Feb. 12, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB has hired two assistant track and field coaches familiar with elite competition experience, including the Olympic Games. Andy and Agne Eggerth have been added to the track and field staff, according to an announcement by Blazers head coach Ray Stanfield.

Andy Eggerth, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in five events from 1998-2000, joins the Blazers from the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. where he has been track and field director for the last two years.

Eggerth most recently held the position of sprint and hurdles coach at Syracuse University, where he earned his masters degree in Physical Education in 2002.

As a member Division II Bemidji State (Minn.) University track team he was awarded the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Athlete of the Year in 2000, and set 16 school records in addition to one conference record. He competed in the 200 and 400-meter dashes, the 55-meter hurdles, the 4x400 relay and the pole vault.

Also joining the Blazers, in a voluntary role, is Andy¹s wife Agne Eggerth. Eggerth is a two-time member of the Lithuanian Olympic team. Agne has competed as a sprinter in the European Championships in addition to the World Championships earning places on the Olympic teams that participated in Sydney and has qualified for the Athens games to be held later this summer.

She is a 22-time Lithuanian National Champion and currently holds her country's records in the 50, 55, 60, 100, and 200-meters. She will devote her time to coaching the Blazer sprinters.