May 15, 2008

Championship Central

EL PASO, Texas --- Senior Elizabeth Ambrus and freshman Stephanie Gammon concluded the first day of the 2008 Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship for the UAB track and field team, finishing fourth and seventh respectively in the 10,000-meter run at Kidd Field Thursday night.

Freshman Timara McMillan finished the day in fourth place with 2821 points after completing four of the seven events in the women's heptathlon.

Ambrus and Gammon collectively scored seven points for the Blazers, who sit in fifth place after the completion of just two events. Ambrus, who held the league's best time in the 10K this season, finished the run in 37:32.07. The mark was three minutes and 15 seconds off her season best. Gammon crossed the finish line with a time of 38:04.30.

Rice placed the top two runners in the event to help the Owls take the first day lead with 21 points. Marissa Daniels won the race with a time of 36:22.93 while teammate Becky Wade was second at 36:48.45. Tulane's Aubrey Phillips finished in third place with a time of 36:56.25.

McMillan sits 11 points shy of third place, 42 points behind second and 297 points behind UCF's Sheree Carter who leads after the first day of events. Friday's remaining events include the long jump, triple jump and 800-meter run.

Thursday's two running events proved to be McMillan's strong points, as she scored 918 points in the 100-meter hurdles and 797 points in the 200-meter dash. Additionally she scored 644 points in the high jump and 462 points in the shot put.

McMillan recorded times of 14.43 in the 100-meter hurdles and 26.00 in the 200-meter run. She cleared 1.52 meters in the high jump and tossed 8.97 meters in the shot put.

The meet's continues Friday morning with the conclusion of the heptathlon and pentathlon and beginning of several field and running events.