Strong Middle Distance Performances Boost Tide Track Team
1/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama track and field opened the 2015 indoor season last Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Auburn Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., with strong performances in the 800 meters and the mile.
"We had some incredible performances on the track last weekend in regards to the middle distance races," said Crimson Tide head coach Dan Waters. "Opening up that well in the mile and the 800 gives me a lot of confidence in our athletes as we progress through this season."
Junior Kimberley Ficenec opened the season with an 800-meter time of 2:08.31 - a time that ranks eighth in the nation and fifth in the Southeastern Conference. In Saturday's race, she trailed only LSU's Morgan Schuetz, a junior who is currently the top-ranked collegiate athlete in the event. Ficenec is entered in the 800-meter race for this weekend's Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville, Tenn., and is an athlete to watch.
"We've entered her in the event this weekend to hopefully decrease her time a little more and bump her up in the rankings," Waters said. "As a coaching staff, we know that she has a lot of potential and is definitely a candidate qualifying for the national championship."
The Tide also claims the No. 1 and 2 spots on the SEC men's mile list after strong performances by sophomore Robbie Farnham-Rose and senior Matt Airola in Saturday's meet. With the win by Rose and the runner-up performance by Airola, the duo rank sixth and ninth, respectively, on the national list. Rose's time of 4:03.75 also ranks as the 10th-best performance in Alabama history.
"I was really impressed with both Robbie and Matt and their performances last Saturday," Waters said. "They trained incredibly hard throughout the cross country season, and in the interim, until now. They are in great physical shape and we expect a lot out of them as the season progresses. We'll be running them in the 3k this weekend at Vanderbilt to increase their fitness and hopefully have another outstanding mile run in the future."
Alabama also looks to senior Alex Amankwah and sophomore Jacopo Lahbi to open up their seasons in the 800-meter dash at the Vanderbilt Invitational. Amankwah qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last year, ultimately finishing 24th overall. Lahbi was an indoor national championship qualifier in his first year with the Tide, garnering a 14th-place finish to earn second team All-America honors. The duo returns to the track for the Vanderbilt Invitational with advanced fitness.
"These two have come a long way during the off season," Waters said. "They have trained to their fullest ability. I have no doubt that they will open up with a strong outing this weekend. Watching them during practice, I can tell that they are stronger and faster than they were last year. I am very excited to see how they progress through the season."
The Tide competes this weekend at the Vanderbilt Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
