Women's Track Qualifies Seven for NCAA Championships
5/29/2010 12:00:00 AM
May 29, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The inaugural NCAA East Preliminary Round, hosted by North Carolina A&T State University at Irwin Belk Track, concluded on Saturday evening with seven Alabama women advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships - two more than last year's outdoor total and four more than indoors this year.
"Great meet," head women's track and field coach Sandy Fowler said. "I'm very proud of the team overall. It all goes back to them and the hard work they've put in, but you don't need to be at your best until you go to nationals, and that's this meet right here. I can't ask for anything more except that they do the same thing in Oregon."
The top 12 finishers in each event, including field events and relays, will advance to the semifinal and final rounds at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 9-12, in Eugene, Ore.
The 4x100 meter relay squad of sophomore Audra Frimpong, senior Chealsea Taylor, junior Kim Laing and senior Heather Matherson got the day started off in the best way possible for the Tide. The quartet combined for the eighth-fastest time in school history, 44.66, and qualified for the NCAA Championships by finishing third in their heat - the eighth-fastest time of the day. The relay squad shaved off an impressive six-tenths of a second off their previous season-best time.
In the 100 meter hurdles, junior Kim Laing clocked a wind-aided time of 12.92 (+2.4) to advance to the NCAA Championships. Laing's time would have broken the six-year-old school record of 12.96, held by former All-American Beau Walker, had the wind been under +2.0. Laing is making her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships - third NCAA appearance total after qualifying for the national indoor meet earlier this year.
"What a fantastic day," sprints and hurdles coach Scott Roberts said. "Kim Laing has just come so far in her career. In 2008, her personal-best was 13.64 and now she's run 12.92 [wind-aided]. We've had some fantastic hurdlers over the years and she's right up there with the best of them. The 4x100 meter relay was just a great race. I can't say enough about our anchor leg (Heather Matherson), she ran just crazy fast for us today. For that relay to qualify this year is a real feather in our cap. We're real excited for all the girls that made the meet."
The Tide will be represented by Taylor (heptathlon, high jump), Laing (100 meter hurdles), junior Meghan Austin (javelin), freshman Wilamena Hopkins (shot put), sophomore Krystle Schade (high jump) and the 4x100 meter relay squad at the national championships in two weeks.
Frimpong, Matherson, Austin and Hopkins are making their first NCAA Championship appearance, while Taylor, Laing and Schade are making their second consecutive outdoor appearances. Taylor has been to the national championships, indoor and outdoor combined, five times now, while Laing and Schade are making the trip for the third time in their careers.
Alabama will have a week off from competition to prepare for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 9-12, at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Saturday's Alabama Women's Results
4x100 Meter Relay Quarterfinal: 8. Frimpong, Taylor, Laing, Matherson - 44.66*+
100 Meter Hurdle Quarterfinal: 5. Kim Laing - 12.92 (+2.4)+
Discus Qualifying: 36. Wilamena Hopkins - 146-4
Alabama Women Advancing to Oregon (Top 12 Finishers - All Weekend)
Javelin: 8. Meghan Austin - 153-8+
Shot Put: 9. Wilamena Hopkins - 52-3 1/4!+
High Jump: 1. Chealsea Taylor - 5-11 1/4+; 12. Krystle Schade - 5-10+
4x100 Meter Relay: 8. Frimpong, Taylor, Laing, Matherson - 44.66*+
100 Meter Hurdles: 5. Kim Laing - 12.92 (+2.4)+
Heptathlon: Chealsea Taylor - 5,672 points (score at SEC Championships)
! - Personal-best; * - Season-best; + - Advanced to next round; DQ - Disqualified; DNF - Did not finish; NM - No mark; FS - False start; SR - School record
Players Mentioned
