Alabama
Crimson Tide Invitational
Alabama Sweeps Team Titles at Crimson Tide Invitational
3/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Final Stats | PDF | Photo Gallery 
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama track & field team won both team competitions on Saturday at the Crimson Tide Invitational at the Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex, winning 11 events over the course of the meet (7 men's events, 4 women's events).
Alabama won the men's division with 121 points, outpacing South Carolina (2nd with 97) and Mississippi State (3rd, 87). The Crimson Tide women won the team race with 124.5 points, ahead of Mississippi State's 109 and South Carolina's 108. Overall, eight teams competed in both genders over two days.
"It was an excellent day and a very good meet for us as we come off of a really tough training period," said head coach Dan Waters. "Of course, it's good to take down a couple of SEC teams in the team race, plus we won a bunch of events. I thought our competitive mentality was strong, which is important at this stage of the season. Individually, I thought Quanesha Burks was impressive today, winning the long jump with a PR among several very good performances by our team. This was a very good meet for us at this point in the season."
Complete summaries of Saturday's events for Alabama athletes are below:
MEN'S EVENT SUMMARIES
100 METERS - The men's 100-meter dash was contested in two heats involving 17 sprinters overall. Alabama's Ahmed Ali and Dash Pinder both ran in heat one. Running with a legal wind of +1.5 meters per second at his back, Ali broke the meet record in winning heat one in 10.43 seconds with Pinder second at 10.46. That result stood up through the second section, giving Ali the title with Pinder second overall to earn 18 points for Alabama in the team race.
400-METER HURDLES - Scottie Hearn of Mississippi State dominated the field in the men's 400-meter hurdles, winning in 51.56 seconds, a full 1.74 seconds ahead of his teammate Javon Davis (53.30). South Carolina freshman Greg Chiles (55.01) was third with Memphis junior Aaron Willett fourth (55.27). Alabama senior Walter Parks was sixth in 55.82. Mississippi State collected 20 team points in this event.
800 METERS - Crimson Tide junior Andrew Harris won the men's 800 meters in a time of 1 minute, 52.98 seconds. Harris ran in the first section of the two-section final that encompassed 15 competitors. Harris edged Auburn senior Kane Grimster (1:53.06) in section one, with the pair finishing 1-2 overall. Harris's win gave Alabama 10 points in the team standings.
1,500 METERS - Robbie Farnham-Rose, a sophomore for Alabama, won the race in 3:46.58 while running with a pair of teammates, Alex Amankwah and Jacopo Lahbi. Lahbi was used as a "rabbit" to lead off with a fast 800 to get the race moving at the proper pace for Farnham-Rose. Lahbi went out in 42.44 in the first 300 and 1:44.22 in the first 700 to lead the pack before exiting at that point. Amankwah was right behind Lahbi through the first 700 in 1:44.66. Farnham-Rose was in third place through 1,100 meters before taking over and winning handily in 3:46.58 ahead of Mississippi State's Damian Roszko (3:49.44). Amankwah, running the race for conditioning work in preparation for his outdoor 800 debut next week at the Florida Relays, was seventh at 3:55.23.
DISCUS - Former Kentucky All-American Chase Madison (competing unattached) edged Alabama sophomore Joe Williams. Williams produced two throws above his previous personal best, ending up second with a new PR of 191 feet, 2 inches (58.26 meters). Madison's winning effort went 195-7 (59.62m). Williams led much of the way, hitting the 191-2 throw on his second throw. He also uncorked 190-0 (57.93m) on his sixth throw. The Tide's Hayden Reed was fourth with a best of 189-7 (57.79m). Alabama senior Taber Wanstall was 11th (157-8; 48.07m). Reed's best throw was his first attempt. Williams' series: 184-5 (56.22m); 191-2 (58.26m); 181-10 (55.42m); 185-8 (56.59m); foul; 190-0 (57.93m). Reed's series: 189-7 (57.79m); 183-9 (56.00m); 186-7 (56.87m); 185-11 (56.68m); foul; 187-8 (57.21m). Wanstall's series: 146-10 (44.77m); 157-8 (48.07m); 152-6 (46.49m); 156-8 (47.75m); foul; foul.
4x100-METER RELAY - The Crimson Tide quartet of Dash Pinder, Cam Hudson, Ahmed Ali and Stephen Gayle won the 4x100 relay in 40.18 seconds, ahead of South Carolina (40.44) and Northwestern State (40.76). The Tide was near the lead through the first two legs, then took a commanding lead on the turn in leg three as Ali ran an excellent turn. Ali gave the baton to Gayle for the anchor leg with a solid lead over South Carolina and Gayle held of an initial charge by USC's Eric Winfrey to take the victory.
3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE - Crimson Tide junior Parker Deuel led from the start and dominated the five-man field in the steeple, winning in a time of 9 minutes, 11.26. Alabama scored 18 team points in the event with a 1-2 finish. Junior Eric Sivill was second for Alabama in 9:30.00.
HIGH JUMP - Marcus Jackson of Mississippi State outlasted Justin Fondren of Alabama in the men's high jump with a clearance of 7 feet, 1 1/2 inches (2.17 meters). Fondren was second with a best of 6-10 3/4 (2.10m). Shawn Johnson of Auburn was third (6-10 3/4; 2.10m). Fondren's series: 2.00-o; 2.05-o; 2.10-o; 2.17-xxx.
LONG JUMP - Alabama junior Cam Hudson won the men's long jump on the final jump of the day in the sixth round, edging Emmanuel Williams of Northwestern State. Hudson had a best of 24 feet, 7 3/4 inches (7.51 meters), improving by 7 inches on his final attempt. Williams had a best of 24-4 1/2 (7.43m). Tide sophomore Jeremiah Green, a triple jump specialist, was fifth in the long jump at 22-10 1/2 (6.97m) with Alabama junior Josh McCullan seventh (22-6 1/2; 6.87m). Hudson's 23-11 1/2 (7.30m); 23-8 3/4 (7.23m); 23-7 1/4 (7.19m); 24-0 1/4 (7.32m); 24-0 3/4 (7.33m); 24-7 3/4 (7.51m). Green's series: foul, 22-10 1/2 (6.97m); foul; foul; foul; foul. McCullan's series: foul; foul; 22-6 1/2 (6.87m); pass; pass; pass.
WOMEN'S EVENT SUMMARIES
100 METERS - The two-section final of the women's 100 meters featured 14 sprinters overall. In section one, Alabama senior Dominique Kimpel ran 11.71 with a legal wind of +0.5 meters per second at her back. That time held up to win the event. Crimson Tide senior Sarah Thomas was fourth in the first section (11.98). In section two, two Alabama freshmen, Abbie Whitehurst and Olivia Fotopoulou, competed. Fotopoulou won the second section in 12.05 (wind: +1.3 mps) with Whitehurst fourth (12.41). Overall, Kimpel was the winner with Thomas fourth, Fotopoulou fifth and Whitehurst ninth. Alabama scored 16 team points in the event.
200 METERS - The final of the women's 200 was run in three sections. Alabama volunteer assistant coach Paris Daniels, running unattached, won the event in 23.76 with Shayla Luckett of Mississippi State second in 23.92. Alex Gholston, a sophomore, led Alabama with a third-place finish in 24.45.
400-METER HURDLES - Mississippi State's Ocian Archer ran 1:01.78 to win the 400-meter hurdles, edging Alabama freshman Kaitlin Walker (1:02.39). Walker was in contention the entire race but could not overtake Archer in the final stretch. Walker earned eight team points with the second place finish.
800 METERS - Junior Kimberley Ficenec of Alabama won the women's 800 in 2 minutes, 8.43 seconds to earn 10 team points for Alabama. Running in section one of the three-section final, Ficenec defeated a field of 28 runners.
1,500 METERS - While Mississippi State's Cornelia Griesche won the women's 1,500 meters in 4:29.17, Alabama scored a whopping 18 team points by finishing second, third and fourth overall. In fact, Tide runners comprised five of the top eight finishers. Rebecca Stover was second with a personal best of 4:31.86 with Caroline Barlow third in a PR of 4:34.65. Katelyn Greenleaf was fourth in 4:34.99 with Veronica Lyle seventh (4:37.90) and Jessica Gray eighth (4:39.74). Hannah Waggoner was 14th (4:47.52). Four of Alabama's six runners (Stover, Barlow, Lyle and Gray) compiled personal bests in this race.
4x100-METER RELAY - Mississippi State took the victory in the women's 4x100 relay, narrowly edging Western Kentucky by .02 with a time of 46.35 to WKU's 46.37. Alabama's quartet did not finish the race due to a dropped baton.
100-METER HURDLES - A field of 16 hurdlers competed in the two-heat final, including Alabama's Vanessa Clerveaux (in heat one) and Passion Gamble (in heat two). Clerveaux finished third in heat one in 13.99 seconds. Erica Bougard of Mississippi State won heat one in 13.52, winning the event overall while breaking the meet record. Gamble was third in heat two in 14.56. The first heat was run in wind-legal conditions (+0.9 meters per second) while heat two exceeded the limit for records purposes (+2.3 mps). While Bougard won the event, Clerveaux was third overall with Gamble 10th, scoring six team points for Alabama.
DISCUS - Alabama freshman Haley Teel finished sixth overall against a field of 13 competitors in the women's discus. Northwestern State junior Rechelle Bessard won the event with a best of 173 feet even (52.75 meters). Teel's series: 145-9 (44.42m); 136-3 (41.53m); 133-4 (40.65m); 128-0 (39.01m); 135-3 (44.28m); 147-4 (44.92m).
HIGH JUMP - South Carolina senior Jeannelle Scheper won the women's high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 3/4 of an inch (1.85 meters). Alabama junior Katherine White was fourth at 5-7 (1.70m). White's series: 5-3 (1.60m)-o; 5-5 (1.65m)-xo; 5-7 (1.70m)-xxo; 5-8 3/4 (1.75m)-xxx.
LONG JUMP - Sophomore Quanesha Burks set a new personal best en route to a victory in the women's long jump. Burks achieved her winning mark on her first attempt, going 21 feet, 4 inches (6.50 meters). She attempted only three jumps on the day before passing on her final three opportunities. Burks' second leap also eclipsed her previous PR, a 21-3 1/4 (6.48m) with her third try going 19-9 1/2 (6.03m). Alabama junior Lacey Dent finished fifth with a best of 19-4 1/4 (5.90m) with Alabama senior Merilyn Uudmae sixth (19-3½; 5.88m) and Tide freshman Filippa Fotopoulou seventh (19-0½; 5.80m). Burks' series: 21-4, 6.50m; 21-3 1/4, 6.48m; 19-9 1/2, 6.03m. Dent's series: 18-8, 5.69m; 17-10 1/4, 5.44m; foul; 19-4 1/4, 5.90m; 19-2 3/4, 5.86m; 18-5 1/4, 5.62m. Fotopoulou's series: 18-11 3/4, 5.78m; 19-0 1/2, 5.80m; 18-6, 5.64m; 18-10, 5.74m; 18-11 1/4, 5.77m; 18-7 3/4, 5.68m.
Crimson Tide Invitational
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Team Standings
MEN
1-Alabama, 121
2-South Carolina, 97
3-Mississippi State, 87
4-Western Kentucky, 65
5-Memphis, 48
6-Northwestern State, 44
7-Auburn, 29
8-Clemson, 21
WOMEN
1-Alabama, 124.5
2-Mississippi State, 109
3-South Carolina, 108
4-Northwestern State, 63
5-Auburn, 42
6-Memphis, 38
7-Western Kentucky, 30.5
8-Clemson, 13
Alabama Results
Men
100 Meters - 1. Ahmed Ali, 10.43 (wind: +1.5 mps); 2. Tadashi Pinder, 10.46 (w: +1.5).
400-Meter Hurdles - 6. Walter Parks, 55.82.
800 Meters - 1. Andrew Harris, 1:52.98; 15. Jeff Edmondson, 2:00.05.
1,500 Meters - 1. Robbie Farnham-Rose, 3:46.58; 7. Alex Amankwah, 3:55.23; 8. Payton Ballard, 3:55.61; DNF - Jacopo Lahbi.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase - 1. Parker Deuel, 9:11.26; 2. Eric Sivill, 9:30.00.
4x100-Meter Relay - 1. (Tadashi Pinder, Cameron Hudson, Ahmed Ali, Steven Gayle), 40.18.
4x400-Meter Relay - 1. (Ahmed Ali, Steven Gayle, Jacopo Lahbi, Alex Amankwah), 3:09.18.
High Jump - 2. Justin Fondren, 6-10Âľ (2.10m).
Long Jump - 1. Cameron Hudson, 24-7¾ (7.51m); 5. Jeremiah Green, 22-10½ (6.97m); 7. Josh McCullan, 22-6 ½ (6.87m).
Shot Put - 2. Kyle Felpel, 58-7 ½ (17.87m); 4. Hayden Reed, 57-1 ½ (17.41m); 11. Nathan Karr, 51-6 ½ (15.71m).
Discus - 2. Joe Williams, 191-2 (58.26m); 4. Hayden Reed, 189-7 (57.79,); 11. Taber Wanstall, 157-8 (48.07m).
Javelin - 7. Kevin Shannon, 180-5 (55.00m).
Women
100 Meters - 1. Dominique Kimpel, 11.71 (w: +0.5); 5. Olivia Fotopoulou, 12.05 (w: +1.3); 9. Abigail Whitehurst, 12.41 (w: +1.3).
100-Meter Hurdles - 3. Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.99 (w: +0.9); 10. Passion Gamble, 14.56w (w: +2.3)
200 Meters - 3. Alex Gholston, 24.45 (w: +1.4); 9. Brianna Sims, 25.19 (w: +1.4); 11. Olivia Fotopoulou, 25.43 (w: +0.6); 13. Abigail Whitehurst, 26.13 (w: +0.6).
400 Meters - 6. Nicole Sassaman, 58.38.
400-Meter Hurdles - 2. Kaitlin Walker, 1:02.39.
800 Meters - 1. Kimberley Ficenec, 2:08.43; 9. Meropi Panagiotou, 2:12.97; 11. Emily Edwards, 2:14.25; 16. Hilary Stafford, 2:15.42.
1,500 Meters - 2. Rebecca Stover, 4:31.86; 3. Caroline Barlow, 4:34.65; 4. Katelyn Greenleaf, 4:34.99; 7. Veronica Lyle, 4:37.90; 8. Jessica Gray, 4:39.74; 14. Hannah Waggoner, 4:47.52; DNF - Meropi Panagiotou.
4x400-Meter Relay - 2. (Brianna Sims, Alex Gholston, Kaitlin Walker, Nicole Sassaman), 3:47.30.
High Jump - 4. Katherine White, 5-7 (1.70m).
Long Jump - 1. Quanesha Burks, 21-4 (6.50m); 5. Lacey Dent, 19-4¼ (5.90m); 6. Merilyn Uudmae, 19-3½ (5.88m); 7. Filippa Fotopoulou, 19-0½ (5.80m).
Shot Put - 2. Candicea Bernard, 51-10 ½ (15.81m); 3. Haley Teel, 49-11¾ (15.23m);
Discus - 6. Haley Teel, 147-4 (44.92m).
Pole Vault - 1. Lakan Taylor, 13-4 ¼ (4.07m); t-5. Anna Rawles, 11-8 ½ (3.57m); t-8. Britainy Smith, 11-2 ½ (3.42m). mps - meters per second
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
