Track and Field Set to Host Annual Alabama Relays
3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM
March 26, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama men and women's track and field teams will open its 2008 outdoor season by hosting the annual Alabama Relays at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Complex on the campus of the University of Alabama. The meet will begin on Thursday, March 27 and go through Sunday, March 30.
The first event will be the heptathlon at 9:30 a.m. with the decathlon to follow at 10:00 a.m. The first day will feature the 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters on the women's side. For the men, the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters will kick-off the annual event.
A total of 62 teams will be in town this weekend for the Alabama Relays, including three teams from the Southeastern Conference (Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State). Auburn checked in the USTFCCCA preseason rankings on the both the men and women's side.
Saturday and Sunday's schedule include the bulk of the weekend events with both days beginning at 8:00 a.m. Both days will begin with the hammer throw. The women's 10,000 meters will start the track portion of the meet on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
Alabama concluded its indoor season with a pair of All-Americans in the same event. The senior duo of Trish Bartholomew and Michael Cooley took home the honors.
Bartholomew finished second in the country with a time of 52.37. Cooley finished ninth overall with a 47.18, a personal best on a 200 meter track.
Bartholomew broke the school record and set a personal best by winning the event at the SEC Championships with a time of 52.10.
Cooley ran a personal best and etched his name in the Alabama record books with a time of 46.53 at the Alex Wilson Invitational earlier in the outdoor season.
-UA-
