Alabama's Etoot Defends 800m SEC Indoor Championship
3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
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University of Alabama head men's track and field coach Harvey Glance was concerned that his young team might get caught up in the hype at the 2004 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships; his team did him proud posting more personal bests, Top 10 marks in Bama history and along the way even picked up an SEC Championship.
Peter Etoot was the star for the Tide on the weekend, again posting the second fastest time in the country in the 800m as he won his second straight SEC Indoor Championship in the event. Etoot posted a time of 1:46.91, an NCAA automatic qualifying time.
"Peter ran a terrific race and defended his 800m title well," said Glance. "I was really proud of our young team. We scored as many points as we possibly could have and overall all it was an outstanding meet for us."
Alex Korir ran an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 14:14.65 in the 5k placing him third in the meet and scoring six points for Alabama. The time was also a personal best for Korir. He also scored a point for the Tide in the 3k, finishing eighth with a time of 8:14.08.
The Crimson Tide's DMR team of Josphat Waweru, Lem Clayborn, Curtis McBride and Etoot finished fourth picking up five points with a time of 9:47.75. It was the fifth fastest time in school history.
Gabe Warren picked up five points for Alabama when he posted a mark of 6'10.75 in the high jump. It was a personal best for Warren and good enough for fourth in the meet.
Erroll Hickenbottom posted an eighth place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 49'02.50" garnering a point for Alabama.
Also posting personal bests for Alabama were Steven Boozer in the weight throw (53'07.50"). Matt Vogtner scored a team season best in the pole vault with a height of 15'11.00".
In previous day action, Keith Baker posted a school record 5,263 points in the heptathlon and finished sixth in the event scoring three points for Alabama. Out of the seven events comprising the heptathlon, Baker posted personal bests in six of them, including running a time of 2:37.83 in the 1,000m which ranks third fastest in the world among heptathletes.
The Crimson Tide's 31 total points placed them ninth in the meet, a point out of eighth-place Kentucky. The Florida Gators won the championship with 128 points, two points ahead of second place Arkansas.
Alabama will have one final crack at posting more NCAA qualifying times at the Last Chance meet in South Bend, Indiana which is scheduled for this weekend, March 5-6.
Alabama points break down:
Name Event Time/Dist. Pts.
Peter Etoot 800m 1:46.91 10
Alex Korir 5k 14:14.65 6
DMR -- 9:47.75 5
Gabe Warren HJ 6'10.75 5
Keith Baker Hept. 5,263 3
Alex Korir 3k 8:14.08 1
Erroll Hickenbottom TJ 49'02.50" 1
