Alabama Finishes Strong at SEC Track & Field Championships
5/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Alabama men and women posted their best finishes since 1989 and 2006, respectively, and the men's discus team recorded an historic medals sweep to highlight the Tide's final day at the Southeastern Conference Track & Field Championships at the Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex on Saturday.
The men's team finished third with 88 points, its best finish since coming in third in 1989. The women's sixth place finish (67.25 points) this week is its best since finishing sixth in 2006. Arkansas and Texas A&M finished first and second in both the men's and women's competitions this weekend.
"We had a great meet," head coach Dan Waters said. "Every athlete that put on an Alabama uniform this weekend competed with great heart and great spirit. I could not be prouder of this team. Whether they made a final, or not, scored a point, or not, this is the kind of championship meet every coach wants to have."
Daniel Haugh, Kord Ferguson, Joe Williams and Hayden Reed finished 1-2-3-5 in the men's discus as Alabama swept the medals in the event for the first time in school history and won it for the first time since 1987.
"I'm just in shock right now," Haugh said following the competition. "It was a lot of fun out there competing with each other. This is what we wanted to do and were hoping to do. We all knew we could do something special."
Claire Orcel got the Tide women off to a great start with a second place finish in the high jump with a personal-best and Alabama season-best effort of 6-0 ½ (1.84m). The 4x100 relay team of Vanessa Clerveaux, Diamond Gause, Alex Gholston and Quanesha Burks rolled to a fourth-place finish in 43.70 to equal the third-fastest time in school history.
In addition to the discus sweep, the Alabama men also reached the podium in the 4x100 relay as the quartet of Jeremiah Green, Ahmed Ali, Tony Brown and Tadashi Pinder finished third in a time of 39.04, the eighth-fastest time in school history. Green also finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 53-3 ¾ on his only clean jump of the day.
Alabama will return to action at the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Fla., May 26-28. Qualifiers for the regional will be finalized on Monday, May 16. The top 48 in each event in the region will participate in the meet for an opportunity to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships scheduled for June 8-11 at the University of Oregon. Below is a closer look at Alabama's Saturday performances.
Saturday Men's Event Summaries -- SEC Championships
Pole Vault -- Freshman Will Herrscher finished seventh with an effort of 16-7 ¾ (5.06m). Sophomore Jake Zalesky finished 14th at 16-1 ¼ (4.91m).
Alabama Series
Herrscher -- 4.91m (o); 5.06m (o); 5.21m (xxx)
Zalesky -- 4.91m (xxo); 5.06m (xxx)
4x100 Meter Relay -- The team of junior Jeremiah Green, senior Ahmed Ali, junior Tony Brown and senior Tadashi Pinder finished third in a time of 39.04, the eighth-fastest time in school history and fastest time this season.
1,500 Meters -- Junior Robbie Farnham-Rose finished fourth in a time of 3:51.11.
Triple Jump -- Junior Jeremiah Green finished third with a mark of 53-3 ¾, his only clean jump of the competition. The mark is the sixth-best in school history and the top jump for Alabama this season.
Alabama Series Green -- Foul; Foul; 16.25m; Foul; Foul; Foul
Discus -- Daniel Haugh (195-3: 59.53m), Kord Ferguson (191-11: 58.51m), Joe Williams (191-7: 58.39m) and Hayden Reed (182-4: 55.58m) finished 1-2-3-5 in the men's discus. Haugh's win is the first for Alabama in the discus since 1987 and is a new personal best.
Alabama Series
Haugh -- 53.29m; 56.60m; 58.76m; Foul; 57.70m;
Ferguson -- Foul; 58.51m; Foul; 57.60m; Foul
Williams -- 58.39m; 57.60m; Foul; Foul; 56.22m;
Reed -- Foul; 55.58m; Foul; Foul; Foul
Felpel -- 48.02m; Foul; 50.43m
110 Meter Hurdles -- Junior Tony Brown finished seventh in a time of 13.98, his second-fastest time this season.
High Jump -- Senior Justin Fondren finished fourth with a mark of 7-0 ½ (2.15m), equaling his best mark -- and Alabama's top mark -- of the season to date.
Alabama Series
Fondren -- 2.00m (PPP); 2.05m (o); 2.10m (xo); 2.15m (xxo); 2.19m (xxx)
200 Meters -- Senior Ahmed Ali finished ninth in a time of 20.82.
5,000 Meters -- Junior Antibahs Kosgei finished fifth in a personal-best and team season-best time of 14:08.08
4x400 Meter Relay -- Alabama's foursome of freshman Skyler Bowden, junior Jacopo Lahbi and seniors Ahmed Ali and Tadashi Pinder finished ninth in a time of 3:10.67, Alabama's fastest time this season.
Saturday Women's Event Summaries -- SEC Championships
High Jump -- Freshman Claire Orcel set a new personal-best and an Alabama season-best with a second place finish in the women's high jump at 6-0 ½ (1.84m). Freshman Stacey Destin tied for fifth place at 5-8 ¾ (1.75m).
Alabama Series
Orcel -- 1.65m (PPP); 1.70m (o); 1.75m (o); 1.80m (xxo); 184m (xxo) (PR); 187m (xxx)
Destin -- 1.65m (PPP); 1.70m (o); 1.75m (o); 1.80m (xxx)
Discus -- Sophomore Haley Teel finished eighth with a mark of 169-11 (51.81m), her fourth-best mark this season. Freshman Holly Julifs finished 10th with an effort of 155-1 (47.26m).
Alabama Series
Teel -- 49.82m; 50.62m; 51.22m; 51.81m; 50.80m; Foul
Julifs -- 47.26m; Foul; Foul
Triple Jump -- Freshman Kiara Williams posted a mark of 39-10 (12.14m) to finish 19th in the women's triple jump. The effort is her fourth-best of the year.
Alabama Series
Kiara Williams -- Foul; 12.14m; Foul
4x100 Meter Relay -- The Tide women's 4x100 meter relay team of juniors Vanessa Clerveaux, Diamond Gause, Alex Gholston and Quanesha Burks finished fourth in 43.70, equaling the third-fastest time in school history.
1,500 Meters -- Senior Meropi Panagiotou finished fourth in a time of 4:30.21 for the Tide.
Pole Vault -- Senior Anna Reed finished sixth with a mark of 13--7 ¼ (4.15m), her third-best effort this season. Junior Lakan Taylor tied for seventh at 13-1 ½ (4.00m). Sophomore Britainy Smith did not clear the opening height.
Alabama Series
Reed -- 4.00m (o); 4.15m (xxo); 4.30m (xxx)
Taylor -- 4.00m (o); 4.15m (xxx)
Smith -- 4.00m (xxx)
100 Meter Hurdles -- Junior Vanessa Clerveaux finished sixth in a personal-best time of 13.29. The time is the eighth-fastest in school history.
400 Meters -- Junior Alex Gholston finished fifth in a personal-best time of 52.11. The time is the fifth-fastest in school history and the fastest for Alabama this season.
800 Meters -- Senior Kimberley Ficenec finished seventh in a time of 2:09.23.
200 Meters -- Junior Diamond Gause finished sixth in a time of 23.28, the eighth-fastest time in school history and fastest wind-legal time for Alabama this season.
5,000 Meters -- Junior Hannah Waggoner was the top Alabama finisher at 14th in a time of 16:47.19. Sophomore Caroilne Barlow was 20th at 17:02.52. Calli Coggins finished 31st in 17:31.70.
4x400 Meter Relay -- The 4x400-meter relay team of freshman Katie Funcheon, juniors Domonique Williams, Diamond Gause and Alex Gholston finished seventh in a time of 3:33.80, Alabama's fastest time in the event this season.
SEC Championships
Saturday May 14, 2016
Alabama Results
Men
Team Scoring
1. Arkansas 121
2. Texas A&M 101
3. Alabama 88
4. LSU 86
Pole Vault -- 7. Will Herrscher, 16-7 ¼ (5.06m); 14. Jake Zalesky, 16-1 ¼ (4.91m)
4x100 Meter Relay -- 3. Alabama, 39.04 (SB)
1,500 Meters -- 4. Robbie Farnham-Rose, 3:51.11
Triple Jump -- 3. Jeremiah Green, 53-3 ¾ (16.25m) (SB)
Discus -- 1. Daniel Haugh, 195-3 (59.53m) (PR); 2. Kord Ferguson, 191-11 (58.51m); 3. Joe Williams, 191-7 (58.39m); 5. Hayden Reed, 182-4 (55.58m); 12. Kyle Felpel, 165-5 (50.43m)
110 Meter Hurdles -- 7. Tony Brown, 13.98
High Jump -- 4. Justin Fondren, 7-0 ½ (2.15m) (SB)
200 Meters -- 9. Ahmed Ali, 20.82
5,000 Meters -- 5. Antibahs Kosgei, 14:08.08 (PR); DNF. Conner Thompson; Robbie Farnham-Rose
4x400 Meter Relay -- 9. Alabama, 3:10.67 (SB)
Women
Team Scoring
1. Arkansas 126.75
2. Texas A&M 82
3. Kentucky 80
4. Tennessee 76
6. Alabama 67.25
High Jump -- 2. Claire Orcel, 6-0 ½ (1.84m) (PR); 5t. Stacey Destin, 5-8 ¾ (1.75m)
Discus -- 8. Haley Teel, 169-11 (51.81m); 10. Holly Julifs, 155-1 (47.26m)
Triple Jump -- 19th. Kiara Williams, 39-10 (12.14m)
4x100 Meter Relay -- 3. Alabama, 43.70 (SB)
1,500 Meters -- 4. Meropi Panagiotou, 4:30.21
Pole Vault -- 6. Anna Reed, 13-7 ¼ (4.15); 7t. Lakan Taylor, 13-1 ½ (4.00m); No Height- Britainy Smith
100 Meter Hurdles -- 6. Vanessa Clervaux, 13.29 (PR)
400 Meters -- 5. Alex Gholston, 52.11 (PR)
800 Meters -- 7. Kimberley Ficenec, 2:09.23
200 Meters -- 6. Diamond Gause, 23.28
5,000 Meters -- 14. Hannah Waggoner, 16:47.19; 20. Caroline Barlow, 17:02.52; 31. Calli Coggins, 17:31.70; DNF. Sarah Mohan; Meropi Pangiotou; Katelyn Greenleaf
4x400 Meter Relay -- 7. Alabama, 3:33.80 (SB)
Alabama SEC Championships Superlatives
Alabama Scorers
MEN (14 for 88 points in 12 events)
Points- Athlete, Event(s)
14- Kord Ferguson, Shot Put, Discus
12- Daniel Haugh, Hammer, Discus
12- Antibahs Kosgei, 10,000, 5,000
6- Hayden Reed, Shot Put, Discus
6- 4x100m Relay
6- Jeremiah Green, Triple Jump
6- Joe Williams, Discus
5- Elias Hakansson, Hammer
5- Robbie Farnham-Rose, 1,500
5- Justin Fondren, High Jump
4- Kyle Felpel, Shot Put
3- Eric Sivill, 3,000m Steeplechase
2- Will Herrscher, Pole Vault
2- Tony Brown, 110m Hurdles
WOMEN (16 for 67.25 points in 14 events)
Points- Athlete, Event(s)
10- Quanesha Burks, Long Jump
8- Claire Orcel, High Jump
6- Danielle McConnell, Hammer
5- Hannah Waggoner, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
5- Stacey Destin, High Jump
5- 4x100m Relay
5- Meropi Panagiotou, 1,500
4- Haley Teel, Shot Put, Discus
4- Alex Gholston, 400
3- Katelyn Greenleaf, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
3- Anna Reed, Pole Vault
3- Vanessa Clerveaux, 100m Hurdles
3- Diamond Gause, 200
2- Kimberley Ficenec, 800
2- 4x400m Relay
0.75- Lakan Taylor, Pole Vault
2016 Outdoor Season Bests by Alabama Athletes (23)
MEN (12)
Athlete, Event- Time/Mark
Kord Ferguson, Shot Put- 62-6 (19.05m)
Kyle Felpel, Shot Put- 61-5 (18.72m)
Hayden Reed, Shot Put- 57-7 (17.55m)
Tony Brown, 110m Hurdles- 13.78
Eric Sivill, 3,000m Steeplechase- 8:54.53
Antibahs Kosgei, 3,000m Steeplehase- 9:00.53
Josh Short, 3,000m Steeplechase- 9:27.76
4x100m Relay- 39.04
Jeremiah Green, Triple Jump- 53-3 ¾ (16.25m)
Daniel Haugh, Discus- 195-3 (59.53m)
Justin Fondren, High Jump- 7-0 ½ (2.15m)
Antibahs Kosgei, 5,000- 14:08.08
4x400 Relay- 3:10.67
WOMEN (11)
Athlete, Event- Time/Mark
Kimberley Ficenec, 800- 2:05.74
Quanesha Burks, Long Jump- 22-2 1/2 (6.77m)
Filippa Fotopoulou, Long Jump- 20-0 1/4 (6.10m)
Domonique Williams, 400- 53.12
Vanessa Clerveaux, 100m Hurdles- 13.23
Haley Teel, Shot Put- 53-6 1/2 (16.32m)
Hannah Waggoner, 3,000m Steeplechase- 10:04.69
Katelyn Greenleaf, 3,000m Steeplechase- 10:14.33
Claire Orcel, High Jump- 6-0 ½ (1.84m)
4x100m Relay- 43.70
Vanessa Clervaux, 100 Hurdles- 13.29
Alex Gholston, 400- 52.11
4x400m Relay- 3:33.80
Alabama All-Time Top 10 Performances (15) MEN (4)
Rank Athlete, Event- Time/Mark
5th Kord Ferguson, Shot Put- 62-6 (19.05m)
6th Jeremiah Green, Triple Jump- 53-3 ¾ (16.25m)
8th Elias Hakansson, Hammer- 224-7 (68.46m)
8th 4x100m Relay- 39.04
WOMEN (11)
Rank Athlete, Event- Time/Mark
2nd Hannah Waggoner, 3,000m Steeplechase- 10:04.69
3rd Quanesha Burks, Long Jump- 22-2 1/2 (6.77m)
3rd Katelyn Greenleaf, 3,000m Steeplechase- 10:14.33
3rd 4x100m Relay- 39.04
4th Haley Teel, Shot Put- 53-6 1/2 (16.32m)
5th Diamond Gause, 200- 22.93
7th Vanessa Clerveaux, 100m Hurdles- 13.23
8th Kimberley Ficenec, 800- 2:05.74
8th Vanessa Clerveaux, 100m Hurdles- 13.29
8th Diamond Gause, 200- 22.28
9th Danielle McConnell, Hammer- 196-3 (59.82m)
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.
