Alabama
SEC Outdoor Track & FIeld Championships
Chelanga & Kosgei Finish 1-2 in Men’s 10,000 Meters to Highlight Opening Day of SEC Track & Field Championships
5/11/2017 10:18:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Richards runs fastest prelim time in men’s 200 meters; Lipschutz posts best UA finish in javelin since 1996
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Alfred Chelanga and Antibahs Kosgei finished 1-2 in the men's 10,000 meters and Jereem Richards blazed to the fastest preliminary time in the 200 meters to highlight a strong first day by Alabama at the 2017 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of South Carolina's Cregger Track on Thursday.
Chelanga (30:25.24) edged Kosgei (30:25.27) at the finish line in the 10,000 meters as the two out-kicked Jacob Thomson of Kentucky over the last 400 meters. Chelanga covered the 24th and final lap in 58.88 while Kosgei circled the track for the final time in 58.76 to pull away from the 2016 10,000-meter champion. Chelanga's victory is the first for Alabama in the 10,000 meters since Tyson David won the event in 2008 and 2009.
In preliminary action, Richards posted the fastest time in the men's 200 meters in a wind-aided 19.98 to easily advance to Saturday's final. Richards' time is the fastest run under any conditions in Alabama history.
In the men's field events, senior McLean Lipschutz finished third in the men's javelin with a throw of 243-10 (74.32m), the sixth-best throw in school history. The finish is the first top-three placing for Alabama in the javelin since Mats Nilsson won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. Senior Elias Hakansson started the day off for the Tide with a fourth-place finish in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 227-4 (69.31m), equaling the ninth-best throw in school history.
The performances in the 10,000 and the throws gave Alabama the lead in the men's team race with 29 points. Georgia and Texas A&M are tied for second with 16 points. Missouri (13) and Ole Miss (11) round out the top five.
"We're excited about the victory in the 10,000 meters and finishing 1-2 is a big deal," head coach Dan Waters said. "There are always some ups and downs in any meet like this but I like where we're at after the first day. We're happy to be in the lead on the men's side and we beat the form chart in a several places on the women's side too. We're competing very hard. We just need to stay focused the rest of the way."
In women's finals on Thursday, junior Danielle McConnell finished fourth in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 200-9 (61.19m), the fifth-best throw in school history. In the only running event final for the women on Thursday, freshman Hannah Capek finished 12th in the 10,000 meters in 35:59.40.
The Alabama women are currently in eighth place with five points in the team race. Ole Miss leads with 15 points. Georgia is second with 13 points. Missouri and Tennessee are tied for third with 10 points. Arkansas rounds out the top five with 8 points.
Day 2 of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will get underway for Alabama on Friday at 3 p.m. (CT) with the men's discus. Running events will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the prelims of the men's 110-meter hurdles.
Men's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 1
Prelims
800 Meters
Senior Andrew Harris finished 19th in the men's 800 meters in 1:55.94 and did not advance to Saturday's final.
200 Meters
Junior Jereem Richards posted the fastest time in the prelims of the men's 200 meters at 19.98 to advance to Saturday's final. Richards' time is the fastest run under any conditions in Alabama history but is not a school record as the wind was above the allowable 2.0. Freshman Will Allen finished 16th at 20.82. Sophomore Skyler Bowden finished 29th in 21.59.
400-Meter Hurdles
Junior Ruebin Walters finished 10th in the prelims of the men's 400-meter hurdles in season-best 52.74 and did not advance to Saturday's final.
Finals
10,000 Meters
Junior Alfred Chelanga and senior Antibahs Kosgei finished 1-2 in the men's 10,000 meters to close out the day for the Tide men on Thursday. Chelanga (30:25.24) just edged Kosgei (30:25.27) at the finish line as the two out-kicked 2016 SEC 10,000-meter champion Jacob Thomson of Kentucky over the last 400 meters. Chelanga covered the 24th and final lap in 58.88 while Kosgei circled the track for the final time in 58.76. The victory is the first for Alabama in the 10,000 meters since Tyson David won the event in 2008 and 2009.
Hammer Throw
Senior Elias Hakansson started the day off for the Crimson Tide with a fourth-place finish in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 227-4 (69.31m), equaling the ninth-best throw in school history. Sophomore Daniel Haugh finished 13th with a throw of 202-4 (61.69m)
Alabama Series
- Hakansson – 221-9 (67.60m); 227-4 (69.31m); 223-1 (68.01m); Foul; 220-1 (67.09m); Foul
- Haugh – Foul; 201-6 (61.43m); 202-4 (61.69m)
Javelin
Senior McLean Lipschutz finished third in the men's javelin with a throw of 243-10 (74.32m), the sixth-best throw in school history. Lipschutz also had a mark of 241-1 (73.49m) earlier in the competition that ranks No. 7 all-time at Alabama. The finish is the first top-three placing for Alabama in the javelin since Mats Nilsson won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997.
Alabama Series
- Lipschutz- 227-1 (69.23m); 241-1 (73.49m); 231-9 (70.64m); Foul; 243-10 (74.32m); Foul
Women's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 1
Prelims
800 Meters
Sophomore Kristyn Williams finished 14th in the prelims of the women's 800 meters in 2:08.87 and did not advance to Saturday's final.
200 Meters
Senior Diamond Gause finished 10th in the prelims of the women's 200 meters in a season-best 23.01. Junior Olivia Fotopoulou finished 27th in a personal-best 23.81. Sophomore Janel Pate finished 29th in 23.83.
400-Meter Hurdles
Junior Kaitlin Walker finished 14th in the prelims of the women's 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.61 and did not advance to Saturday's final.
Finals
10,000 Meters
Freshman Hannah Capek finished 12th in the 10,000 meters in 35:59.40.
Hammer Throw
Junior Danielle McConnell finished fourth in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 200-9 (61.19m), the fifth-best throw in school history. McConnell now owns seven of the best throws in school history, six of which she has posted this season.
Alabama Series
- McConnell – 198-4 (60.45m); 194-0 (59.13m); 192-2 (58.58m); 200-9 (61.19m); 197-2 (60.11m); Foul
SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Columbia, S.C. (University of South Carolina)
Alabama Results
Men
Team Scoring
- 1. ALABAMA- 29
- 2t. Georgia- 16
- 2t. Texas A&M- 16
- 4. Missouri- 13
- 5. Ole Miss-11
Prelims
- 200 Meters- 1. Jereem Richards, 19.98w (Q) (PB); 16. Will Allen, 20.82w (PB); 29. Skyler Bowden, 21.59w
- 800 Meters- 19. Andrew Harris, 1:55.94
- 400-Meter Hurdles- 10. Ruebin Walters, 52.74 (SB)
Finals
- 10,000 Meters- 1. Alfred Chelanga, 30:25.24; 2. Antibahs Kosgei, 30:25.27; 9. Conner Thompson, 31:10.30; DNF. Andrew Bull
- Hammer Throw- 4. Elias Hakansson, 227-4 (69.31m); 13. Daniel Haugh, 202-4 (61.69m)
- Javelin- 3. McLean Lipschutz, 243-10 (74.32m)
Women
Team Scoring
- 1. Ole Miss- 15
- 2. Georgia- 13
- 3t. Missouri 10
- 3t. Tennessee- 10
- 5. Arkansas- 8
- 8. ALABAMA- 5
Prelims
- 200 Meters- 10. Diamond Gause, 23.01w (SB); 27. Olivia Fotopoulou, 23.81 (PB); 29. Janel Pate, 23.83
- 800 Meters- 14. Kristyn Williams, 2:08.87
- 400-Meter Hurdles- 14. Kaitlin Walker, 1:01.61
Finals
- 10,000 Meters- 12. Hannah Capek, 35:59.40; DNF. Elisabeth Danis; DNF. Rachael Reddy
- Hammer Throw- 4. Danielle McConnell, 200-9 (61.19m)
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
- Hammer Throw- 9t. Elias Hakansson, 227-4 (69.31m)
- Javelin- 6. McLean Lipschutz, 243-10 (74.32m)
- Javelin- 7. McLean Lipschutz, 241-1 (73.49m)
Women
- Hammer Throw- 5. Danielle McConnell, 200-9 (61.19m)
Personal Bests
Men
- 200 Meters- Jereem Richards, 19.98w
- 200 Meters- Will Allen, 20.82w
Women
- 200 Meters- Olivia Fotopoulou, 23.81
Season Bests
Men
- 400-Meter Hurdles- Ruebin Walters, 52.74
Women
- 200 Meters- Diamond Gause, 23.01w
Key
- 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
- w- wind-aided (wind above 2.0)
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Players Mentioned
