Jakovic preamble and code of the were conducted the 1947-48 season. each individual school had to play 1,100-plus each team yards 71first receptions an NCAA-leading league for championships were conducted Yankee Conference in its own division, as well as three teams• Collected from Years Atwere UAB:adopted, 2005-07and became C-USA-record 1,452 yards and a C-USAeffective on December 3, 1946. The On in the 1947-48 season. the other division each year for a totaland of eight • A starting defender forAugust D.C. record 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2004 United in Major League Soccer met. 24, 1946, representatives from the schools In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of league contests. • Ranks second in the UAB record books in Formerly Red Star of theplayed YankeeforConference Division Football, Yankee Conference A preamble and• code The Yankee Conference originally developed career receptions (163),I-AA receiving yardsthe (3,112) Belgrade in Serbia’s First Division disbanded in(26) all sports with the exception of were adopted, and became effective on Decemfrom the New England College Conference of touchdowns and receiving • Has made 16 international The firstforleague championships Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern football. Vermont, which had dropped football ber 3, 1946. appearances the Canadian NationVonetta Flowers in the 1947-48 season. 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, were conducted University offered its resignation from that in(Jeffrey) al Team Years aAt UAB: 1992-95Conference, after already adding first league •championships conducted the Yankee group, the Land Grant institutions appointed A three-timewere all-conference • Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of selection at UAB season. committee to form a new league. On December Boston University in 1973, was six members in the 1947-48 Fame in 2010 • Twice earned honors In first-team 1978, withall-region the creation by the NCAA of 8, 1945, that committee recommended an ath• Madestrong. history at the 2002 Winter OlymDivision I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference In 1984, the University of Delaware and letic conference formed by the six New England pics in Salt Lake City, becoming the first and University of Richmond joined the league, and disbanded in all sports with the exception of Land Grant colleges, namely; the University only former UAB athlete to earn an Olympic Gold Medal had dropped football became eligible for the league title in 1986, football. Vermont, of Connecticut, University of Maine, MassaChris which Hammond the Villanova Gold in the bobsledWildcats as outUAB: of the1985 league. As a result, while the University came in 1974, dropped chusetts State College (now the University •ofCaptured Years At the first black athlete (male They or female in any • Drafted inafter 1986already by Cincinnati adding on board in 1985. became eligible for the the Yankee Conference, Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College country) to win a gold medal at the Winter Reds andinmade league debut Boston University 1973,major was six members (now the University of Rhode Island), the Olympics Uni- league title in 1988. in 1990 The Yankee Conference versity of New Hampshire and the University • Selected to carrywastheone of the strong. • Pitched 14 seasons in the major In 1984, the University of Delaware and originalAmerican conferences to receive automatic bid of Vermont. flag in the an 2002 leagues, including four with the Reds closing Division ceremonies the league, and I-AA Playoffs in 1978. University of On August 24, 1946, representatives from to the NCAA andRichmond five withjoined the Florida Marlins, • Honored as the 2002 I-AA, Bos- became eligible for his the career league with title an in overall 1986, of NCAA Division the schools met. A preamble and code of the Since the birth finishing USOC Team with five times while the Villanova University went oftothe theYear playoffs Yankee Conference were adopted, and became ton University record of 66-62 and aWildcats 4.14 ERAcame teammate Jill Bakken • Pitched inbecame the 2003 Worldfor Series on board in 1985. They eligible the (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1994); Rhode Island effective on December 3, 1946. The On August • All-American in track with the New York Yankees league title in 1988. (1981, 1984, 1985); Massachusetts 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. three times & field at UAB, where she • Known more a hitter atConference UAB, posting Theas Yankee wasa .275 one average of the (1978, 1988, 1990); A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference three times still holds numerous school Delaware with 32 runs scored and 16 RBI in 1985 records (1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, original conferences to receive an automatic bid were adopted, and became effective on Decem- six times ber 3, 1946. The first league championships 1996); Villanova four times (1989, 1991, 1992, to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978.

Graeme McDowell

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ssociate Athletic Director for Student Ser- practice, travel and competition schedules. In addition, athletic advisors regularly vices Danez M. 2010-11 C-USA review the performance and class Marrable oversees a staff Commissioner’s attendance of all student-athletes of eight full-time adviHonor Roll to help them keep on pace toward sors, a learning specialist, graduation. reading and writing specialist and five assistants (Student-athletes achieving In addition, the Life Skills program in the Don M. & Marcumulative GPA of 3.0 or better) is run through this office. This sha Hoke Hire StudentNCAA program centers around Athlete Academic CenElin Andersson the five commitments (academics, ter. Their mission is to Lauren Fayen athletics, personal development, provide the highest qualcareer development and communiity of academic support, Stephanie Gammon ty service) and was created to supcounseling and guidance Rachel Harley port the student-athlete developto UAB student-athletes ment initiatives and enhance the by promoting academic Rhiannon Johns quality of the student-athlete excellence, self-responsiCallerina Key experience within the context of bility, personal and prohigher education. fessional growth. Nora Mehl

a generous donation from Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire, UAB was able to completely renovate the academic center and provide first-class facilities to the Blazers’ student-athletes. Sitting in the middle of UAB’s athletic complexes, including Bartow Arena and the football practice facilities, the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center serves as the home for overseeing the educational development and progress toward graduation for all student-athletes.

Renay Ransaw Finally, the Student-Athlete Marrable and her staff act Advisory Commitas a liaison between the Taylor Simpson tee (SAAC) student-athlete, coaches Kelli Smith is advised and UAB’s academic through communities and ensures Colleen Standridge the stuthat student-athletes Lucy Taylor d e n t comply with academic services rules established by the Emily Trotter offices. university, the NCAA Kristina Vaughn T h i s and Conference USA. group, The staff also coordiKyana White the ‘voice’ nates academic programs Kara Woods of the designed to assist the stustudentdent-athletes in acquiring athletes, is a quality education as composed well as programs to proof representatives from mote personal and career development. each team. At UAB, this UAB’s Student Services program wants to make group works to promote certain that student-athletes succeed to their UAB athletics, organizes highest academic ability. Inherent in the pro- community service efforts, gram is the philosophy that student-athletes provides administration take responsibility for their own growth and with the voice of the studevelopment while receiving maximum support. dent-athletes and works to The academic unit’s goals are to prepare student- ensure student-athlete welfare athletes for viable careers, to assist them in secur- and success in the Birmingham community. ing degrees and to produce responsible citizens. The athletic advisors, in conjunction with specific major advisors, work with student-athletes on a regular basis on necessary requirements for their chosen degree. The advisors also help plan class schedules, keeping in mind academic standing,

Danez Marrable Associate Athletic Director for Student Services

UAB’s commitment to academic excellence got a boost in the summer of 2008 with the completion of the Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center. Under the direction of athletics director Brian Mackin, and with

Drew Barnette Academic Advisor

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Mary Kathryn Borland Academic Advisor

Greg Green Coordinator of Football Academics

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Christina Harris Academic Advisor

Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire U A B T r a Academic c k & Center F i e l d Student-Athlete • Completed in the Summer of 2008 • Houses a director, a learning specialist, sevenfull-time advisors and five assistants • More than 50 tutors and mentors • Over 40 computers available for student use • Computer lab for general student use • Learning lab • Laptops for student-athlete checkout • Mentor meeting room 2010-11 Seniors (L-R): Veronicia Johnson, Samantha Hamilton, Bianca Le’Blanc, Adriennie Bradley and Stephanie Gammon.

• Nine small group and one-on-one tutor rooms • Five large group study areas • Staff conference room • Tutor/mentor resource library

(L-R) Marsha and Don Hire, Mr. Charles J. Hoke and UAB Athletics Director Brian Mackin cut the ribbon on the new Academic Center in 2008.

Wayne Hamberger Learning Specialist

Charlie Hogan Academic Advisor

Sharon Johnson Academic Advisor

Josh Watson Academic Advisor

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Peggy Weiss Learning Specialist

Sports Medicine

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In the fall of 2008, the Wallace Building Athletic Training Room opened. The 9,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility offers the finest therapeutic modalities and rehabilitative equipment. It has an extensive collection of therapeutic and rehabilitation equipment including a BTE isokinetic testing machine and hydrotherapy tanks. The Wet Room features two free standing dual-tank consoles that offer whole-body and extremity immersion in either warm or cold hydrotherapy. UAB has the largest dual-tank console that has a stainless steel tank with a capacity of 1,450 gallons of water and can accommodate up to 25 football student-athletes at a time.

The Sports Medicine program is under the direction of Mike Jones; his full-time athletic trainers are Melissa Adams, Laurie Fincher, Bryan Koch, Gerald Mickler, Greg Mytyk and Jennifer Wallace. Graduate assistant trainers Seong Choi, Matt Fisher, Betsy Ostrowski, Ryan Richardson, Daniel Springer and Dani Stephenson complete the staff.

The Sports Medicine staff provides for all 17 varsity teams and 350 University of Alabama at Birmingham student-athletes with high quality health care. Student-athletes have access to the leading sports medicine and health care professionals. The Sports Medicine staff consists of team physicians, dentists, athletic trainers and a sports nutritionist. The daily care, prevention, evaluation and treatment of injuries is supervised by a staff of seven full-time and five graduate assistants that have been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and licensed by the state of Alabama.

Dr. Brenda Baumann Team Physician

cialists among the best in America. The Medical Director of UAB Sports Medicine is Dr. William Garth, an orthopedic surgeon. He is responsible for all services provided to student-athletes. General medical care is provided by Dr. Brenda Baumann and Dr. Marshall Crowther.

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Team physicians are affiliated with the acclaimed UAB Health System, health professional school and the UAB Sports Medicine. U.S. News & World Report and other national publications consistently rank UABâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative programs and expert spe-

Dr. Marshall Crowther Team Physician 54 54

Dr. William Garth Team Physician

In addition to the Wallace Building Facility, auxiliary athletic training rooms are located in Bartow Arena and in Young Memorial Field.

Mike Jones Assistant AD Athletic Training

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Bryan Koch Associate Athletic Trainer

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In the fall semester, 2008, the Wallace Building Athletic Training Room opened its doors. UAB student-athletes began enjoying a brand-new, state of the art athletic training facility. The new 9,000 square foot center allows the athletic training staff to work more efficiently and gives the student-athletes a much more comfortable facility.

Melissa Adams Assistant Athletic Trainer

Laurie Fincher Assistant Athletic Trainer

Gerald Mickler Assistant Athletic Trainer

Greg Mytyk Assistant Athletic Trainer

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Jen Wallace Assistant Athletic Trainer

AB’s Strength and Conditioning program, the Blazers’ staff and student-athletes can T r a c k & F i e l d now boast of having one of the finest facilities around. The new center opened in January of 2008 and houses a 10,000 square-foot weight room that features more than 40,000 pounds of free weights. Strength and conditioning coach coach Lou DeNeen works with members of the Blazer men’s basketball team to develop training programs and enhance each athlete’s performance. DeNeen, who has more than 25 years of

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experience in the area of strength and conditioning, joined the UAB staff prior to the 2007 campaign. In addition to his success at the collegiate level, DeNeen has also worked with and trained many professional athletes. His clientele includes MLB players Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibanez, Mike Lowell, Jose Cruz, Jr. and Alex Gonzalez; NBA players Abdur-Rahim, Mark Strickland, Raja Bell, Jamal Mashburn, Carlos Arroyo, P.J. Brown and Joe Smith; and the NFL’s Tony Gonzalez, among many others. DeNeen and the Blazers moved into their

new strength and conditioning area in Bell Gymnasium, more than tripling the size of the area they had utilized previously in Bartow Arena. The bright and spacious weight room area includes state-of-the-art equipment for weight training, stretching and conditioning workouts. DeNeen uses a variety of techniques to assist the Blazers in achieving maximum performance and potential. With a heavy emphasis on Olympic style weightlifting, the program concentrates on speed, power, and strength.

Strength & Conditioning

Stacey Torman

Track and Field Strength & Conditioning Coach

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