Tyson David Claims 5,000 Meter Mideast Region Championship
5/29/2009 12:00:00 AM
May 29, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Alabama men's track and field team opened up competition at the 2009 Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships at Cardinal Park Stadium on Friday. The Crimson Tide advanced one individual and the 4x100m relay team to Saturday's finals.
"Its great right now, we're sure competing well," head coach Harvey Glance said. "I'm real proud of the way these guys competed. Hopefully tomorrow we'll come out with a little bit of fire and hopefully earn another one or two spots to the nationals. Overall effort was very good."
The regional is used as the qualifying meet for the NCAA Championships being held in Fayetteville, Ark. during June 10-13. In addition to the seven or eight at-large athletes selected based on performances throughout the season, the top five finishers in each event and the top three teams in each relay event advance to the NCAA Championships. An athlete must compete at the regional and finish among the top 12 in order to be selected as an at-large entrant.
In the 5,000m, Tyson David, SEC Champion at 10,000m and the indoor 5,000m, claimed his first Mideast Region title adding to his long list of accolades. David, having already run the third fastest 10,000m time in the country, posted a time of 14:07.22 and now will have to decide to run either 10,000m, 5,000m, or both at the NCAA Championships. Emmanuel Bor, fifth place in 2008, finished ninth crossing the line with a time of 14:23.20.
"I was just trying to make it to nationals," David said. "It feels to good to win a race, especially regionals because I didn't win last year and I didn't win cross country regionals, but I came here aiming for the title because this is my last regional for outdoor track."
"Of course, Tyson was being Tyson again," Glance said. "He's our regional champion and it's always good to have a regional champ. Also I think Emmanuel Bor will make nationals based on the fact he finished in the top 12 and has one of the fastest times in the country so I'll think he'll be ok as an at-large."
The 4x100 meter relay squad of Brandon Spradley, David Chaplin, Ray Jadusingh and Matt Watson will be competing in Saturday's final as they posted a time of 40.16. The Crimson Tide advanced with the seventh fastest time. Of the eight relay teams in the final, Western Kentucky is the only non-SEC team.
Jadusingh advanced to the finals in his second event of the day, the 100m dash, as he finished second in his heat with a time of 10.51. The junior enters the finals with the eighth fastest time in the field.
Jadusingh, however, failed to advance to the 200m dash finals finishing 12th with a time of 21.08. Jadusingh, ranked 18th in the nation in the event (20.73), will have a chance to be selected as an at-large participant because he finished in the top 12.
"I thought Ray would have a better chance to make the final in the 200 instead of the 100, but we got a reversal so I'm glad he made the final," Glance said. "He's running well and he very well could have a good shot at an at-large bid in the 200. He'll be considered because he finished in the top 12. If not, hopefully we can get through in this relay."
Aaron Stockstell just missed advancing to the 800m final by three hundredths of a second. Stockstell crossed the line with a time of 1:50.34 finishing with the ninth fastest time of the day.
Trevor Denkers, making his second straight appearance at the Mideast Championships, struggled in the javelin. The sophomore finished 19th with a throw of 196-6.
Shaun Gaiser finished 15th in the long jump with a jump of 23-8.
The Alabama men will return to the track on Saturday and commence competition beginning with the 4x100m relay final slated for a 4:10 p.m. EST start time.
