Women's Track Claims Two Drake Relays Titles
4/25/2009 12:00:00 AM
April 25, 2009
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Alabama women's track and field is the second winningest program in Drake Relays history and they claimed two more titles at the 100th running of the Drake Relays on Saturday at Drake Stadium.
In frigid temperatures and rain as well, Saturday was not necessarily a good day for the sport of track and field, but the Crimson Tide showed that the weather would not be a factor for them as they won the shuttle hurdle relay title destroying the field by nearly 3 seconds with their time of 55.91. The relay team consisting of Kim Laing, Audra Frimpong, Rachel Robbs and Talaya Owens won the first Drake Relays title in the event for Alabama since 2004.
Laing returned to the track later in the day posting a personal best time of 13.28 en route to her win in the 100m hurdles for her second victory of the meet.
"I think it shows that the team had a little more heart today," head coach Sandy Fowler said of the two titles won on Saturday. "Especially Kim Laing because she was part of both of those titles. Not only does she have a competitive attitude, but also a championship attitude."
Elizabeth Wilson finished 11th in the hammer throw, just missing finals with her throw of 161-3.
Kelsey Johnson was also 11th in the seeded 1,500m running a time of 4:41.08.
Volunteer assistant coach for the Crimson Tide, Chandra Brewer finished sixth in the professional shot put event with a heave of 55-2.
"I think Kim [Laing] showed that she has a much bigger personal best to come in the future and hopefully that'll be at SECs," Fowler said. "Also, our relay team was young with two freshman, a sophomore and a junior. To have a leader like Kim, that speaks for itself and I was proud of them, I thought they competed well and did well. They all come back for a repeat next year, even better.
The Crimson Tide will compete at the Mississippi Open next weekend in Oxford, Miss.
