Men's Track & Field Travels to Mississippi
4/22/2011 12:00:00 AM
April 22, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 25 University of Alabama men's track and field team continues its outdoor schedule this weekend at the Mississippi Open in Oxford, Miss.
The Crimson Tide will aim to build upon last week's results that saw UA student-athletes Fred Samoei and Kirani James record performances in the 800m and 200m that rank in the top five nationally.
James, the defending NCAA outdoor champion in the 400m, is expected to make his 2011 debut in 400m this weekend. UA head coach Harvey Glance also anticipates running his top team in the 4x400m relay for the first time this season. He expects fast times from both providing the weather, which has made training difficult, cooperates.
"We're in a tough league and nine of the 11 teams in the league are ranked in the top 25," Glance said of his team's performance to date. "We've got a tough job ahead of us but we've kept our team in the top 25 and I'm real proud of that."
Glance is hopeful his squad can build upon its early season times and add to the 11 performances it has already recorded that rank among the top 10 in individual events in the Southeastern Conference this season.
The Mississippi Open gets underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning with the field events. The bulk of the track events will begin after noon and continue until approximately 8 p.m.
