March 21, 2004

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- The UAB track and field team concluded its impressive performance at the 2004 Alabama Relays on Sunday as the Blazers finished the four-day competition in third place here at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Center.

UAB accumulated 42 total team points over the course of the weekend and trailed only Alabama and Western Michigan in the final standings.

Alabama, the home team in the outdoor event, placed first with a total score of 54, while Western Michigan earned second-place honors with 52 team points.

The 2004 Alabama Relays included many of the top track and field teams in the southeastern portion of the United States and 16 squads participated in the four-day event. Conference USA foe Southern Miss earned a fourth-place finish (23), while Mississippi State finished in sixth (20) and Troy State ended the competition tied for seventh place (18).

The Blazers recorded a pair of second-place finishes on Sunday as the team earned runner-up honors in both the 1600 sprint medley and the 4x100-meter relay shuttle hurdles.

In the hurdles competition, UAB's relay team registered a time of 1:00.25, while the Blazers also placed second in the 1600 sprint medley with a time of 3:59.38. Western Michigan earned a first-place finish in the medley event by running a time of 3:58.78.

The UAB track and field team will next be in action on Wednesday as the Blazers continue to face some of the top teams in the nation at the 2004 Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla.

2004 Alabama Relays, Hosted by the University of Alabama, Sam Bailey Track

Final Team Rankings (Top 10)

1. Alabama 54

2. Western Michigan 52

3. UAB 42

4. Southern Miss 23

5. Middle Tennessee 21

6. Mississippi State 20

T7. Bowling Green 18

T7. Chattanooga 18

T7. Troy State 18

10. Samford 12