UAH Athletics

In 2001, the University of Alabama in Huntsville women's track and field team became UAH's 13th sanctioned sport. UAH cross country coach David Cain was handed the reins of the new program.
 
During its inaugural season in 2001, the Lady Chargers did a fantastic job. For many on the team, track and field was a new experience. Most of the team was comprised of transplants from the cross country team while others migrated from other UAH athletic programs.
 
Throughout the first season, the Lady Chargers adjusted quickly and won a few events. Aytree Blalock paved the way for her teammates, claiming several top-five finishes. She capped off the year by becoming UAH's first track athlete to compete in the NCAA Division II Championships, qualifying in the 5,000 meters.
 
In 2002, Amy Phillips followed Blalock into the history books by becoming the second Lady Charger to compete at the national championships. Phillips competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2002, and returned in the event at the 2003 NCAA Championships.
 
In 2004, the men’s track and field program was instituted in 2004. In addition, the 2004 campaign saw Phillips make her third consecutive trip to nationals. This time, she was joined by teammate Easter Grant who qualified in the 200 meters.
 
UAH sent its largest contingent to the NCAA Championships in 2005 as six individuals qualified for the field. Freshman sprinter Shuneil Gadson qualified in two events - the 400 meters and was a member of the 4x100-meter relay squad comprised of Crystal Harris, Easter Grant and Shana Levett. Additionally, Katherine Herring qualified in the 1,500 meters while sophomore Caitlin Heider advanced in the 10,000 meters.
 
At the 2005 NCAA Championships, Gadson and Herring advanced to the finals in the 400 meters and 1,500 meters, respectively. By virtue of making the finals, Gadson earned the program's first ever All-America honors as she placed eighth in the 400 meters.
 
In 2006, UAH sprinter Shana Levett became the program's first indoor track All-American when she finished seventh in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division II Championships.
 
Levett repeated as an indoor track All-American in 2007, finishing eighth in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships in Boston, Mass. Heider and sophomore Erin Zellers competed at the outdoor national championships in Charlotte, N.C. where Heider became the program’s first double qualifier in individual events, competing in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. She placed 14th in the 10,000 meters with a time of 38:07.04 and finished 16th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:02.66. Zellers came just one place (.30 seconds) short of the finals in the 1,500 meters, finishing 13th overall with a time of 4:39.91.
 
In addition, head coach David Cain earned 2007 South Region Indoor Women's Coach of the Year honors, while assistant coach Soyini Thompson-Murray was named the 2007 South Region Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
Thompson-Murray earned the honor of South Region Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year once again in 2008 as the Charger teams posted another solid season as five runners qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
 
The 4x400-meter relay team of Juneil Gadson, Rebecca Hilt, Rachel Joseph and Keena Brooks finished sixth in the prelims and 11th overall with a time of 3:51.44 at the championships. Meanwhile, Will Rodgers fell just one place short of advancing to the men's 1,500 meter finals. Rodgers finished sixth in his preliminary heat with a time of 3:53.69, placing 13th overall while the top 12 advanced to the finals – he was under .50 seconds from advancing.
 
Rodgers also qualified for the indoor national championships, along with Zellers - both in the mile. Zellers nearly made the finals, missing by just two seconds. Rodgers got tangled with another competitor and fell midrace but still managed to finish the race.
 
In 2009, sprinter Latrice Johnson joined the 4x400 meter relay quartet of Leah Sparks, Brooks, Julia Nagle and Hilt at outdoor nationals. Johnson competed in the 100 meters, finishing sixth in her heat and 15th overall. Meanwhile, the women's 4x400-meter relay squad also missed out on the finals, finishing sixth in their heat and 12th overall.
 
Thompson-Murray garnered her Men's and Women's South Region Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year accolade for her efforts in 2009, while Cain also earned 2009 Men's and Women's South Region Outdoor Coach of the Year honors.
 
During the indoor season of 2010, Richard Johnson qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60 meters with a school record time of 6.82. On the women’s side, Johnson was named the USTFCCCA Division II South Region Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and Cain was again the recipient of the 2010 South Region Indoor Coach of the Year award.
 
The 2010 outdoor season saw the Chargers host the NCAA Division II South Region Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the second straight year, which the UAH women won. Luke Beck became earned All-America honors later in the year at the outdoor national championships in the pole vault, clearing a height of 15-10 to finish in a tie for eighth.
 
Once again, Thompson-Murray was named the 2010 South Region Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year – her fourth of her career.
 
UAH’s 2011 indoor campaign was a success as nine athletes set 11 new school records. Johnson set school-best marks in the 60 meters (7.62) and 200 meters (25.21) en route to qualifying for the indoor national championships in the 60 meters. In addition, Adam Osburn set program record marks in the shot put (44-2 3/4) and weight throw (41-9 1/4). Beck also cleared the bar set at 16-0 in the pole vault which qualified him for nationals as well.
 
Lady Chargers who set new program standards in 2011 were Leah Sparks in the 800 meters (2:17.11), Jeniffer Cherono in the 3,000 meters (10:10.45), Elisa Baskin in the shot put (39-6) and Jackie Doughty in the weight throw. Additional Chargers who broke records during the indoor season were Jaion Rayford in the 200 meters (22.03) and Rodgers in the 800 meters (1:54.80).
 
Johnson garnered her second USTFCCCA Division II South Region Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year accolade in 2011. Cain was awarded the 2011 South Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year award. The awards were the second consecutive awards for each as both earned the honor in 2010 as well.