Feb. 26, 2004

HOUSTON-The UAB Blazers Indoor Track and Field team heads to the campus of the University of Houston to compete in the 2004 Conference USA Championships. The Blazers will compete this weekend at the University of Houston Athletics/Alumni Center beginning at 8 a.m. Friday with the pentathlon and ending the first day's activities with the distance medley relay at 9:20 p.m. Saturday's events begin at 9 a.m. with the awards presentation at 5 p.m.

UAB comes into the conference meet off a solid performance in the SEMO Triangular meet last weekend where Blazer runners captured six events including the mile run, 3000-meter run, the 55-meter, 400-meter and 600-meter dashes and the 4x400-meter relay. For the second year in a row the Blazers used the SEMO meet as their final warm-up for the conference championships.

The Blazers will be led into the meet by 60-meter hurdlers Theresa Smith, who finished third in last years conference meet, and Judy Shepherd. Smith and Shepherd own the fourth and fifth fastest times in the conference this season.

Also expected to contend this weekend will be Petra Ivanova in the 800-meters and mile run, Oriana Carter in the 60-meter dash, Penny Shields in the triple jump and the 4x400-meter relay team of Normanie McKenzie, Crystal Hunter, Elace Minnifield and Amanda Hart.

At last year's conference meet the Blazers finished twelfth of 13 teams with 15 points. The University of Houston is a two-time defending women's champion.