Cooper Sets School Record at Clemson Invitational
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM
Jan. 9, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. - The women's track and field team opened up their indoor season today by completing day one at the Clemson Invitational at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex.
"Overall, I think the team did a phenomenal job and I'm looking for them to bring today's success into tomorrow," head coach Sandy Fowler said. "I think they did a good job at home over the break and it's showing up now."
The Crimson Tide wrapped up tonight's action with an impressive showing that included senior Lynda Cooper winning the pole vault in school record fashion and the distance medley relay team coming away with the victory.
Cooper cleared 12-11.50 out jumping the second place finisher by over one foot.
"If you can open up with a school record, that's phenomenal," Fowler said. "That means if she continues to build off that, she'll be jumping personal bests all season and has the potential to win the SEC and possibly nationals."
The DMR team won for the second straight year at Clemson. The relay consisted of freshman Leigh Gilmore, sophomore Meghan Hawkins, sophomore Devon Romero and freshman Sarah Gilmore besting the field by over seven seconds with a time of 12:34.00.
All four of Alabama women in the 60 meter hurdles qualified for the semi-finals on Saturday with Kimberley Laing turning in the second fastest time of the day with a 8.47. Sophomore Nicole Okolo, freshman Audra Frimpong and junior Talaya Owens followed with times of 8.49, 8.73 and 8.75, respectively, to advance to the semis.
The 60m dash semi-finals will also showcase two Alabama athletes tomorrow. Junior Heather Matherson crossed the finish line with a time of 7.61, which was good enough for the fastest time of the day. Freshman Toni Graham ran 7.65 to also qualify for Saturday's semi-finals. Both ladies ran career bests in the event.
Owens also placed third in the 300m dash with a time of 40.17. She was followed by Matherson (7th) and Graham (8th) who crossed the line with times of 41.46 and 41.57, respectively.
Sophomore Angelica Howard finished third in the weight throw heaving the 20-pound weight a lifetime best of 52-10.00. Christina Octavien finished eighth with a throw of 46-06.75 which is also a new personal best.
Frimpong had a good start to her rookie campaign in the long jump where she placed second with a leap of 19-05.50, just a half inch off her personal best, putting her at No. 5 in school history. All-SEC junior Chealsea Taylor joined her in the finals with a jump of 18-09.00 to finish fourth.
"Being a freshman (Frimpong) and coming into a new training program, that says a lot about her faith in Coach Roberts," Fowler said. "I can see her going a long way. She's very new to the hurdles so what she did today is just the tip of the iceberg for her in that event."
The meet will conclude Saturday night. The first event will be the women's shot put at 9:00 a.m. The first running event will be the women's 60m hurdles at 12:45 p.m.
Players Mentioned
