Crimson Tide Track and Field Heads to Drake Relays
4/24/2008 12:00:00 AM
April 24, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama men and women's track and field team will head to the 99th annual Drake Relays this Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium. The prestigious meet will host more than 8,000 athletes in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend.
The track that will also host the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships will begin this weekend's competition with the 10,000 meters at 4:45 p.m.
The Alabama men's squad will compete in its first meet in two weeks as the Crimson Tide took the week off this past weekend. Prior to training through the off-week, the Tide traveled across the country to participate at the Sun Angel Classic while another group traveled to the Ole Miss Invitational.
In the 1500 meters, three athletes hit regional marks, Emmanuel Bor, Tyson David, and Augustus Maiyo with times of 3:42.02, 3:44.26, and 3:45.27, respectively. Sophomore Tim Grier placed fourth in the 110m hurdles and jumped 24-09 in the long jump.
In the javelin, Trevor Denkers hit a qualifying mark with a throw of 210-06. Andrew Kirwa placed sixth in the steeplechase with a 9:18.30. At Ole Miss, Joe Purpura and Paul Guevara went 1-2 in the 5000 meters with times of 14:53.84 and 14:55.67, respectively.
The women competed at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee this past weekend hitting three regional marks.
Senior Trish Bartholomew took a week off from the 400m and ran a regional qualifying time of 23.36 by winning the 200m. Angelica Howard heaved a regional mark of 47-06.25 in the shot put to win by nearly a foot. Meghan Austin claimed top honors in the javelin with a regional throw of 143-08, a victory by over 14 feet.
Also in the throwing events was a fifth place finish by Elizabeth Wilson in the hammer with a heave of 162-00. Howard followed in seventh with a throw of 158-02. Christina Octavien placed fourth in the discus with a toss of 146-04.
In the distance events, Betty Rotich placed seventh in the 1500 with a time of 4:32.66. Julia Hicks made her spring debut with a fourth place finish in the 3000 with a time of 10:13.80. Haley Moody closely followed with a 10:17.96 to finish fifth. Nicole Okolo nearly hit a regional qualifier in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.09.
The two teams will compete one last time before the SEC Championships by heading to Oxford, Miss. for the Ole Miss Invitational. The meet is slated to begin on Friday, May 2 at the Ole Miss Track and Field Complex.
Players Mentioned
