April 12, 2003

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- The UAB track and field team finished third at the Jace Lacoste Invitational here Saturday, scoring 103.5 points overall.

The Blazers were led by sophomore Judy Shepherd who placed first in the women's triple jump with a leap of 36-7 ¾. She also finished second in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.06. Shepherd tied for fifth in the women's high jump with a leap of 4-11, followed by a fifth place finish in the women's long jump (16-7 ¾).

Teammate Doella Miller finished fourth in the women's 200-meter dash with a time of 25.04, a career best. Crystal Hunter finished in sixth place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.51. Sophomore Elace Minnifield finished third in the women's 400-meter dash (57.02), while senior Donna Pucke finished in fifth place with a time of 1:00.38. Pucke also finished the women's 1500-meter run in fifth place with a time of 5:12.87.

Fellow Blazer senior Amanda Kara competed in the 5000-meter run with a time of 18:28.20, taking fourth place overall. Adrienne Duke finished fourth in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.84. She competed in the women's high jump finishing fourth with a leap of 5-3, fourth longest in UAB history. Duke also finished fourth in the women's long jump competition with a jump of 17-6, a career best.

Anna Parker competed in the women's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:15.27, finishing in third place. Christy Mixon finished seventh in the javelin throw with a toss of 98-8. She also finished eighth in the women's discus throw with a toss of 94-10, a season best and fourth longest in UAB history. She was followed by teammate Laura Strunk in ninth with a throw of 86-8. Strunk finished fifth in the women's javelin throw with a career toss of 106-5 and fourth longest in school history. Senior Dina Katsoulis finished ninth in the javelin throw (93-4). She also finished sixth in the shot put competition with a throw of 36-2, third longest in UAB history.

"We got to run different people in different contests," said head coach Ray Stanfield. "It was good work after being off for a week."

UAB's relay team of Crystal Hunter, Miller, Minnifield and Theresa Smith finished the 4X100 meter relay in second place with a time of 47.48. The team of Duke, Normanie McKenzie, Miller and Minnifield finished in third place in the 4X400 meter relay with a time of 3:58.26.

"Today was a great training session," said Stanfield.

Next up for the Blazers will be the Rebel Classic hosted by the University of Mississippi next Saturday.