James and Samoei Advance to NCAA Indoor Finals
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM
March 12, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - University of Alabama men's track and field runners Kirani James and Fred Samoei both won their heats in the 400m and 800m, respectively, on Friday to advance to the NCAA Indoor Championship finals in each event.
James clocked the fastest 400m time out of the 16-man field with a preliminary time of 46.25. The sophomore, who won the national championship in the outdoor 400m last year, is looking to better his SEC Championship time of 44.80 Saturday to bring home another national title to Tuscaloosa.
Samoei was also impressive Friday evening, running the fastest 800m time in the field, posting a 1:47.80 preliminary time, setting a new Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium record. The top time advances Samoei to Saturday's 800m finals.
Freshman Kamal Fuller competed in the long jump Friday but did not advance from the preliminaries. Fuller finished 14th out of the field of 16, with only the top nine athletes advancing to the finals. Fuller posted a 24-5.75 in his first NCAA Championship appearance.
The Alabama distance medley relay team competed in the DMR, but did not finish in the event.
