UAB 2 0 14 CROS S COUNTRY Information Guide
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
General Information
Table of Contents
Team Information 2014 Schedule........................................................................................................3 2014 Roster..............................................................................................................4 Head Coach Anthony Houchin........................................................................5 Head Track & Field Coach Kurt Thomas.......................................................6 Volunteer Assistant Coach Mary Houchin/Support Staff.......................7 2014 Season Outlook..........................................................................................8 Hannah Coffin........................................................................................................9 Kristie Leybourne............................................................................................... 10 Sarah Livett........................................................................................................... 11 Laurie Pray............................................................................................................ 12 Lauren Scott........................................................................................................ 13 Jenna Wesley....................................................................................................... 14 Allison Wortel...................................................................................................... 15 Lucy Crookes/Rebecca Evans........................................................................ 15 2013 Results......................................................................................................... 16 Conference USA................................................................................................. 16 UAB Administration....................................................................................17-18 University Pages...........................................................................................19-20
CREDITS: The 2014 UAB cross country information guide is an official production of the UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. The guide was compiled, designed, written and edited by Brandon Lee, with editorial assistance by Norm Reilly, Tray Littlefield, Anthony Prisco, Kristin Watkins, Tony Houchin and Kurt Thomas. Photography by Steve Wood and Nik Layman. “This is UAB” section designed by UAB Creative Services and Provations Group. Cover design by Jamie Barker and Jai Giffin, Provations Group, Nicholasville, Ky.
Quick Facts
Location: Birmingham, Ala. Founded: 1969 Enrollment: 18,568 Nickname: Blazers Colors: Forest Green and Old Gold President: Dr. Ray Watts Athletics Director: Brian Mackin Faculty Representative: Dr. Frank Messina CROSS COUNTRY STAFF Head Coach: Tony Houchin Head Track & Field Coach: Kurt Thomas Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mary Houchin ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Associate AD/Media Relations: Norm Reilly Assistant Director: Tray Littlefield Assistant Director: Anthony Prisco Assistant Director: Kristin Watkins Media Relations Assistant/Cross Country Contact: Brandon Lee Email: brlee@uab.edu Office Phone: 205-934-0724 Cell Phone: 334-447-2325 Website: www.uabsports.com
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 We are not: Alabama-Birmingham, Ala.-Birmingham, UA-Birmingham or U.A.B.
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2014 Cross Country Schedule Date Meet Distance Location Aug. 29 Belmont Opener 5,000 meters Nashville, Tenn. Sept. 12
South Alabama Azalea Classic
6,000 meters
Mobile, Ala.
Oct. 4
Greater Louisville Classic
5,000 meters
Louisville, Ky.
Oct. 18 UE Invitational 5,000 meters Evansville, Ind. Nov. 1
Conference USA Championships
5,000 meters
Denton, Texas
Nov. 14
NCAA South Regional
6,000 meters
Tallahassee, Fla.
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2014 Blazers Alphabetical Roster NAME
CL.
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Hannah Coffin
So.
Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood HS
Lucy Crookes
Jr.
Yorkshire, England/Leeds University
Rebecca Evans
Fr.
Pontyclun, Wales/Y Pant Comprehensive School
Kristie Leybourne
Jr.
Poulton-Le-Fylde, England/Baines School
Sarah Livett
So.
Benllech, Wales/Ysgol David Hughes
Laurie Pray
So.
Smyrna, Ga./Campbell HS
Lauren Scott
Sr.
Buford, Ga./Kennesaw State
Jenna Wesley
Sr.
Griffin, Ga./Spaulding HS
Allison Wortel
Fr.
Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS
COACHING STAFF Head Coach.................................Tony Houchin - 4th season Track & Field Head Coach......... Kurt Thomas - 7th season Volunteer Assistant Coach.... Mary Houchin - 4th season
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Coaching Staff
Anthony Houchin Head Coach | Fourth Season Oklahoma State | 1999
Anthony Houchin, who served as the cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at UNLV from 2006-10, was hired in January 2011 as the head coach for UAB’s cross country program and an assistant coach for track & field. With his main concentration on the cross country team, Houchin also works with the distance runners during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. In 2013 Houchin led the cross country team to one of the most successful and notable seasons in recent history. The Blazers recorded nine top-10 finishes during the year and were led by graduate student Elinor Kirk. Houchin led Kirk to being named the C-USA Cross Country Athlete of the Year, who was the third qualifier in history to run in the NCAA Finals. She won the conference individual title in early November and she was the only C-USA female participant in the NCAAs in Terre Haute, Ind. As a team Houchin led the Blazers to two team wins at the Trojan Invitational and Azalea City Classic to begin the season. UAB finished eighth at the Conference USA Championships and 16th at the NCAA South Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 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 List. 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 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 pro5
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duced 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 1994-97, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1999. He is married to the former Mary Duerbeck, who serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the UAB cross country and track & field teams. B l a z e r s
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Kurt Thomas Head Track & Field Coach | Seventh Season Tennessee | 2004
Kurt Thomas, who served as the interim head coach for the 2010 season, was officially promoted to head coach of the track & field program in December 2010. He is in his seventh year overall with the Blazers after serving as an assistant track & field coach from 2008-09. He works primarily with the UAB sprinters and hurdlers during the track & field season. 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, Rhiannon Johns won the 10,000 meters 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 first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the C-USA Outdoor Championships, as she ran 13.41 and set her own personal record. J.J. Scruggs was also crowned C-USA champion in the 400-meter 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 400 meters, with a time of 53.93.
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.
To add to the records in 2008, Thomas’ athletes, Colvin, Scruggs and Varpiotaite, teamed with middle distance senior Genoah Collins to shatter the 4x400-meter 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.
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.
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 400-meter hurdles, running 58.95 over the one-lap barriers.
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.
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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 and Lucas David, and a dog named Rosie.
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Coaching Staff
Mary Houchin
Volunteer Assistant Coach | Third Season
Mary Houchin enters her fourth season as the volunteer assistant coach with the Blazer cross country program. Houchin also serves as the volunteer assistant coach for the track & field team and primarily assists with the distance runners. Houchin currently competes for Brooks and has earned roster spots on three Team USA international squads. She competed at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya as a member of Team USA, which finished eighth overall. Houchin was a volunteer assistant with the cross country and track & field teams at McNeese State from 2005-06 and prior to that, was a volunteer assistant at Butler from 2003-05. Houchin was a two-time NCAA Cross Country National Championship qualifier at Arizona State. In 2000, she placed third at the NCAA Cross Country West Regional. In track, she qualified for both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events. She still ranks fourth on Arizona State’s all-time list in the indoor 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter. Houchin graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State with a degree in broadcast journalism in 2001. She is married to UAB head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach Anthony Houchin.
Support Staff
Brandon Lee Media Relations
Ellan Harris Athletic Trainer
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Michelle Lesley Johnson Academic Advisor
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Meet The Blazers
Hannah Coffin Sophomore Season Mountain Top, Pa. Crestwood HS 2013 Ran in three races in her first season as a Blazer ... recorded a top finish of 25th at the Azalea City Classic after running a 25:32 in the 6K in mid-September ... placed 40th of 65 runners at the Trojan Invitational in the 3K with a 12:34.99 ... also ran in the Indiana State Pre-National and completed the 6K in 25:37.0. Track Notes Coffin competed on the UAB track and field team in 2012-13 as a distance runner. ... during the indoor season, Coffin set a new freshman record in the 1,000m with a time of 3:01.50 at the Meyo Invite ... was a part of the women’s distance medley team that placed second at the C-USA Championships with a time of 11:42.56 ... in the outdoor season, she ran the 400m in 2:27.25 at the Samford Invite to finish in sixth place. High School A three-year starter for the Crestwood Comets varsity soccer team ... also competed for the varsity track and cross country teams ... placed third in the 2011 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District 2 800 meters and finished fourth in the 1,600 meters ... served as Student Government Board president her senior year ... a four-time member of the National Honor Society. Personal Born July 7, 1994 in Kingston, Pa. ... daughter of Diane and Dan Coffin ... has a younger brother, Noah, and a younger sister, Megan ... majoring in biology.
Coffin’s Collegiate Bests 3K 6K
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12:34.99 (Trojan Invitational - 8/30/13) 25:32 (Azalea City Classic - 9/14/13)
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Meet The Blazers
Kristie Leybourne Junior Season Poulton-Le-Fylde, England Baines School 2013 Ran in one race in the 2013 season, the Trojan Invitational and placed 28th of 65 runners in the 3K with a 12:06.96. 2012 Finished 16th out of 93 at the Auburn Invitational with a time of 15:46.9 ... ran the 6K in 23:38.12 at the NCAA South Regional ... named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2011 Ran in three events for the Blazers ... in her first collegiate race, Leybourne rounded out the top finishers for the Blazers and ran the 4K in 16:26.30 to place 38th ... ran a 23:42.80 in her first collegiate 6K competition at the Conference USA Championship to round out the top-five finishers for UAB. Track Notes 2012-13:Leybourne also competed on the UAB track and field team as a distance runner ... during the outdoor season, Leybourne ran the 1,500m in 5:05.38 to finish in 11th place at the Samford Invite and finished the 3,000m run in 11:20.84 at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic. High School Attended Baines School in Poulton-Le-Fylde, England ... coached by Stan Taylor ... finished first in the in the 1,500 meters 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.
Leybourne’s Collegiate Bests 3K 4K 5K 6K
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11:44.09 (Crimson Tide Kickoff - 9/1/12) 15:46.90 (Auburn Invitational - 9/7/12) 19:04.70 (C-USA Championships - 10/29/12) 23:05.00 (Bradley Classic - 10/12/12)
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Meet The Blazers
Sarah Livett Sophomore Season Benllech, Wales Ysgol David Hughes 2013 Ran in all six races for the Blazers in 2013 ... finished a season-high fifth at the Azalea City Classic after running a 21:44 in the 6K ... placed 13th of 65 runners at the Trojan Invitational with a 11:20.65 in the 3K ... ran a 18:15.28 in the 5K at the C-USA Championships and finished 26th of 111 runners ... finished 83rd in the NCAA South Regional after running a 21:50.02 in the 6K. Track Notes Outdoor: Broke four freshman records in the outdoor season ... ran in the outdoor 5,000m three times throughout the outdoor season and had a season-best of 16:59.45 (freshman record) at the San Francisco State Distance ... also ran at the Alabama Relays and C-USA Championship ... ran the mile at the Jace LaCoste Invite in 4:57.05, which broke UAB’s freshman record ... broke the freshman record in the 10K with a 35:57.15. Indoor: Set two UAB freshman records in the indoor season ... competed in the 3,000m four times in the indoor season ... ran a season-best of 9:48.56 at the C-USA Championships, which broke the freshman record ... ran a 9:48.57 earlier in the month at the Samford Multi ... also competed in the mile twice and ran a 4:59.14 (record) at the Cupid Classic and a 5:02.90 at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invite. High School Anglesey Schools record holder in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m ... Welsh Schools cross country bronze medalist in 2011 and 2012 ... Welsh Schools outdoor 1500m silver medalist in 2008 and 2011, 3000m silver medalist in 2010 and 3000m champion in 2012 ... has represented Wales 33 times (for all disciplines) in cross country, outdoor track, road running and mountain running ... the current Welsh under-20 cross country champion ... won bronze in the British schools 3000m in 2010. Personal Full name is Sarah Emily Livett ... born Nov. 16, 1993 ... daughter of Carol and Stephen Livett ... has one younger brother, Shaun ... majoring in biology.
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Livett’s Collegiate Bests 3K 5K 6K .
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11:20.65 (Trojan Invitational - 8/30/13) 18:15.28 (C-USA Championship - 11/2/13) 21:44 (Azalea City Classic - 9/14/13)
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Meet The Blazers
Laurie Pray Sophomore Season Smyrna, Ga. Campbell HS 2013 Ran in four of UAB’s six cross country races in 2013 ... placed 41st in the 3K at the Trojan Invitational after running a 12:39.81 ... finished 50th of 65 runners at the Azalea City Classic in the 6K with a 25.07 ... ran a 21:12.54 in the 5K at the C-USA Championships and a 25:18.50 in the 6K at the NCAA South Regional. Track Notes Indoor: Competed in the mile run twice in the 2013-14 season ... ran a 5:40.31 in the BSC Icebreaker ... finished with a 6:13.95 in the UAB Blazer Invite. High School Ran for coach Mike McCloud at Campbell HS in Smyrna, Ga. ... member of track team that was back-to-back region champions in 2011 and 2012 ... Campbell HS record holder for the 1600m in 5:24 ... cross country captain in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Personal Full name is Lauren Elizabeth Pray ... born July 8, 1995 ... daughter of Peter and Amelia Ray ... has two sisters, Melanie and Sarah ... majoring in criminal justice.
Pray’s Collegiate Bests 3K 5K 6K
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12:39.81 (Trojan Invitational - 8/30/13) 21:12.54 (C-USA Championships - 11/2/13) 25:18.50 (NCAA South Regional - 11/15/13)
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Lauren Scott Senior Season Buford, Ga. Kennesaw State 2013 Ran in all six of UAB’s races last fall ... recorded a top finish of seventh at the Azalea City Classic after running a 21:54 in the 6K ... finished 10th of 65 runners at the Trojan Invitational with a performance of 11:10.62 in the 3K ... also ran in the Notre Dame Invitational, Indiana State Pre-National, C-USA Championships and NCAA South Regional. 2011 Season (Kennesaw State) Scott competed in five races for the Kennesaw State in 2011... Her top 4K time of the season came in her first collegiate race at the Belmont Opener where she posted a time of 16:33.50...Her top 5K performance was registered at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship when she ran a time 19:31.20 to finish 44th... Scott also competed in the NCAA South Regional Championship and turned in a 6K race time of 23:16.30. Track Notes Outdoor: Competed in the 5,000m four times during the 2014 outdoor season ... ran a season-best 18:04.72 at the Alabama Relays ... also ran in the War Eagle Invite, Florida Relays and C-USA Championship ... competed in the 1,500m once and finished with a 4:54.58 at the Spec Towns Invitational ... ran a 5:14.86 in her only appearance in the mile at the Jace LaCoste Invite and ran a 38:21.98 at the C-USA Championship in the 10,000m. Indoor: Competed in the 3,000m run four times in the outdoor season ... ran a season-best 10:22.72 at the UAB Blazer Invite ... also ran in the Samford Multi, C-USA Championships and BSC Icebreaker ... ran in the mile run three different times, setting an indoor season-best at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invite with a 5:08.29 ... also ran at the C-USA Championships and Cupid Classic in the mile. High School Ran for Coaches Tom Kutter and Terry Brand at Mill Creek High School in cross country and track ... team captain ... set her personal record in the 5k during her senior season at the ASICS Cross Country Invitational, finishing ninth in 18:57.11 ... holds school record in the mile, 5:21, and women’s 5K, 18:57 ... member of the DMR and 4x800 record holding teams ... Finished fourth at the Region 7-AAAAA Girls Track and Field Championship with a time of 5:21.09 in the 3,200 meters ... member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... was named Gwinnett County Runner of the Month for October 2010. Personal Born Lauren Alexandria Scott on October 7, 1991 in Lawrenceville, Ga. ... daughter of Joe and Pam Scott ... has a twin brother, Zach, and an older brother, Matt.
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Scott’s Collegiate Bests 3K 5K 6K
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11:10.62 (Trojan Invitational - 8/30/13) 19:07.11 (C-USA Championships - 11/2/13) 21:54 (Azalea City Classic - 9/14/13)
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Meet The Blazers
Jenna Wesley Senior Season Griffin, Ga. Spaulding HS 2013 Competed in two races during the 2013 slate ... ran a 14:03.49 in the 3K at the Trojan Invitational and a 25:49 in the 6K at the Azalea City Classic. 2012 Competed in four races for the Blazers ... placed 32nd at the Crimson Tide Kickoff with a time of 13:43.02 ... finished in 53rd out of 115 at the Azalea City Classic with a time of 25:43.84. 2011 Competed in two races for the Blazers ... clocked in a 17:03.00 in her first collegiate 4k at the Auburn Invitational (Sept. 9) ... finished her first collegiate 5k with a 20:33.00 at the Notre Dame Invite (Sept. 30). Track Notes Outdoor: Ran in the 800m four times in the outdoor season ... ran a seasonbest of 2:17.16 at the Spec Towns Invitational ... nearly matched that time with a 2:17.30 at the Jace LaCoste Invite ... finished with a 2:18.53 at the War Eagle Invite and ran a 2:19.14 in the prelims at the C-USA Championship. Indoor: Competed in the indoor 800m five times during the 2013-14 season ... ran a season-best 2:17.78 at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invite ... also competed at the Samford Multi, UAB Blazer Invitational, BSC Icebreaker and Cupid Classic ... also ran in the mile at the Cupid Classic with a time of 5:24.84. High School Attended Spaulding High School ... coached by Dolores Owen ... two-time GHSA Class 4-AAA state title winner in the 800 meters in 2010 and 2011 ... finished fourth in the 1,600 meters 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 1,500 meters 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 ... majoring in education.
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Wesley’s Collegiate Bests 3K 4K 5K 6K
13:43.02 (Crimson Tide Kickoff - 9/1/12) 17:03.00 (Auburn Invitational - 9/9/11) 20:33.00 (Notre Dame Invite - 9/30/11) 25:43.84 (Azalea City Classic - 9/15/12)
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Meet The Blazers
Allison Wortel Freshman Season Crown Point, Ind. Crown Point HS 2013 Did not race in the fall High School Four-year letterwinner for coach Adam Piasowy at Crown Point HS in Crown Point, Ind. ... named MVP of track team her senior season ... helped set distance medley relay school record senior year, running the 1600m element. Personal Full name is Allison Nicole Wortel ... born Sept. 6, 1994 ... daughter of Brian Wortel and Michelle Boyce ... has one younger sisters, Ashley ... majoring in nursing.
Wortel’s Collegiate Bests Hasn’t yet competed
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Meet The Blazers Lucy Crookes Junior Season Yorkshire, England Leeds University High School Ran for high school coach Paul Bussett ... represented her country five times at the English Schools Track and Field Championships in the 3,000m and 1,500m as well as cross country ... attended University of Leeds and earned a degree in Art and Design ... named Cross Country Club President ... ran for England in mountain running three times ... represented University in cross country and track as well as Leeds City Athletic Club. Personal Born May 4, 1993 in Leicester, U.K. ... daughter of Susan and James Crookes ... has two younger brothers, William and Ben ... majoring in communications management.
Rebecca Evans Freshman Season Pontyclun, Wales Y Pant Comprehensive School High School Ran for coach Chris Goulding ... Finished third in the Home Countries Trail Championships in 2014 ... Welsh 3,000m champion ... Welsh schools 3,000m champion ... Welsh Indoor 3,000m Under 17 record holder in 2012 (10:24) ... also runs for Cardiff AAC and previously ran for Pontyclun AAC ... represented Wales over 20 times since the age of 12. Personal Born Nov. 2, 1995 in Wales, UK ... daughter of Melanie and Geraint Evans ... has a younger sister, Bethan ... majoring in kinesiology.
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2013 UAB Cross Countr y Results As Nov. 23, 2013
Kate Brown
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K
Time 11:04.34 21:31 18:12.7 22:18.2
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/19/13
Distance 3K 6K 6K
Time 12:34.99 25:32 25:37.0
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13 11/2/13 11/15/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K 5K 6K
Time 11:19.37 22:08 19:16.6 22:54.7 18:48.63 22:23.02
Hannah Coffin
Time DNR
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13 11/2/13 11/15/13 11/23/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K 5K 6K 6K
Time 10:27.52 21:11 17:31.4 21:04.36 17:09.84 20:07.64 21:15.0
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13 11/2/13 11/15/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M
Place 12th of 65 12th of 65 169th of 198 296th of 340 43rd of 111 123rd of 194
Anna Jarman
Distance 3K
Distance 3K
Place 40th of 65 25th of 65 340th of 340
Rachel Harley
Date 8/30/13
Date 8/30/13
Place 6th of 65 4th of 65 72nd of 198 239th of 340
Place DNR
Elinor Kirk
Place 1st of 65 1st of 65 18th of 198 54th of 340 1st of 111 5th of 194 87th of 254
Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Indiana St. Pre-National Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional Meet Trojan Invitational Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional NCAA Championships
Kristie Leybourne
Time 12:06.96
Sarah Livett
Time 11:20.65 21:44 18:30.6
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K 5K 6K
Place 28th of 65
Place 13th of 65 5th of 65 104th of 198
Place 1st of 7 1st of 10 22nd of 24 48th of 49 8th of 15 16th of 27
Meet Trojan Invitational
Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational
10/19/13 6K 11/2/13 5K 11/15/13 6K
22:17.9 18:15.28 21:50.02
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13 11/2/13 11/15/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K 5K 6K
Time 11:30.18 22:20 19:23.2 25:19.1 19:20.24 22:46.85
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 11/2/13 11/15/13
Distance 3K 6K 5K 6K
Time 12:39.81 25:07 21:12.54 25:18.50
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13 10/4/13 10/19/13 11/2/13 11/15/13
Distance 3K 6K 5M 6K 5K 6K
Time 11:10.62 21:54 19:47.0 24:15.0 19:07.11 23:03.00
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13
Distance 3K 6K
Time 14:03.49 25:49
Date 8/30/13 9/14/13
Distance 3K 6K
Time 15:35.49 27:21
Date 8/30/13
Distance 3K
Time DNR
Blazers Meet-by-Meet
Event Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National Conference USA Championships NCAA South Regional 1 6
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Lindsay Miller Place 19th of 65 15th of 65 174th of 198 338th of 340 62nd of 111 137th of 194
Laurie Pray
Place 41st of 65 50th of 65 101st of 111 186th of 194
Lauren Scott
Place 10th of 65 7th of 65 185th of 198 337th of 340 56th of 111 149th of 194
Jenna Wesley Place 56th of 65 54th of 65
Place 63rd of 65 61st of 65
Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic Notre Dame Invitational Indiana St. Pre-National C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional
Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic
Allison Wortel Place DNR
Indiana St. Pre-National C-USA Championships NCAA South Regional
Meet Trojan Invitational Azalea City Classic
Kara Woods
Location Troy, Ala. Mobile, Ala. Notre Dame, Ind. Terra Haute, Ind. Denton, Texas Tuscaloosa, Ala.
B l a z e r s
238th of 340 26th of 111 83rd of 194
Meet Trojan Invitational
Best Finisher Elinor Kirk - 1st Place Elinor Kirk - 1st Place Elinor Kirk - 18th Place Elinor Kirk - 54th Place Elinor Kirk - 1st Place Elinor Kirk - 5th Place
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
Conference USA
From its beginning in 1994, Conference USA’s dedication to excellence has been the league’s guiding principle and remains a common thread today and for a promising future. As we enter the 2012-13 season, 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. These C-USA institutions all sponsor Division I-A football, along with several other men’s and women’s athletic programs that 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).
Britton Banowsky C-USA Commissioner
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 • 67 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 • 102 postseason teams (49 NCAA, 41 NIT, 6 CBI, 6 CIT) • One National Championship title game appearance • Three Final Four teams • Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams • One NIT Champion and four NIT semifinalists • Inaugural CBI Champion
SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic performance among studentathletes, 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 17 years, 169 student-athletes earned national Capital One Academic All-America honors, while 588 were named All-District. In addition, more than 22,000 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 partnerships with FOX Sports Media Group, CBS Sports Network and ESPN. The multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnering with all three networks 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 officially launched in August of 2011. Network programming includes live streaming of non-televised events, video on demand, a weekly C-USA studio show, podcasting, regular-season and championship event highlights and conference-produced feature stories. In its first year, 1,164 events were streamed live and 8,126 videos were posted and available on the C-USA Digital Network, and that number just keeps growing. Monthly and yearly subscriptions offer fans access to events offered on all 12 of the C-USA member institution’s athletic websites as well as C-USA network programming. 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 C-USA 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 Conference USA has significant representation in the NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the member institutions serve as the league’s Board of Directors. A PROUD HISTORY 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 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.
Women’s Basketball • 47 NCAA Tournament appearances • 38 WNIT appearances • One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 • Two WNIT semifinalists • One WBI Champion
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, Conference USA began a new chapter in 200506 when its current membership came together.
Baseball • 57 NCAA appearances • Six College World Series appearances (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001), including five of the last eight • 13 Super Regional appearances • Has produced at least four NCAA teams in nine of the last 11 seasons
A PROMISING FUTURE With more conference realignment taking the stage during the 2011-12 season, C-USA held onto its strong foundation, identity and a history that reflects the league’s national presence. Conference USA will welcome six new institutions in 2013, including the return of charter member Charlotte along with FIU, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Old Dominion and UTSA. These six members will join with East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTEP. In addition to the outstanding competition and strong athletic achievements these schools bring, the C-USA footprint will grow by nearly 20 percent. Additionally, the geography of these members allows for a divisional scheduling model that will be beneficial to the student-athletes, fan-friendly and cost effective.
In addition, 36 volleyball teams, 61 men’s and women’s soccer teams and 34 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C-USA has sent three men’s soccer teams to the NCAA College Cup, three softball teams to the Women’s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had eight 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 650 NCAA appearances.
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These 14 extraordinary institutions and 17 years of remarkable history have reinforced the league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the next decade and beyond.
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2014 CROSS COUNTRY
UAB Administration Dr. Ray L. Watts, President
R
ay L. Watts, M.D., UAB’s seventh president, has demonstrated visionary leadership in education, research and clinical care throughout his career. A Birmingham native and graduate of West End High School, Dr. Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at UAB in 1976. The collaborations he had with biomedical engineering students as an undergraduate inspired him to expand his career horizons and, four years later, he graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as valedictorian of his class. Dr. Watts completed a neurology residency, medical internship, and clinical fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a two-year medical staff fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Before returning to UAB in 2003, he was part of a team that helped to create an internationally renowned research and clinical center for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders at Emory University in Atlanta. At UAB, Dr. Watts served as the John N.
B
Whitaker Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology. There he led the development of an interdisciplinary research program aimed at translating scientific breakthroughs into promising new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and played a key role in the establishment of the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. He also was named president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. In 2010, Dr. Watts accepted the position of Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine at UAB, and later was named to the James C. Lee Jr. Endowed Chair. As dean, Dr. Watts – in partnership with UAB Health System and Health Services Foundation leaders – initiated the AMC21 comprehensive strategic plan, encompassing education, research, clinical care and primary care. AMC21 aims to make UAB “the preferred academic medical center of the 21st century,” and has led to the recruitment of outstanding faculty, the launch of programs to accelerate research and drug discovery, and the development of a third regional medical
campus in Montgomery, among other successes. He has been tireless in his efforts to enhance medical student training—from increasing available scholarships to supporting Equal Access Birmingham, a volunteer organization in which students provide care to underserved patients—and to foster stronger relationships with medical alumni throughout the state. “People want to invest in the future—in solutions that will have a real impact on our health, education and our economy,” Dr. Watts has said. “So the state and community want us to develop our ideas and capitalize on opportunities to lead. UAB can be one of the most dymanic and productive universities of the 21st century, and that is our vision.” Dr. Watts and his wife Nancy, who just retired as a nurse at UAB, have five grown children.
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. Mackin’s desire to see UAB excel both on and off the playing field was never more apparent than this past academic year when the Blazers turned in their highest finish in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings in 12 years. 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 priority on academics has paid dividends as the Blazers’ Academic Progress Rates (APR) scores have improved each year under his tenure as
AD. The most recent APR report released in June showed that all but three of UAB’s teams have a multi-year rate of 950 or better. Since Mackin became athletics director, a new 10,000-square foot weight room has opened. A new, spacious, state-of the-art athletic training facility 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. The first phase of the new, on-campus UAB softball facility was completed prior to the start of the 2010 season. This past February, the Don and Alicia Huey Softball Hitting Facility was dedicated. The upgrades and progress of the program under Mackin have not been limited to facilities and academics. In the last two years, the athletics program entered an agreement with Nike that provides apparel and equipment for all of UAB’s athletics teams. In his position as athletics director, Mackin has also been involved on various conference and national committees. He just completed his second year as a member of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. 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 support 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 mil-
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lion 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 where he spent 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 TipOff Club. In addition, Mackin is a member of the Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Facilities Board of the City of Birmingham (PACE). Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: Ragland (25), Brian Jr. (23), Ferrell (20), Mary Aileen (19), and Ella (17).
2014 CROSS COUNTRY
UAB Administration
D
r. Frank Messina has served as UAB’s faculty athletics representative (FAR) since 2008. In addition to his duties as faculty athletics representative, Dr. Messina is professor of Accounting & Finance at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he has been on the faculty since 1993. Dr. Messina received his doctorate
in business administration (D.B.A.) from Mississippi State University in 1993, a master’s in professional accountancy at MSU in 1990, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of West Alabama in 1986. He has four times been awarded for UAB Excellence in Classroom Teaching; has received the UAB President’s Excellence in Teaching Award; twice received the Loudell Robinson Excellence in Accounting Teaching Award, the NSAC Silver Pen Research Award and the El Paso Energy Foundation Fac-
ulty Achievement Award, along with several other teaching and research honors. Dr. Messina has published extensively in tax, accounting, and cooperative journals and has presented a variety of seminars around the country over the past several years.
Senior 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
Bill Lansden
Corey Bray
Associate AD for External Affairs
Associate AD for Compliance
Reid Adair
Brad Hardekopf
Assistant AD for Facilities and Operations
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Assistant AD for Development
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Timothy Garner Associate AD for Financial Affairs
Mike Jones
Assistant AD for Athletic Training
Jeff Guin
Associate AD for Student Services
Jen Kost
Assistant AD for Marketing
SINCE BECOMING an autonomous campus of The University of Alabama System in 1969, UAB has earned international renown for its innovative academic programs in a range of disciplines, groundbreaking research and leading-edge patient care. The University comprises 10 schools (Business, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry and Public Health and a College of Arts and Sciences) and has seen record enrollment for five consecutive years, reaching 18,568 in 2013. Students are 26% African-American, 60% female and represent more than 100 countries, contributing to campus consistently recognized among the nation’s most diverse in The Princeton Review.
Academic programs at all levels are nationally recognized for their exceptional research and service learning opportunities. Undergraduate programs offer the type of hands-on, closely mentored research experiences found primarily at the graduate level in most universities, such as Alabama’s only undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, a program in the neurosciences conducted jointly with the School of Medicine, and new majors in Biomedical Sciences, Public Health and Informatics. U.S. News & World Report 2015 “Best Graduate Schools” lists 12 UAB programs in the top 25 and The Scientist “Best Places to Work as a Postdoc” ranks UAB first among all U.S. universities. Driven by an intensely collaborative and entrepreneurial character, UAB’s robust research enterprise ranks 23rd in funding from National Institutes of Health (11th among public universities), with more than $454 million in external funding. This wide-ranging research spans the continents in scope: Developing revolutionary treatments for the most devastating human diseases, from cancer to AIDS to Parkinson’s; using satellite remote sensing to reveal lost settlements in Egypt and the Roman Empire (as featured on BBC and Discovery Channel); pioneering new materials for everything from stronger military gear to bio-coatings for cardiac stents; and combating global cybercrime in a one-of-a-kind cyber forensics center, collaborating with the FBI, Homeland Security and industry partners.
UAB drives the region’s economy with a statewide impact exceeding $5 billion annually. As Alabama’s largest single employer (over 23,000 employees), UAB supports more than 61,000 jobs state-wide—one of every 33 Alabama jobs. The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has generated some $64 million in revenues and spun off more than 58 start-up companies, and Innovation Depot—in which UAB is a founding partner—is the largest business incubator in the Southeast, with 95 companies and a $1 billion economic impact over the past four years. As a leading academic medical center, UAB also translates its research into the highest quality patient care, treating more than a million patients annually. UAB Hospital (with 1,157 beds), the largest in Alabama and 3rd largest public hospital in the U.S., houses the state’s only level 1 adult trauma center, and is the only Alabama hospital to be listed in every annual issue of U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Hospitals” (24 straight years). The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated center in Alabama and a six-state region, and houses a state-of-the-art Advanced Imaging Facility and the most powerful cyclotron at any U.S. academic medical center. UAB also promotes the cultural and artistic vitality of its community and state. The Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts had total attendance of more than 104,000 in 2013 and is the anchor of a burgeoning Cultural Arts Corridor, which was recently expanded with the opening of the Abroms-Engel Institute for Visual Arts.
UAB’S DECADES-LONG PARTNERSHIP with its community and state has led to the economic, cultural and social renaissance of Birmingham, as the city has grown from a primarily steel-based economy to a thriving nexus of R&D, medicine, banking and other service industries. That partnership continues as UAB garners overwhelming support for its largest philanthropic campaign ever, the $1 billion Campaign for UAB: Give Something, Change Everything. As of March 2014, nearly 71,000 donors had given $473.4 million to this campaign that will dramatically advance UAB’s mission and transform the future of Birmingham and Alabama.