
Alabama Track & Field Continues Strong Performance at Florida Relays
3/31/2017 9:24:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide post five more school top-10 marks in Friday’s competition
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Elias Hakansson, Steven Gayle and Danielle McConnell posted marks that rank among the top-10 in Alabama history in their events to highlight the Crimson Tide's day at the Florida Relays on Friday at the Pearcy Beard Track in Gainesville, Fla.
For the men, Hakansson finished third overall, and was the top collegiate finisher, in the men's invitational hammer throw with a mark of 231-9 (70.64m) on his final attempt of the competition, which ranks as the No. 2 mark all-time at Alabama. The senior also had an earlier throw in the competition of 227-0 (69.21m) that ranks as the eighth-best mark in school history. On the track, Gayle won the men's college 400 meters in 45.40, the fourth-fastest time in school history.
On the women's side, McConnell finished eighth in the women's college hammer throw with a personal-best mark of 201-2 (61.33m) on her first attempt of the competition. The effort is the third-best in school history. The junior also had a later throw in the event of 199-11 (60.95m) that ranks No. 6 all-time at Alabama. McConnell now owns six of the top-10 throws in school history, with four of them coming in the last two weeks. Alabama's NCAA indoor pole vault champion, Lakan Taylor, won her first outdoor competition in the event on Friday, clearing 13-9 ÂĽ (4.20m) for the victory. Senior Alex Gholston finished fourth in the 400 meters in 52.79, a season-best time in the event for the Tide women.
Alabama also had six runners competing in the Stanford Invitational on Friday. Junior Conner Thompson finished seventh in his section in the men's 5,000 meters in a personal-best 14:19.39. Senior Hannah Waggoner finished ninth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:21.12, the eighth-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Nicole Gardner finished 11th in the steeplechase in 10:51.84. Alabama will have junior Alfred Chelanga and senior Antibahs Kosgei in the men's 10,000 meters and freshman Hannah Capek in the women's 10,000 meters later tonight.
"I thought we had another good day today," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "This is always a very competitive meet and we've responded to that. Now we need to carry that momentum into Saturday and finish strong in the relays and field events."
Alabama will conclude action at the Florida Relays on Saturday. The Crimson Tide will get underway at 10 a.m. CT with the men's discus and will begin action on the track at 11:30 a.m. with the women's sprint medley relay.
Men's Event Summaries – Florida Relays- Day 2
Finals
100 Meters – Junior Terry Jernigan finished 29th in the men's 100 meters in 10.62.
400 Meters – Senior Steven Gayle won the men's college 400 meters in a personal-best 45.40, the fourth-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Skyler Bowden finished 34th in 48.33
800 Meters – In his first outing of the outdoor season, senior Jacopo Lahbi finished sixth in the men's 800 meters in 1:47.98. Senior Andrew Harris finished 51st in 1:55.08. Freshman Noah Karr finished 57th in 1:58.50.
1,500 Meters – Senior Payton Ballard finished 16th in the men's 1,500 meters in 3:50.54. Sophomore Josh Short finished 19th in 3:51.01.
Invitational Hammer Throw – Senior Elias Hakansson finished third overall, and was the top collegiate finisher, in the men's invitational hammer throw with a mark of 231-9 (70.64m) on his final attempt of the competition, the No. 2 mark all-time at Alabama. Hakansson also had an earlier throw in the competition of 227-0 (69.21m) that ranks as the eighth-best mark in school history.
Alabama Series
Hakansson – 221-0 (67.37m); 227-0 (69.21m); 223-5 (68.10m); 222-9 (67.89m); 221-11 (67.66m); 231-9 (70.64m)
Long Jump – Senior Josh McCullan competed in the men's long jump but did not record a clean attempt.
Alabama Series
McCullan – Foul; Foul; Foul
Women's Event Summaries – Florida Relays- Day 1
Prelims
College 4x400-Meter Relay – The Alabama "B" squad of sophomore Janel Pate, freshman Amanda Crawford, senior Brianna Sims and junior Kaitlin Walker finished eighth in the prelims of the women's college 4x400-meter relay in 3:43.28 to qualify for Saturday's final.
Finals
100-Meter Hurdles – In her first outdoor meet of the season, Vanessa Clerveaux finished 10th in the women's college 100-meter hurdles in 13.39. Â
100 Meters – Freshman Symone Darius finished 11th in the women's 100 meters in a personal-best 11.51. The time is the fastest this season for the Crimson Tide. Junior Olivia Fotopoulou was 24th in 11.73. Sophomore Janel Pate finished 39th in 11.89. Senior Brianna Sims (11.98) and junior Filippa Fotopoulou (12.07) finished 48th and 52nd, respectively.
400 Meters – Senior Alex Gholston finished fourth in the women's 400 meters in 52.79. Senior Domonique Williams was 13th in 53.82. Freshman Amanda Crawford (56.58) and junior Nicole Sassaman (58.67) finished 48th and 62nd, respectively.
800 Meters – Sophomore Kristyn Williams finished 13th in the women's 800 meters in 2:10.00. The time is a season-best for the Crimson Tide. Fellow sophomore Sarah Mohan was 40th in 2:15.00
400-Meter Hurdles – Junior Kaitlin Walker finished 22nd in the women's 400-meter hurdles in a season-best 1:01.16.
1,500 Meters – Freshman Rebecca Buteau finished 31st in the women's 1,500 meters in 4:36.42. Junior Caroline Barlow finished 42nd in 4:41.70.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Junior Jessica Gray finished 11th in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:01.51. The race was her first in the event at the collegiate level.
Discus –Freshman Hannah Chappell finished 22nd in the women's discus with a throw of 137-9 (41.99m). Sophomore Holly Julifs was 24th at 137-2 (41.81m).
Alabama Series
Chappell – Foul; 137-9 (41.99m); 136-0 (41.45m)
Julifs – Foul; 137-2 (41.81m); Foul
Hammer Throw – Junior Danielle McConnell finished eighth in the women's college hammer throw with a personal-best mark of 201-2 (61.33m) on her first attempt of the competition. The effort is the third-best in school history. McConnell also had a later throw in the event of 199-11 (60.95m) that ranks No. 6 all-time at Alabama. McConnell now owns six of the top-10 throws in school history, with four of them coming in the last two weeks.
Alabama Series
McConnell – 201-2 (61.33m); 193-10 (59.10m); Foul; 199-11 (60.95m); 193-11 (59.77m); 194-9 (59.38m)
Pole Vault – Senior Lakan Taylor won the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-9 ¼ (4.20m). Freshman Avery Stuchell competed but did not record a clearance.
Alabama Series
Taylor – 3.70m (Pass); 3.85m (Pass); 4.00m (Pass); 4.10m (o); 4.20m (o); 4.31m (xxx)
Stuchell – 3.70m (xxx)
Long Jump – Sophomore Kiara Williams finished fifth in the long jump with a leap of 19-2 (5.84m). Sophomore Stacey Destin did not record a clean attempt.
Alabama Series
Kiara Williams – 19-2 (5.84m); Foul; 19-2 (5.84m); Foul; Foul; Foul
Destin – Foul; Foul; Foul
Javelin – Freshman Samantha Zelden finished sixth in the women's javelin with a mark of 153-0 (46.63m).
Alabama Series
Zelden – 148-2 (45.17m); Foul; 144-10 (44.16m); 148-7 (44.98m); 153-0 (46.63m); 137-0 (41.77m)
Florida Relays
Friday, March 31, 2017
Alabama Results
Men
Finals
100 Meters – 29. Terry Jernigan, 10.62
400 Meters – 1. Steven Gayle, 45.40 (PB); 34. Skyler Bowden, 48.33
800 Meters – 6. Jacopo Lahbi, 1:47.98 (SB); 51. Andrew Harris, 1:55.08 (SB); 57. Nathan Karr, 1:58.50
1,500 Meters – 16. Payton Ballard, 3:50.54 (SB); 19. Josh Short, 3:51.01 (SB)
Invitational Hammer Throw – 3. Elias Hakansson, 231-9 (70.64m) (SB)
Long Jump – NM. Josh McCullan
Women
Prelims
College 4x400-Meter Relay – 8. Alabama B (Janel Pate, Amanda Crawford, Brianna Sims, Kaitlin Walker), 3:43.28 (q)
Finals
100 Meters – 11. Symone Darius, 11.51 (PB); 24. Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.73 (SB); 39. Janel Pate, 11.89; 48. Brianna Sims, 11.98; 52. Filippa Fotopoulou, 12.07
400 Meters – 4. Alex Gholston, 52.79 (SB); 13. Domonique Williams, 53.82 (SB); 48. Amanda Crawford 56.58; 62. Nicole Sassaman, 58.67
800 Meters – 13. Kristyn Williams, 2:10.00; 40. Sarah Mohan, 2:15.00
110-Meter Hurdles – 10. Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.39 (SB)
400-Meter Hurdles – 22. Kaitlin Walker, 1:01.16 (SB)
1,500 Meters – 31. Rebecca Buteau, 4:36.42; 42. Caroline Barlow, 4:41.70
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 11. Jessica Gray, 11:01.51 (PB)
Discus – 23. Hannah Chappell, 137-9 (41.99m); 24. Holly Julifs, 137-2 (41.81m)
Invitational Hammer Throw – 8. Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m) (PB)
Pole Vault – 1. Lakan Taylor, 13-9 1/4 (4.20m) (SB); NH. Avery Stuchell
Long Jump – 5. Kiara Williams, 19-2 (5.84m); NM. Stacey Destin
Javelin – 6. Samantha Zelden, 153-0 (46.63m)
Men's Event Summaries – Stanford Invitational
Finals
5,000 Meters – Junior Conner Thompson finished seventh in his section of the men's 5,000 meters in a personal-best time of 14:19.39.
Women's Event Summaries – Stanford Invitational
Finals
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Senior Hannah Waggoner finished ninth in the invitational women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:21.12, the eighth-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Nicole Gardner finished 11th in her section of the open steeplechase in 10:51.84.
Stanford Invitational
Friday, March 31, 2017
Alabama Results
Men
Finals
5,000 Meters – Section 7: 7. Conner Thompson, 14:19.39 (PB)
Women
Finals
Invitational 3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 9. Hannah Waggoner, 10:21.12 (SB)
Open 3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Section 3: 11. Nicole Gardner, 10:51.84 (SB)
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Javelin- 6. McLean Lipschutz, 222-2 (67.72m)
Javelin- 9. McLean Lipschutz, 217-5 (66.27m)
400 Meters- 4. Steven Gayle, 45.40
Hammer Throw- 2. Elias Hakansson, 231-9 (70.64m)
Hammer Throw- 8. Elias Hakansson, 227-0 (69.21m)
Women
Hammer Throw- 4. Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
Hammer Throw- 6. Danielle McConnell, 199-11 (60.95m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 8. Hannah Waggoner, 10:21.12
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Personal Bests
Men
Hammer Throw- Jacob Beene, 196-6 (59.89m)
5,000 Meters- Andrew Bull, 14:45.49
5,000 Meters- Garrett Bull, 14:51.41
400 Meters- Steven Gayle, 45.40
5,000 Meters- Conner Thompson, 14:19.39
Women
100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.51
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- Jessica Gray, 11:01.51
Season Bests
Men
Hammer Throw- Jacob Beene, 196-6 (59.89m)
Javelin- Will Edwards, 198-0 (60.36m)
Javelin- McLean Lipschutz, 222-2 (67.72m)
5,000 Meters- Andrew Bull, 14:45.49
5,000 Meters- Garrett Bull, 14:51.41
400 Meters- Steven Gayle, 45.40
800 Meters- Jacopo Lahbi, 1:47.98
800 Meters- Andrew Harris, 1:55.08
Hammer Throw – Elias Hakansson, 231-9 (70.64m)
1,500 Meters- Payton Ballard, 3:50.54
1,500 Meters- Josh Short, 3:51.01
5,000 Meters –Conner Thompson, 14:19.39
Women
110-Meter Hurdles- Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.39
100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.51
100 Meters- Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.73
400 Meters- Alex Gholston, 52.79
400 Meters- Domonique Williams, 53.82
400-Meter Hurdles- 22. Kaitlin Walker, 1:01.16
Pole Vault- Lakan Taylor, 13-9 1/4 (4.20m)
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase –Hannah Waggoner, 10:21.12
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Nicole Gardner, 10:51.84
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- Jessica Gray, 11:01.51
PB- Personal best
SB- Season best
SR- School record
NB- National best
NM- No mark
NH- No height
DNF- Did not finish
DNS- Did not start
Q- Qualified for final with heat win
q- Qualified for final on time
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