May 15, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The UAB track and field team began competition Thursday at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships.

Junior Amanda Kara finished the 10,000-meter run with a time of 39:49.25, in 16th place.

Fellow Blazers Adrienne Duke, Olivia Ross-Hurst and Judy Shepherd began competition in the heptathlon finishing four rounds of competition. In the 200-meter dash, Duke finished fifth (25.80), Shepherd in seventh (26.08) and Ross-Hurst in 14th (28.05). In the 100-meter hurdles, Shepherd finished second (14.49), Duke in 14th (16.56) followed by Ross-Hurst in 15th (16.95).

Ross-Hurst finished the high jump tied for third with a leap of 5-4 1/4. Fellow Blazers Duke finished in seventh (5-3) and Shepherd in 12th (4-10 1/4). Shepherd led the Blazers in the shot put portion of the heptathlon with a toss of 33-6 1/2, finishing sixth. Duke finished the shot put with a toss of 28-6 1/2, in 13th place followed by Ross-Hurst in 15th with a toss of 27-1 3/4.

The Blazers will continue competition Friday with the completion of the women's heptathlon and the trials for the running events.