Samoei Wins National Championship in 800m
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM
March 12, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Senior mid-distance ace Fred Samoei edged out University of Connecticut runner Michael Rutt by four one-hundredths of a second to win the NCAA championship in the 800m, Saturday at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
Despite missing his personal best by over eight tenths of a second, Samoei posted a 1:48.33 in the 800m final to bring home the national title to Tuscaloosa. Samoei becomes just the 15th Alabama male athlete to win an individual indoor national championship.
"I am very proud of the indoor campaign we put together in 2011," UA head coach Harvey Glance said. "I was optimistic that we might be able to come in (at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships) and place in the top 10. Kirani (James) got tripped up and Emmanuel Bor, our anchor, did as well in the DMR, so we missed out on points there and finished 22nd."
Alabama All-American Kirani James did not finish in the 400m. James still holds the fastest times in the world this year in both the 200m and 400m.
"We were all glad to see that Kirani was okay and healthy after falling in the 400," Glance added. "Kamal Fuller did a great job this weekend as well, receiving second team All-American honors in his freshman year. I think we are ready to have a great outdoor season as well."
Alabama will open its outdoor season at the Alabama Relays, held in Tuscaloosa on March 24-27.
