FINAL UPDATE: Alabama at the IAAF World Championships

The Alabama track & field program will be represented by eight current and former student-athletes at the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships at Olympic Stadium in London, England Aug. 4-13. The Crimson Tide contingent includes Ahmed Ali (Sudan/men's 200 meters), Alex Amankwah (Ghana/men's 800 meters), Quanesha Burks (Untied States/women's long jump), Steven Gayle (Jamaica/men's 400 meters), Akeem Haynes (Canada/men's 4x100-meter relay), Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago/men's 400 meters & 4x400-meter relay), Ruebin Walters (Trinidad & Tobago/men's 110-meter hurdles) and Domonique Williams (Trinidad & Tobago/women's 400 meters).This page will be updated throughout the week with results, notes and reaction from each event.

Update: Aug. 13

Alabama's Jereem Richards ran the second leg on Trinidad & Tobago's gold medal-winning 4x400-meter relay to close out the final day of action at the 2017 IAAF World Championships Sunday at London's Olympic Stadium.

Richards took the baton with Trinidad & Tobago well off the lead after the opening leg and turned in a split of 43.60 to move Trinidad & Tobago into second place behind the United States at the second exchange, where they remained heading into the final lap. Richards' split was the fastest of the four Trinidad & Tobago relay legs in the final.

On the anchor leg, Richards' teammate Lalonde Gordon caught and passed the United States' Fred Kerley down the homestretch to give Trinidad & Tobago the victory in a 2017 world-best 2:58.12. The United States took silver in a U.S. season-best 2:58.61. Great Britain earned bronze in a season-best 2:59.00.

"I think we were relaxed," Richards said following the race. "We were always one of the favorites but to actually win is a great experience. This is something I've always dreamed about, something I've been working for my whole life. To actually achieve it, words can't explain how grateful I am right now. Everything is just feeling like a dream."

With the victory, Richards joins Calvin Smith and Kirani James as the only Tide athletes to win gold at the IAAF World Championships. Smith won a pair of gold medals (200 meters, 4x100-meter relay) at the first IAAF Championships in Helsinki in 1983 and added a third career gold in the 200 meters in Rome in 1987. James won the 400 meters in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea.

Richards and Smith are also the only Alabama athletes to win multiple medals at one IAAF World Championship. Smith won a silver in the 100 meters to go with his two gold medals in 1983. The two medals are the most for Alabama at an IAAF World Championships since 1987 when Smith, Jamaica's Clive Wright (bronze/men's 4x100-meter relay) and the United States' Lillie Leatherwood (bronze/women's 4x400-meter relay) combined to win three.

Update: Aug. 10

Alabama's Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago) took home the bronze medal in the final of the men's 200 meters at the 2017 IAAF World Championships Thursday evening at London's Olympic Stadium.

Running out of lane seven with 2017 world leader Isaac Makwala of Botswana on his inside shoulder in lane six, Richards was in sixth place coming off the turn, but caught Makwala, Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown and the United States' Ameer Webb down the stretch. South Africa's Wayde Van Niekerk, who was seeking to become just the second man to win the 200 meters and 400 meters in one IAAF World Championships, finished second in 20.11 (.106), just ahead of Richards at 20.11 (.107). Turkey's Ramil Guliyev took gold at 20.09.

"I slipped coming out of my blocks and into my drive phase." Richards said following the race. "I tried my best not to let it affect me too much. At the turn I wasn't in contention really, so to get a medal from there is a great achievement. I always wanted to bring a medal back home for my mom. I do everything for her, so I am so happy I can take her the bronze."

Richards joins Calvin Smith (United States), Clive Wright (Jamaica) and Kirani James (Grenada) as the only Alabama men to medal at the IAAF World Championships.

Richards will now turn his attention to the 4x400-meter relay, which will begin with the semifinals on Saturday. Richards' 2017 Alabama teammate Steven Gayle will also compete in the 4x400 for Jamaica. Former Alabama sprinter Akeem Haynes will run for Canada in first round of the 4x100-meter relay on Saturday morning as well. Haynes was a bronze medalist in the relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Update: Aug. 9

Alabama's Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago) advanced to the finals of the men's 200 meters at the 2017 IAAF World Championships with a victory in his semifinal heat on a rainy Wednesday evening at London's Olympic Stadium.

Richards, who posted the fastest first round time in the event on Monday, took the lead at the top of the turn in the semifinal and pulled away down the homestretch to finish in 20.14, tying for the second-fastest time in the semifinals with 2017 world leader Isaac Makwala of Botswana. Isiah Young of the United States had the fastest semifinal time at 20.12. Richards' time is also the seventh-fastest in Alabama history. He now owns seven of the 10 fastest 200-meter times ever run at Alabama.

The men's 200-meter final will take place on Thursday at 3:52 pm (CT). With a top-three finish, Richards would join Calvin Smith (United States), Clive Wright (Jamaica) and Kirani James (Grenada) as the only Alabama men to medal at the IAAF World Championships.

Smith was a four-time medalist, winning silver (100 meters) and gold (200 meters, 4x100-meter relay) at the first IAAF Championships in Helsinki in 1983 and gold again in the 200 meters at the 1987 championships in Rome. Wright was a member of Jamaica's bronze medal-winning 4x100-meter relay in Rome. James won gold in the 400 meters in 2011 in Daegu and bronze in the same event in Beijing in 2015.

Alabama All-American Quanesha Burks (United States) finished ninth in her first round flight of the women's long jump with a mark of 21-1 ½ (6.44m) and did not advance to Friday's semifinal. Burks was making her first appearance at the World Championships at this year's meet.

Burks ended her Alabama career this season as the school record-holder in both the indoor and outdoor long jump.

Update: Aug. 7

Alabama's Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago) posted the fastest preliminary time in the men's 200 meters at the IAAF World Championships at London's Olympic Stadium on Monday to advance to Wednesday's semifinals. Running in lane 2 in the second preliminary heat, Richards recorded to a time of 20.05 to move on to the next round. The time is the fifth-fastest in Alabama history.

"I think I still have a better race in store," Richards said. "Hopefully, I can surprise some people here. To go to the final, I will need to run as fast as I did today. I'm hoping to run the same relaxed way and make it to the final."

Canada's Aaron Brown and Great Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake posted the second-best times in the prelims, both running 20.08 in heat 7. The next-fastest finishers were South Africa's Wade Van Niekerk and Turkey's Ramil Guliyev, who both ran 20.16. Van Niekerk entered the competition with the second-fastest 200-meter time in the world this year at 19.84. World leader Isaac Makwala of Botswana (19.77) was scheduled to run in heat 5 but did not start.

Former Alabama sprinter Ahmed Ali (Sudan) was also in action in the 200 meter prelims on Monday. Ali finished fifth in his heat in 20.64 and did not advance to the semifinals.

Richards and Quanesha Burks (United States) will be in action at the IAAF World Championships on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Burks will compete in the first round of the women's long jump at 1:10 p.m. (CT). Richards will run in the men's 200 meter semifinals at 2:55 p.m. (CT).

Update: Aug. 6

Alabama's Ruebin Walters (Trinidad & Tobago) finished sixth in his heat in the men's 110-meter hurdles at the IAAF World Championships on Sunday in a time of 13.56. Walters, who finished second in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June was making his first appearance at the IAAF Championships. Walters qualified for London with a victory at the Trinidad & Tobago national championships earlier this summer where he set an Alabama record with a winning time of 13.30.

Former Alabama sprinter Domonique Williams (Trinidad & Tobago) finished eighth in her heat in the opening round of the women's 400 meters in 53.72. Williams ran a personal-best 51.90 at the NCAA East Regional in May, which is the fifth-fastest time in school history and the second-fastest ever run by a Trinidad & Tobago sprinter.

Monday's schedule will feature Alabama's Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago) and Ahmed Ali (Sudan) competing in the opening round of the men's 200 meters at 12:30 p.m. (CT).

Update: Aug. 5

Alex Amankwah (Ghana) finished fourth in his heat in 1:47.56 in the opening round of the men's 800 meters and narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals. Steven Gayle (Jamaica) was disqualified from his first round heat in the men's 400 meters. Gayle will also run on Jamaica's 4x400-meter relay on Aug. 12. This was Amankwah's second appearance at the World Championships. He previously represented Ghana at the 2015 meet in Beijing. Gayle is making his first appearance at the World Championships this year.

Sunday's schedule will feature Alabama's Domonique Williams (Trinidad & Tobago) competing in opening round of the women's 400 meters at 5:55 a.m. (CT) and Ruebin Walters (Trinidad & Tobago) running in the first round of the men's 110-meter hurdles at 7:15 a.m. (CT). The semifinals of the hurdles will take place later in the day at 2:10 p.m. (CT).

Broadcast Schedule

In addition to streaming via the NBC Sports app and on-demand through the NBC Sports Gold, the IAAF World Championships will air also air on NBC and NBCSN from Aug. 4-13 (all times CT):

Aug. 4: NBCSN, 6 p.m.

Aug. 5: NBCSN, 4 a.m./NBC 2 p.m.

Aug. 6: NBCSN, 4 a.m./NBC 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 7: NBCSN, 1 p.m.

Aug. 8: NBCSN, 1 p.m.

Aug. 9: NBCSN, 1 p.m.

Aug. 10: NBCSN, 1 p.m.

Aug. 11: NBCSN, 4 a.m.

Aug. 12: NBCSN, 4 a.m./NBC, 2 p.m.

Aug. 13: NBCSN, 4 a.m./NBC, 4 p.m.

Ahmed Ali - 200 Meters - Sudan

Ahmed Ali Will compete in the men's 200 meters for Sudan in London ... two-year letterman at Alabama (2015-2016) ... represented Sudan at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, the 2016 Africa Championships in Durban, South Africa and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio ... ran 20.78 in the first round of the meters in Rio ... two-time All-American in the 200 meters (2015-2016), 2015 All-American in the 4x100-meter relay ... two-time All-SEC honoree in the 4x100-meter relay (2015-2016) ... member of South Plains College's 2013 NJCAA championship-winning 4x100-meter relay squad while in junior college ... finished fourth in the 100 meters at the 2013 NJCAA national championships.

Ali's World Championships Schedule - 200 Meters

First Round: Mon., Aug. 7 12:30 p.m. (CT)
Semifinals: Wed., Aug. 9 2:55 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Thurs., Aug. 10 3:50 p.m. (CT)

Alex Amankwah - 800 Meters - Ghana

Alex Amankwah Will compete in the men's 800 meters for Ghana in London ... two-year letterman at Alabama (2014-2015) ... represented Ghana at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio ... ran 1:50.33 in the first round of the 800 meters in Rio ... lowered his personal best in the 800 meters to 1:44.80 earlier this year at a meet in Marietta, Ga. ... first team All-American in the 800 meters during the 2015 indoor season ... junior college All-American at West Los Angeles College in 2013.

Amankwah's World Championships Schedule - 800 Meters

First Round: Sat., Aug. 5 6:45 a.m. (CT)
Semifinals: Sun., Aug. 6 3:15 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Tues., Aug. 8 3:35 p.m. (CT)

Quanesha Burks - Long Jump - United States

Quanesha Burks Will compete in the long jump for the United States in London ... one of the most-decorated student-athletes in Alabama track & field history ... four-year letterman at Alabama (2015-17) ... previously represented the United States at the 2014 IAAF Junior World Championships in Eugene, Ore., the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, the 2015 NACAC Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica and the 2016 NACAC U23 Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador ... two-time NCAA long jump champion (2015 outdoor & 2016 indoor) ... three-time Southeastern Conference outdoor long jump champion ... one of only four women to win three or more conference titles in one event in UA history ... holds the school indoor and outdoor long jump records as well as the top 10 jumps in Alabama history both indoors and outdoors ... member of Alabama's school record-holding 4x100-meter relay team (42.56).

Burks' World Championships Schedule - Long Jump

First Round: Wed., Aug. 9 1:10 p.m. (CT)
Semifinals/Finals: Fri., Aug. 11 1:10 p.m. (CT)

Steven Gayle - 400 Meters - Jamaica

Steven Gayle Will compete in the men's 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay for Jamaica in London ... six-time first team All-American for the Crimson Tide in the 400 meters, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay ... two-year letterman at Alabama (2015, 2017) ... member of Alabama's school record-holding 4x400-meter relay (3:02.92) ... won a bronze medal as a member of Jamaica's 4x400-meter relay at the 2017 World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas ... ran a personal-best 44.99 in the 400 meters at the NCAA East Regional on May 26 ... the time is the second-fastest in school history, trailing only the 44.86 run by former Tide sprinter Kirani James at the 2011 SEC Outdoor Championships ... finished seventh in the 400 meters at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 45.59 ... anchored the Tide's 4x400-meter relay that finished sixth at the 2017 NCAA outdoor Championships in 3:03.81.

Gayle's World Championships Schedule - 400 Meters

First Round: Sat., Aug. 5 4:45 a.m. (CT)
Semifinals: Sun., Aug. 6 1:40 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Tues., Aug. 8 3:50 p.m. (CT)

Gayle's World Championships Schedule - 4X400-Meter Relay

First Round: Sat., Aug. 12 5:50 a.m. (CT)
Finals: Sun., Aug. 13, 3:15 p.m. (CT)

Akeem Haynes - 4x100-Meter Relay - Canada

Akeem Haynes Will compete in the men's 4x100-meter relay for Canada in London ... two-time outdoor first team All-American for the Crimson Tide in the 4x100-meter relay (2013-2014) ... represented Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, earning a bronze medal as a member of Canada's 4x100-meter relay ... Canada's time in Rio broke that country's 20-year-old national record ... also competed in the men's 100 meters in Rio, running a 10.22 in the first round ... qualified for Canada's 2012 Olympic team in the 100 meters but did not compete due to injury ... ran the third leg of the 4x100-meter relay that clocked a time of 39.36 in the semifinals at the 2014 NCAA Championships for Alabama and advanced to the finals ... Earned 2013 Outdoor All-America honors as part of Alabama's 4x100-meter relay unit at the NCAA Championships as the quartet posted school record times in both the semifinals (38.78) and in the finals (38.54) ... that 4x100 relay placed second in the finals.

Haynes' World Championships Schedule - 4x100-Meter Relay

Semifinals: Sat., Aug. 12 4:45 a.m. (CT)
Finals: Sat., Aug. 12 3:50 p.m. (CT)

Jereem Richards - 200 Meters/4x400-Meter Relay - Trinidad & Tobago

Jereem Richards Will compete in the men's 200 meters and 4x400-meter relay for Trinidad & Tobago in London ... four-time first team All-American in his first season of competition for the Crimson Tide in 2017 ... school record-holder in the indoor (20.31) and outdoor (19.97) 200 meters ... one of only two Tide sprinters to run sub-20 second 200-meter times in school history ... surpassed former Tide Olympian Calvin Smith's 24-year-old school record in the 200 meters (19.99) with a wind-aided 19.98 at the 2017 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 12 ... established the new school outdoor mark two weeks later with a 19.97 at the NCAA East Regional on May 27 ... previously represented Trinidad & Tobago at the 2013 Central American & Caribbean Championships in Morelia, Mexico, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and the 2017 World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas ... ran the second leg on Trinidad & Tobago's 4x400-meter relay that finished fourth at the 2017 World Relays.

Richards' World Championships Schedule - 200 Meters

First Round: Mon., Aug. 7 12:30 p.m. (CT)
Semifinals: Wed., Aug. 9 2:55 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Thurs., Aug. 10 3:50 p.m. (CT)

Richards' World Championships Schedule - 4X400-Meter Relay

First Round: Sat., Aug. 12 5:50 a.m. (CT)
Finals: Sun., Aug. 13, 3:15 p.m. (CT)

Ruebin Walters - 110-Meter Hurdles - Trinidad & Tobago

Ruebin Walters Will compete in the men's 110-meter hurdles for Trinidad & Tobago in London ... school record-holder in the 110-meter hurdles ... earned first team All-American honors in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and outdoor 110-meter hurdles in his first season of competition for the Crimson Tide ... previously competed for Trinidad & Tobago at the 2014 IAAF Junior World Championships in Eugene, Ore., the 2012 IAAF Junior World Championships in Barcelona, Spain and the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille Metropole, France ... runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 13.59 ... set the UA record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.30 at the 2017 Trinidad & Tobago National Open Championships on June 23.

Walters' World Championships Schedule - 110-Meter Hurdles

First Round: Sun., Aug. 6 7:15 a.m. (CT)
Semifinals: Sun., Aug. 6 2:10 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Mon., Aug. 7 3:30 p.m. (CT)

Domonique Williams - 400 Meters - Trinidad & Tobago

Domonique Williams Will compete in the women's 400 meters for Trinidad & Tobago in London ... two-year letterman at Alabama (2016-17) ... member of Alabama's school record-holding indoor 4x400-meter relay ... 2017 first team All-American in the indoor 4x400-meter relay ... previously represented Trinidad & Tobago at the 2017 World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas ... ran a personal-best 51.90 in the 400 meters at the 2017 NCAA East Regional, the fifth-fastest time in school history ... the time also ranks No. 2 on the all-time Trinidad & Tobago national list.

Williams' World Championship Schedule - 400 Meters

First Round: Sun., Aug. 6 5:55 am. (CT)
Semifinals: Mon., Aug. 7 2:55 p.m. (CT)
Finals: Wed., Aug. 9 3:50 p.m. (CT)

University of Alabama Athletics