Jan. 18, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. ----- Genoah Collins and Alina Varpiotaite highlighted the UAB Track and Field performances from the first day of the 30th annual Niswonger Invitational, being hosted by East Tennesse State University in Johnson City, Tenn.

Both Collins and Varpiotaite turned in impressive times against the field in the 200-meter dash finishing the event with times of 2:11.81 and 2:13.12, respectively. Their finishes were good for first and second place on day-one of the two-day event. The duo also helped the Blazers earn the top time in the 4x400-meter relay preliminaries. The finals in the event will be raced Saturday.

Other notables from the first day include, Erica Whitby's clearance of 1.61 meters in the high jump to finish tied for fourth in the event, Erika Russ qualifying for the 60-meter hurdle finals, Penny Shields' sixth place finish in the triple jump and freshman Samantha Hamilton, who set a new freshman record inthe triple jump with a distance of 12.02 meters. The previous mark was set in 1998 by Nakeshia Jackson.

The Blazers will compete Saturday beginning with the 5,000 meter run at 8 a.m. CT.