Women's Track Set for SEC Outdoor Championships
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM
May 12, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 59 Alabama women's track and field team returns to action this weekend at the 2010 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., after a week off from competition. The contest, May 13-16, is being held at the Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.
The women currently bolster 12 student-athletes, in 15 events, ranking among the top eight in the SEC in their respective events. Six of the marks rank in the top five in four 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. Junior Kim Laing holds the No. 3 time in the 100 meter hurdles, while freshman Bekah Hoppis is fourth in the javelin.
The current USTFCCCA women's poll includes four SEC teams in the top 25, all ranking in the top 15 and led by the LSU Tigers who check in at No. 2 in the nation. The Florida Gators follow at No. 10, while the Arkansas Razorbacks are at No. 11 and the Auburn Tigers are at No. 15.
The conference championship is slated to begin on Thursday with the first four events of the heptathlon competition getting underway at 3:30 p.m. (ET). The hammer throw will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, while the remainder of the multi-events will commence at 5:00 p.m. and the rest of the individual events begin at 7:00 p.m. Action will pick up at 3:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday with the meet concluding after the 4x400 meter relay on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
The Alabama women placed seventh at last year's outdoor conference meet, tallying 52.50 points, while Florida claimed the team title with 135.50 points. Angelica Howard earned her first SEC championship in the hammer throw and finished sixth in the shot put. Other SEC scorers were Chealsea Taylor (heptathlon, 4th/high jump, 3rd), Rachel Robbs (heptathlon, 6th/high jump, t-8th), Christina Octavien (discus, 8th), Sara Vaughn (3,000 meter steeplechase, 6th), Meghan Austin (javelin, 8th), Audra Frimpong (100 meter hurdles, 7th), Krystle Schade (high jump, 4th), Talaya Owens (400 meter hurdles, 4th), Kelsey Johnson (5,000 meters, 6th), the 4x100 meter relay (Frimpong, Owens, Toni Graham, Heather Matherson) finished fifth and the 4x400 meter relay (Owens, Robbs, Matherson, Taylor) finished eighth.
Live results for the 2010 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships can be found at www.flashresults.com. The meet website can be found at http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/2010-track-sec-championship.html.
The SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships will air on ESPNU, May 25th, at 8:00 p.m. (CT).
Players Mentioned
