April 7, 2002

ATHENS, Ga. - The UAB women's track and field team claimed top-five finishes in five events Saturday at the Spec Towns Invitational held at Georgia's Spec Towns Track.

The Blazers posted top-five finishes in the 400-meter low hurdles, 4x400-meter relay, 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, and long jump.

Freshman Judy Shepherd had the highest finish for the Blazers in an individual event, finishing second in the 400-meter low hurdles, while the 4x400-meter relay team captured second in the team events.

Shepherd ran a 1:06.96 in the hurdles, just seconds off Alabama's Petigay Gayle who won the event with 1:03.82.

UAB's 4x400-meter relay team notched a second place finish with a time of 3:57.89, while UAB's "B" team garnered fifth with a time of 4:21.87.

In the 100-meter dash, freshman Crystal Hunter finished fifth with a time of 12.29. The Mobile, Ala. Product was less than a second of the pace of first place finisher, Illia Miles of Georgia.

Junior Donna Pucke ran a 2:21.01 in the 800-meter run to place fifth. Freshman Normanie McKenzie ran a 2:33.56, while senior Carla Kelly ran a 2:37.82 to finish 17th and 18th, respectively.

Rounding out the top-five finishers, freshman Crystal Hunter garnered a fourth place finish with a 5.24-meter mark in the long jump.

The Blazers also claimed three top-ten finishes in the 400-meter dash, including freshman Elace Minnifield's sixth place finish with her time of 57.81. Freshman Adrienne Duke notched eighth with 58.05, while junior Doella Miller grabbed 10th place with a 58.84 mark.

Finishing with a time of 5:01.83, junior Amanda Kara captured a seventh place finish in the 1500-meter run for the Blazers. Senior Karen Werner garnered a 14th place spot with a time of 5:11.84. Finishing 16th and 17th were freshman Heather Burdett and Kelly, respectively.

In the javelin throw, UAB junior Laura Strunk marked 25.31 meters to take ninth in the event.

The Blazers are back to the track next weekend at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday.