Alabama Track and Field’s Burks Leaps to Second Place in Long Jump at NCAA Championships
6/9/2016 3:15:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
EUGENE, Ore. – Alabama's Quanesha Burks finished second in the women's long jump and the Crimson Tide 4x400 relay team turned in a season-best time in the first night of women's competition at the 2016 NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Thursday.
Jumping on a cool and rainy evening, Burks was seeking her second consecutive NCAA outdoor title in the long jump and led the contest through the first five rounds of jumps. She seized the lead in her opening attempt with a leap of 20-10 (6.35m) and improved on that mark in her second (21-0: 6.40m) and third attempts (21-1 ¼: 6.43m). Jumping immediately before Burks, Georgia's Chanice Porter briefly took the lead in the fifth round with a jump of 21-1 ½ (6.44m) before Burks immediately answered with a mark of 21-4 ¾ (6.52m) on her next jump. The mark stood until Porter's final attempt, when she jumped 21-10 ¾ (6.67m) to claim the title.
"The competition was very good and we had a lot of weather going on with the rain and the cold," Burks said at the end of the night. "That means a lot of adjustments up and back to be on top of the board. Second isn't what I wanted, but just being able to come here again this year is a blessing."
In other action, the women's 4x400 relay team of Alex Gholston, Diamond Gause, Domonique Williams and Katie Funcheon posted the Tide's fastest time of the season and the fifth-fastest time in school history (3:33.37) to finish 11th in the semifinals. Sophomore Haley Teel finished 18th in the shot put with a mark of 52-8 ¼ (16.06m). Gholston finished 16th in the 400 meters with a 53.11 and Vanessa Clerveaux was 17th in semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles in 13.24, the 10th-fastest time in school history.
The Tide returns to action on the final day of the men's competition on Friday. Junior Tony Brown will be seeking Alabama's first 110-meter hurdle title since 2002 when he competes in the event final at 6:12 p.m. (PT). In the field events, senior Justin Fondren will make his fourth and final NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance in the high jump at 5 p.m. and the quartet of Kord Ferguson, Hayden Reed, Joe Williams and Daniel Haugh will look to extend their season-long group success in the discus at 5:05 p.m.
Below is an in-depth look at Alabama's Thursday performances.
Thursday Women's Event Summaries – NCAA Championships
Long Jump Final – Junior Quanesha Burks finished second in the women's long jump with a mark of 21-4 ¾ (6.52m). Burks was the leader following the first three rounds of jumps at 21-1 ¼ (6.43m) before extending her lead on her fifth jump but was surpassed in the final round. Her runner-up mark is her fifth-best jump of the season.
Alabama Series
Burks – 6.35m; 6.40m; 6.43m; 6.19m; 6.52m; 6.48m
Shot Put Final – Sophomore Haley Teel finished 18th with a mark of 52-8 ¼ (16.06m). The throw is her fourth-best of the season.
Alabama Series
Teel – Foul; 16.06m; Foul
100 Meter Hurdles Semifinals – Junior Vanessa Clerveaux finished 17th in a time of 13.24 and did not advance to Saturday's final. The time is her fourth-fastest this season and the 10th-fastest in school history.
400 Meters Semifinals – Junior Alex Gholston finished 16th in a time of 53.11 and did not advance to Saturday's final.
4x400 Meter Relay Semifinals – The quartet of Alex Gholston, Diamond Gause, Domonique Williams and Katie Funcheon finished 11th in a time of 3:33.37 and did not advance to Saturday's final. The time is Alabama's fastest this season and the fifth-fastest time in school history.
NCAA Championships
Thursday June 9, 2016
Alabama Results
Women's Finals
Long Jump – 2. Quanesha Burks, 21-4 ¾ (6.52m)
Shot Put – 18. Haley Teel, 52-8 ¼ (16.06m)
Women's Semifinals
100-Meter Hurdles – 17. Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.24
400 Meters – 16. Alex Gholston, 53.11
4x400 Meter Relay – 11. Alabama, 3:33.37
(w)- wind; (Q)- qualified for event final by place; (q) qualified for event final on time; (PR)- personal record; (SB)- season best
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