Feb. 28, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -----The UAB track and field team is ready to battle for a league championship this weekend at the 2008 Conference USA Indoor Championship in Houston.

The Blazers enter the meet with several athletes and relay teams posting some of the league's top performances in their respective events and are poised to make a run at the C-USA title.

"We have worked really hard this season and feel like we have a great chance at winning this meet," said UAB head coach Ray Stanfield. "Our seniors have been a strong point for us so far and will be a key to our success this weekend."

Genoah Collins will be one of several Blazers to keep track of this weekend. The senior has twice been named Conference USA Athlete of the Week this season. Collins will compete individually in the one-mile run and the 800-meter dash, in which she provisionally qualified for the national championship at the Meyo Invitational Feb. 9. Collins will also participate in the Blazers' relay events.

Senior Elizabeth Ambrus will be another UAB athlete to keep an eye on as she looks for her third indoor all-conference honor. Ambrus currently holds the second fastest league time (9:32.80) in the 3,000 meters this season and is a provisional qualifier in the event. She is also set to run in the 5,000-meter run, which she has yet to compete in this season.

The Blazers 4x400-meter relay and distance medley relay teams both have shots and taking the conference crown this weekend. The 4x400 relay team comes into the meet with the third fastest mark (3:44.55) of any of the 12 teams that will be competing in the event. UAB trails Rice by less than three seconds in the event.

UAB's distance medley relay team, which has placed first four times this season and set a school record time of 11:37.50, will be among three teams battling for the top spot. Tulsa's and Rice's distance medley teams will also be competing in the DMR.

Tara Colvin, Alina Varpiotaite and Erika Russ are also expected to be among some of the Blazers' top performers at the league meet. Colvin, who holds the Blazers' record in the 400-meter dash, comes in with the fourth fastest time (55.34) among competitors this season.

Varpiotaite will compete in the 800-meter run and will be a crucial part to both of the Blazers' relay teams this weekend. Russ will take part in the 60-meter hurdles and enters with the conference's fourth best time (8.69).

The league meet gets under way beginning at 9 a.m. Friday with the pentathlon. UAB's Tara McMillan and Katryce Sykes are scheduled to compete in the event.

Running events are not schedule to begin until 5 p.m. Friday and will be mainly comprised of preliminary events, such as the 800-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles. The 5,000-meter run and distance medley relay will be the only two running events that have finals Friday.

The one-mile run, 3,000-meter run and 4x400-meter relay will be held Saturday afternoon, along with the finals of the preliminary events from the previous day.

For a full list of entries and schedule of the C-USA Indoor Championship click here