Quanesha Burks and Jereem Richards Post Victories for Alabama Track & Field on Opening Day of SEC Relays
4/28/2017 9:18:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Burks records No. 2 long jump in UA history; Richards rolls to win in 400 meters in outdoor season debut
BATON ROUGE, La. – Quanesha Burks won the women's long jump and Jereem Richards sprinted to victory in the men's 400 meters to lead the Alabama track & field teams on the opening day of the SEC Relays at LSU's Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
Burks, the national leader in the women's long jump, leapt to a winning mark of 22-7 ¾ (6.90m) on her second attempt of the competition and saw the mark hold up for the win and establish a new No. 2 jump in school history, just behind her own Alabama record of 22-9 9 (6.93m) set in 2015. Her win led a strong showing by the Tide's women's long jump squad on Friday. Junior Filippa Fotopoulou finished fourth with a jump of 21-2 ½ (6.46m) while sophomore Kiara Williams finished fifth at 20-11 ¾ (6.39m). The marks are personal-bests for Fotopoulou and Williams.
In his outdoor season debut, Richards won the men's 400 meters in a time of 45.47. The junior's time is the sixth-fastest in school history and equals the seventh-fastest time in the NCAA this season.
In other action on Day 1 in Baton Rouge, sophomore Will Herrscher finished second in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 17-9 ¼ (5.42m), the No. 2 pole vault mark all-time at Alabama. Herrscher has now recorded the second-, third- and fourth-best vaults in school history this season. Sophomore Kord Ferguson posted a top-10 school mark as he finished second in the men's discus with a personal-best throw of 201-7 (61.44m). The throw is the eighth-best in school history and is currently the sixth-best effort in the country this season.
Juniors Haley Teel and Danielle McConnell and freshman Takyera Roberson also posted school top-10 marks on Friday. Teel finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 171-9 (52.34m), the sixth-best mark on the Alabama list. Roberson finished fifth in the 200 meters in 23.23, which ranks No. 10 all-time at Alabama. McConnell finished fourth in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 198-11 ¾ (60.65m), the ninth-best throw in school history.
"I thought our women's long jumpers did a tremendous job on what was a very tricky day to jump," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "They finished with two personal-bests and a near-school record. That was great to see. We just need to carry that momentum into Saturday and finish the meet in a positive fashion."
Day 2 of the SEC Relays will get underway on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (CT) with the men's hammer throw. Running events will begin at noon with the women's 4x100-meter relay.
Men's Event Summaries – SEC Relays- Day 1
Finals
110-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters finished second in the men's 110-meter hurdles in a season-best 13.52. Junior Angelo Goss finished fifth in 14.08.
400 Meters – In his outdoor season debut, junior Jereem Richards won the men's 400 meters in a time of 45.47. The time is the sixth-fastest in school history and equals the seventh-fastest time in the NCAA this season.
4x800-Meter Relay – The team of senior Andrew Harris, freshmen Noah Karr and Patrick Grant and sophomore Clay Austell finished fifth in the men's 4x800-meter relay in a time of 7:51.98.
400-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters finished seventh in the men's 400-meters in a time of 54.36.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Freshman J.P. Brinyark finished fourth in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:41.40 in his first collegiate outing in the event.
200 Meters – Freshman Will Allen was the third collegiate finisher in the men's 200 meters in a personal-best time of 20.96. Junior Terry Jernigan finished ninth in 21.42. Sophomore Skyler Bowden finished 12th in 21.83.
Discus – Sophomore Kord Ferguson finished second in the men's discus with a personal-best throw of 201-7 (61.44m), the eighth-best mark in school history and is currently the sixth-best effort in the country this season. Senior Joe Williams finished fourth at 184-2 ¾ (56.15m).
Alabama Series
Ferguson – Foul; 179-1 ¾ (54.60m); 201-7 (61.44m); Foul; 184-7 ½ (56.27m); Foul
Joe Williams – 173-11 ¾ (53.03m); 184-2 ¾ (56.15m); Foul; 178-10 ½ (54.52m); Foul; Foul
Pole Vault – Sophomore Will Herrscher finished second in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 17-9 ¼ (5.42m), the second-best mark in school history. Herrscher has now recorded the second-, third- and fourth-best vaults in school history this season. Sophomore Jake Zalesky finished seventh with a clearance of 16-1 ¾ (4.92m).
Alabama Series
Herrscher- 14-2 (4.32m) (Pass); 15-0 (4.57m) (Pass); 15-7 ¾ (4.77m) (Pass); 16-1 ¾ (4.92m); 16-7 ½ (5.07m) (Pass); 17-1 ½ (5.22m) (xo); 17-5 ½ (5.32m) (o); 17-9 ¼ (5.42m) (o); 17-11 ¼ (5.47m) (Pass); 18-1 ¼ (5.52m) (x)
Zalesky- 14-2 (4.32m) (Pass); 15-0 (4.57m) (Pass); 15-7 ¾ (4.77m) (xxo); 16-1 ¾ (4.92m) (xxo); 16-7 ½ (5.07m) (xxx)
Women's Event Summaries – SEC Relays- Day 2
Finals
Sprint Medley Relay – The quartet of junior Olivia Fotopoulou, senior Brianna Sims and sophomores Janel Pate and Kristyn Williams finished fifth in the sprint medley relay in a season-best 3:51.84.
100-Meter Hurdles – Senior Vanessa Clerveaux did not finish in the women's 100-meter hurdles.
400 Meters – Freshman Amanda Crawford finished 11th in the women's 400 meters in a personal-best 56.13
400-Meter Hurdles – Junior Kaitlin Walker finished eighth in the women's 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.21.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Junior Jessica Gray finished fifth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:26.24.
200 Meters – Freshman Takyera Roberson finished fifth in the women's 200 meters in 23.23, the 10th-fastest time in school history. Senior Diamond Gause finished 11th in 23.42.
5,000 Meters- Freshman Hannah Capek finished seventh in the women's 5,000 meters in 17:58.81. Sophomore Rachael Reddy finished ninth in 18:07.07.
Discus – Junior Haley Teel finished fourth in the discus with a season-best mark of 171-9 (52.34m) on her final throw of the competition, the sixth-best mark in school history. Freshman Hannah Chappell finished seventh with a personal-best of 158-10 (48.42m). Sophomore Holly Julifs finished eighth at a season-best 153-11 (46.92m).
Alabama Series
Teel – 149-1 (45.44m); 156-0 (47.56m); Foul; 162-10 (49.64m); 162-6 (49.54m); 171-9 (52.34m)
Chappell – 148-6 (45.28m); 151-5 (46.16m); 158-10 (48.42m); 151-11 (46.30m); 150-4 (45.82m); 157-10 (48.12m)
Julifs – 137-5 (41.88m); Foul; 148-8 (45.32m); Foul; Foul; 153-11 (46.92m)
High Jump – Stacey Destin finished second in the women's high jump with a clearance of 5-11 ½ (1.82m).
Alabama Series
Destin- 4-11 (1.50m) (Pass); 5-1 (1.55m) (Pass); 5-3 (1.60m) (Pass); 5-5 (1.65m) (Pass); 5-7 (1.70m) (o); 5-8 ¾ (1.75m) (xo); 5-10 ½ (1.79m) (xo); 5-11 ½ (1.82m) (xo); 6-0 ¾ (1.85) (xxx)
Long Jump – Senior Quanesha Burks won the women's long jump with a mark of 22-7 ¾ (6.90m), the second-longest jump in school history. Junior Filippa Fotopoulou finished fourth with a personal-best of 21-2 ½ (6.46m). Sophomore Kiara Williams finished fifth with a personal-best jump of 20-11 ¾ (6.39m).
Alabama Series
Burks- 20-7 ¼ (6.28m); 22-7 ¾ (6.90m); 22-2 1/3 (6.76m); 21-10 (6.65m); 22-2 ½ (6.77m)
F. Fotopoulou- 21-0 (6.40m); 21-2 ½ (6.46m); 20-3 ½ (6.18m); Pass, Pass, Pass
Kiara Williams – 19-2 ¾ (5.86m); 20-1 (6.12m); Foul; 19-2 ¾ (5.86m); 20-11 ¾ (6.39m); 19-8 ¼ (6.00m)
Hammer Throw – Junior Danielle McConnell finished fourth in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 198-11 ¾ (60.65m), the ninth-best throw in school history.
Alabama Series
McConnell – Foul; 196-9 ½ (59.98m); 198-11 ¾ (60.65m); Foul; 197-7 (60.22m); Foul
SEC Relays
Friday, April 28, 2017
Baton Rouge, La. (Louisiana State University)
Alabama Results
Men
200 Meters- 3. Will Allen, 20.96 (PB); 9. Terry Jernigan, 21.42; 12. Skyler Bowden, 21.83
400 Meters- 1. Jereem Richards, 45.47 (PB)
110-Meter Hurdles – 2. Ruebin Walters, 13.52 (PB); 5. Angelo Goss, 14.08
400-Meter Hurdles- 7. Ruebin Walters, 54.36
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- 4. J.P. Brinyark, 9:41.40
4x800-Meter Relay- 5. Alabama (Andrew Harris, Noah Karr, Patrick Grant, Clay Austell), 7:51.98 (SB)
Discus- 2. Kord Ferguson, 201-7 (61.44m) (PB); 4. Joe Williams, 184-2 ¾ (56.15m)
Pole Vault- 2. Will Herrscher, 17-9 1/4 (5.42m) (PB); 7. Jake Zalesky, 16-1 ¾ (4.92m)
Women
200 Meters- 5. Takyera Roberson, 23.23; 11. Diamond Gause, 23.42; 14. Symone Darius, 23.72 (PB); 20. Domonique Williams, 24.08; 23. Brianna Sims, 24.29; 29. Nicole Sassaman, 25.39 (PB)
400 Meters- 11. Amanda Crawford, 56.13 (PB)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- 5. Jessica Gray, 11:26.24; DNF. Hannah Waggoner
5,000-Meters- 7. Hannah Capek, 17:58.81; 9. Rachael Reddy, 18:07.07
100-Meter Hurdles – DNF. Vanessa Clerveaux
400-Meter Hurdles- 8. Kaitlin Walker, 1:01.21
Sprint Medley Relay- 5. Alabama (Olivia Fotopoulou, Brianna Sims, Janel Pate, Kristyn Williams), 3:51.84 (SB)
Discus- 4. Haley Teel, 171-9 (52.34m) (SB); 7. Hannah Chappell, 158-10 (48.42m) (PB); 8. Holly Julifs, 153-11 (46.92m) (SB)
High Jump- 2. Stacey Destin, 5-11 ½ (1.82m)
Long Jump- 1. Quanesha Burks, 22-7 ¾ (6.90m); 4. Filippa Fotopoulou, 21-2 1/2 (6.46m) (PB); 5. Kiara Williams, 20-11 ¾ (6.39m.) (PB)
Hammer Throw- 4. Danielle McConnell, 198-11 ¾ (60.65m)
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Discus- 8. Kord Ferguson, 201-7 (61.44m)
400 Meters- 6. Jereem Richards, 45.47
Pole Vault- 2. Will Herrscher, 17-9 1/4 (5.42m)
Women
Discus- 6. Haley Teel, 171-9 (52.34m)
Hammer Throw- 9. Danielle McConnell, 198-11 ¾ (60.65m)
Long Jump- 2. Quanesha Burks, 22-7 ¾ (6.90m)
200 Meters- 10. Takyera Roberson, 23.23
Personal Bests
Men
Discus- Kord Ferguson, 201-7 (61.44m)
110-Meter Hurdles – Ruebin Walters, 13.52
400 Meters- Jereem Richards, 45.47
Pole Vault- Will Herrscher, 17-9 1/4 (5.42m)
Women
Discus- Hannah Chappell, 158-10 (48.42m)
400 Meters- Amanda Crawford, 56.13
Long Jump- Filippa Fotopoulou, 21-2 1/2 (6.46m)
Long Jump- Kiara Williams, 20-11 ¾ (6.39m.)
200 Meters- Symone Darius, 23.72
200 Meters- Nicole Sassaman, 25.39
Season Bests
Men
4x800-Meter Relay- Alabama (Andrew Harris, Noah Karr, Patrick Grant, Clay Austell), 7:51.98
400-Meter Hurdles- Ruebin Walters, 54.36
Women
Discus- Holly Julifs, 153-11 (46.92m)
Sprint Medley Relay- Alabama (Olivia Fotopoulou, Brianna Sims, Janel Pate, Kristyn Williams), 3:51.84
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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