Women's Track Set for Drake Relays
4/21/2010 12:00:00 AM
April 21, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 63 Alabama women's track and field team takes to the road again this weekend as it competes at the prestigious 101st Annual Drake Relays, April 22-24, at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 7,200 athletes are expected to compete at this year's clash on the oval, including several Olympians and 14 Drake Relays record holders returning to defend their records.
Alabama will have its first student-athletes competing on Thursday, April 22 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at 4:20 p.m. (CDT). The Crimson Tide will return to the oval Friday morning at 9:32 a.m. and compete until around 4:00 p.m. before returning at 6:00 p.m. for the "Relays Under the Lights" portion of the meet. On Saturday, Alabama athletes begin competing at 8:20 a.m., while the last event for the Tide is scheduled for 4:55 p.m.
LIVE RESULTS
Live results for the 101st Annual Drake Relays can be found at .
TELEVISION AND STREAMING VIDEO
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IN THE POLLS
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Week 3 Rankings for the 2010 outdoor season were released this week. The Alabama women fell eight spots to No. 63. There are 195 women's teams ranked this week.
The current USTFCCCA women's poll includes six SEC teams in the top 25 led by the LSU Tigers who check in at No. 2 in the nation. The Florida Gators follow closely at No. 5, while the Auburn Tigers are 11th, the Arkansas Razorbacks are 18th, the South Carolina Gamecocks are 22nd and the Tennessee Lady Vols are 24th.
BEST IN THE SEC
The Crimson Tide women currently bolster 11 student-athletes, in 14 events, ranking among the top eight in the SEC in their respective events, while six marks are among the top five, including a SEC-leading mark. Senior Chealsea Taylor holds the No. 1 heptathlon score and No. 3 high jump mark, while junior Meghan Austin and sophomore Krystle Schade check in at No. 2 in the javelin and high jump in the conference, respectively. Sophomore Kelsey Johnson is fifth in the 10,000 meters and freshman Wilamena Hopkins is fifth as well in the discus.
BEST IN THE NATION
The Alabama women currently have three student-athletes, in four events, ranking among the top 25 in the NCAA in their respective events. Senior Chealsea Taylor is ranked in the top 15 in two events, checking in at No. 12 in the heptathlon and No. 14 in the high jump. Sophomore Krystle Schade is the highest ranked Crimson Tide performer, ranking sixth in the high jump, freshman Wilamena Hopkins is 24th in the shot put.
WOMEN MAKING HISTORY
The Crimson Tide women have posted seven of the best marks in school history during the 2010 outdoor season. Sophomore Andrea Torske leads the way with the No. 3 steeplechase time (10:59.01), while freshman Wilamena Hopkins is No. 5 in the shot put (51-3 1/2) and No. 6 in the discus (159-10). Sophomore Amethyst Holmes is No. 7 in the hammer, junior Kelsey Johnson is No. 7 in the 10,000 meters (35:43.29), sophomore Leigh Gilmore is eighth in the 1,500 meters (4:29.36) and freshman Elsbeth Denton is No. 10 in the 1,500 meters (4:39.55).
Players Mentioned
