Feb. 16, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB's Elizabeth Ambrus will compete in the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials in New York City's famed Van Cortlandt Park this weekend. The event features the top distance runners in the USA vying for a spot on the team that will represent the USA at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Japan.

"This is a great opportunity for Elizabeth and UAB," said UAB head coach Ray Stanfield. "For her to showcase her talent, and our program on the National level, is very special. She will be running for a spot on the national team that competes at the World Cross Country Championships."

Highlights from the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships presented by Gleukos and hosted by the New York Road Runners will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 on February 20, 2006.

The Presidents' Weekend schedule features the men's open 4 km and women's open 8 km championship races on Saturday, February 18, and the women's open 4 km and men's open 12 km events on Sunday, February 19. The top six finishers in each championship race will earn a berth on the American team for the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, on April 1-2.

Ambrus had an impressive junior season for UAB, as she became the first Blazer to win the individual title at the Conference USA Championship in November. Additionally, Ambrus placed eighth in the 2005 South Regional, helping UAB to its highest-ever finish in the regional and was named an All-South region performer in the event.