Women's Track Set for Mississippi Open
4/30/2010 12:00:00 AM
April 30, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 48 Alabama women's track and field team returns to the oval this weekend after an outstanding performance at last week's Drake Relays. The women will compete at the Mississippi Open, May 1, at the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex in Oxford, Miss.
The Crimson Tide women will have its first student-athlete competing in the 5,000 meters at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) on Saturday morning with competition concluding around 7:45 p.m. with the 4x400 meter relay.
LIVE RESULTS
Live results for the Mississippi Open will be provided and can be found at www.cfpitiming.com.
IN THE POLLS
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Week 4 Rankings for the 2010 outdoor season were released this week. The Alabama men are just outside of the top 25, rising 10 spots to No. 27. The women picked up 15 spots this week, moving to No. 48 in the polls. There are 199 women's teams ranked this week. The current USTFCCCA women's poll includes five SEC teams in the top 25, all ranking in the top 19 and led by the LSU Tigers who check in at No. 1 in the nation. The Florida Gators follow at No. 7, while the Auburn Tigers are eighth, the Arkansas Razorbacks are 13th and the South Carolina Gamecocks are 19th.
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 seven of those marks are among the top five in six events, 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. Kim Laing holds the No. 3 time in the 100 meter hurdles, while freshman Bekah Hoppis is fourth in the javelin and sophomore Kelsey Johnson is fifth in the 10,000 meters.
WOMEN MAKING HISTORY
The Crimson Tide women have posted a stunning 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).
BEST IN THE NATION
The Alabama women currently have four student-athletes, in five events, ranking among the top 25 in the NCAA in their respective events. Sophomore Krystle Schade is the highest ranked Crimson Tide performer, ranking sixth in the high jump, while senior Chealsea Taylor is ranked in the top 15 in two events, checking in at No. 13 in the heptathlon and No. 15 in the high jump. Junior Kim Laing is 23rd in the 100 meter hurdles.
Players Mentioned
