University of Alabama at Birmingham Women's Track & Field

Kurt Thomas was named head coach of the track & field program in December 2010, after serving as the interim head coach for the 2010 season. He is in his 19th year overall with the Blazers after serving as an assistant track & field coach from 2008-09. He works primarily with the UAB jumpers and Heptathletes. Earlier in his time with the Blazers, Thomas has coached sprinters, hurdlers, and pole vaults. In 2025, Coach Kurt Thomas guided a diverse and talented roster across sprints, hurdles, jumps, pole vault, throws, and multi-events. His athletes saw multiple appearances on the school record list, including Destiny Roper in the 60m and Christina Mudd, who dominated multiple events in the 60m hurdles, shot put, and pentathlon, later adding the heptathlon outdoors. Leticia Quingostas captured the 400m indoors and outdoors, while pole vaulters Noelle Hambrick and Victoria Freeland highlighted the vertical jumps. High jumpers Hope Foster and Olivia Beard added to the field success, and the distance and relay groups thrived with Lidia Longo in the mile and standout 4×400 and DMR relay teams. Birthe Franck-Petersen closed the year strong with an outdoor shot put win. The 2024 season showcased elite sprint depth under Coach Thomas. Gabby Washington led the year with appearances on the all-time list in the 200m, 300m, and both indoor and outdoor 400m. The team excelled across the spectrum: Regina Harris in the 600m, Emily Drouin in the 3000m, and a strong vertical jumps crew featurin

UAB Women's Track & Field coach Kurt Thomas announced the hiring of assistant track & field coach Muna Lee on August 9, 2024. Lee, a former Olympian, comes to the Southside from Tarleton State, and will oversee the Sprints and Hurdles. "Muna is a great addition to our team and staff," said Thomas. "She has coached athletes to run fast and be successful at championship meets but just as importantly she brings unparalleled experience from her collegiate, professional and Olympic career." Lee competed for 12 years professionally before transitioning to the coaching side for the last six years. She owns Top Tier Speed and Performance where she does private training for all ages of youth sports. She spent the 2024 season on staff at Tarleton State. Six Texans sprinters finished in the top three of their respective events at the 2024 WAC Outdoor Track Championships. Lee served on the Tennessee State staff for one season before her time at Tarleton State. Other stops along the way include Texas A&M, LSU, and Carson High School in Carson, California. Prior to her time on Tennessee State's staff, Lee made her way to UMKC, where she was an assistant coach for the Roos for three seasons. Lee spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Hendrix College, and helped lead athletes to eight individual conference championships, a pair of runner-up finishes and a sweep of the podium in the women's 100m hurdles in 2018. She also had four athletes achieve school record performances. She competed for four

Travis Pope enters his 3rd season on the Southside as the Head Cross Country and Assistant Track & Field coach. In three seasons, Pope has heightened the sta...