UTC's Bateman Finishes Second In 800 Meter At UAB Invitational

Friday, January 24, 2020

Chattanooga senior Abby Bateman ran a strategic race Friday night at the UAB Green and Gold Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex and came away with a second place finish in the 800 meter Invite and three teammates set PRs.

“Abby ran a much better positioning race,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said.

“She got out much better than last week and kept her position throughout and was able to pull away with the leader the last 300 meter of the race.”

Bateman finished second with a time of 2:18.18, a little under a second off per personal best time.

Freshmen Madelyn Thompson and Mattie Parker, along with senior Ashlynd Broling each ran personal best times in their races.

Thompson improved her time in the 60 meter Hurdles with a qualifying time of 9.50 Friday, improving over the time set last week by 0.16 seconds. She will compete Saturday in the semifinals, looking to grab a spot in the final.

“She got off to a slow start, but worked hard throughout her race,” Meyer said. “She had a huge PR.”

In the Mile Invite, Nicole Buehrle just missed her PR by 0.22 seconds, finishing third. Meanwhile, Broling finished sixth with a PR time of 5:12.00, nearly six seconds better than the time she posted last week at the Samford Invitational.

“Nicole and Ashlynd did a great job of positioning and accelerating through the race,” Meyer said. “Nicole was able to kick for third and Ashlynd had a huge PR.”

The Mocs’ third PR on the evening was Parker in the 3000 meter Invite. With just one collegiate race under her belt, she placed fifth with a time of 11:05.37, an improvement of more than 35 seconds.

“She hit her splits consistently and caught three girls in the last 400 for a great fifth place finish,” Meyer said.

In the 60 meter, Sage Davis was a breath away from her PR at 8:09 followed by McKenzie Williamson with a time of 8:13.

The Mocs had two teams in the Distance Medley Relay. Team A finished third with a time of 12:30.71 and Team B was sixth at 13:25.52.

“Ashlynd started off for the A team and put us in a great spot,” Meyer said. “McKenzie Williamson ran a solid 400 and maintained our positioning. Abby ran a great 800 leg, catching a couple positions and Nicole’s mile maintained the placing.

“We had a great first day.”

Both DMRs ran well. Ashlynd started off for the A and put us in a great spot. McKenzie Williamson ran a solid 400 and maintained our positioning. Abby Bateman ran a great 800 leg catching a couple positions and Nicole’s mile maintained the placing. We had a great first day.

Tomorrow we have our 5000 girls running plus the sprinters again in the 200 and Madelyn in the hurdle semis.

60 meter Dash