Alabama
SEC Outdoor Track & FIeld Championships
Quanesha Burks Wins Third-Straight SEC Outdoor Long Jump Title on Day 2 of the SEC Championships
5/12/2017 10:19:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Crimson Tide continue to hold the lead in the men’s race after a pair of second-place finishes on Friday
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Quanesha Burks capped her stellar Alabama career with a third-straight title in the women's long jump on Day 2 of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of South Carolina's Cregger Track on Friday.
With the win, the Hartselle, Ala., native joins Iris Gronfeldt (Javelin- 1983-84-85-86), Pauline Davis (100 meters- 1986-87-88) and Beth Mallory (Discus- 2004-05-06) as the only Tide women to win three or more SEC outdoor championships in a single event.
After a 30-minute weather delay halted the meet early Friday evening, Burks opened her night with a leap of 22-4 1/2 (6.82m) on her first attempt of in the long jump and saw the mark hold up the rest of the way. She ended her night the way she started, equaling her opening jump on her sixth and final trip down the runway. The winning mark is the fourth-best in school history.
"This one is special because it's my senior year and I really wanted to go out with a bang at the last SEC meet of my life," Burks said. "The best way to do that is as an SEC champion. It's great to finish with a win. Coming in as a freshman I never thought of doing anything like this. This is just amazing."
The delay and threat of inclement weather later in the evening resulted in the schedule being compressed and, as a result, Burks found herself running in the prelims of the 100 meters following her second attempt in the long jump. Despite moving from one event to another, Burks qualified for Saturday's final in 11.21, her second-fastest time of the season.
I couldn't be more proud of Quanesha's efforts today," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "Keeping focus between qualifying in the 100 and trying to win the long jump just shows what a true competitor she is. She's in very elite company as a three-time event champion at Alabama."
In other women's field event finals on Friday, junior Haley Teel finished second in the women's shot put with a mark of 54-6 1/2 (16.62m), the fourth-best mark in school history, and senior Lakan Taylor finished fourth in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-8 1/4 (4.17m). In the lone track final for the Alabama women, senior Hannah Waggoner finished seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:28.70.
In the women's preliminaries, the Crimson Tide advanced in the 1,500 meters and 400 meters in addition to Burks qualifying in the 100. Sophomore Nicole Gardner recorded a personal-best 4:24.26 to advance in the 1,500 meters. Freshman Takyera Roberson (52.51) and senior Domonique Williams (53.05) qualified for the 400 meters final.
Burks' win coupled with the finishes by Teel, Taylor and Waggoner moved the Crimson Tide women into second place with 30 points through seven events heading into the final day of competition on Saturday. Arkansas leads with 73 points, followed by the Tide. Ole Miss is third with 27.5 points. Georgia and Kentucky are tied for fourth with 27 points.
The Alabama discus crew got the Crimson Tide men off to a strong start on Friday with a 2-3-5 finish. Senior Joe Williams finished second with a throw of 195-3 (59.53m), his second-best effort of the season. Sophomore Kord Ferguson finished fourth at 187-5 (57.13m) and sophomore Daniel Haugh finished fifth at 187-3 (57.08m). In the only other men's final involving Alabama, senior Antibahs Kosgei finished second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:54.94 in his first outing in the event since last season's SEC Outdoor Championships.
In men's preliminary action on Friday, Alabama advanced in the 110 hurdles, 1,500 meters and 400 meters. Junior Ruebin Walters reached the final in the hurdles with a time of 13.69. Senior Robbie Farnham-Rose moved on in the 1,500 meters in 3:47.76 and senior Steven Gayle qualified in the 400 meters in 46.08.
The Alabama men continue to lead the team chase, topping the standings with 54 points through eight events. Texas A&M is second with 38. Georgia is third with 35 and Ole Miss and Arkansas are tied for fourth with 31.
"We competed hard on the men's side tonight and did what we needed to do to get to the final session tomorrow," Waters said. "We advanced three more to finals tomorrow so we'll be all over the track on Saturday. I'm very proud of the way Antibahs ran tonight after what he did in the 10,000 meters on Thursday. I was also impressed with the way our discus group battled to get us started. That was big for us."
Day 3 of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will get underway on Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT) with the women's javelin. Running events will begin at 2:15 p.m. with the men's 4x100-meter relay.
Men's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 2
Prelims
110-Meter Hurdles
Junior Ruebin Walters finished fifth in the prelims of the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.69 to advance to Saturday's final. Fellow junior Angelo Goss finished 10th in 14.21 and did not advance.
1,500 Meters
Senior Robbie Farnham-Rose finished seventh in the prelims of the men's 1,500 meters in 3:47.76 to advance to Saturday's final. Senior Payton Ballard finished 17th in 3:51.46 and did not advance.
400 Meters
Senior Steven Gayle finished ninth in the prelims of the men's 400 meters in 46.08 to advance to Saturday's final.
100 Meters
Junior Tony Brown (10.37) and freshman Alize Ford (10.60) finished 11th and 21st in the prelims of the men's 100 meters and did not advance to Saturday's final. The outing was the first for Brown this season.
Finals
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Senior Antibahs Kosgei finished second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:54.94 in his first outing in the event since last season's SEC Outdoor Championships.
Discus
Senior Joe Williams finished second in the men's discus with a throw of 195-3 (59.53m), his second-best throw of the season. Sophomore Kord Ferguson finished fourth at 187-5 (57.13m). Sophomore Daniel Haugh finished fifth at 187-3 (57.08m). Senior Hayden Reed finished 11th with a mark of 175-9 (53.58m).
Alabama Series
- Joe Williams- Foul, 182-5 (55.61m); 186-8 (56.91m); 189-7 (57.79m); 195-3 (59.53m); Foul
- Ferguson- Foul; Foul; 183-6 (55.95m); 187-5 (57.13m); Foul; Foul
- Haugh- 178-0 (54.27m); Foul; Foul; Foul; 187-3 (57.08m); 181-10 (55.42m)
- Reed- 149-11 (45.70m); 163-11 (49.70m); 175-9 (53.58m)
Women's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 2
Prelims
1,500 Meters
Sophomore Nicole Gardner finished ninth in the prelims of the women's 1,500 meters in a personal-best 4:24.26 to advance to Saturday's final. Freshman Rebecca Buteau finished 20th in 4:38.16 and did not advance.
400 Meters
Freshman Takyera Roberson (52.51) and senior Domonique Williams (53.05) finished third and seventh, respectively, in the prelims of the women's 400 meters to advance to Saturday's final. Roberson's time is a personal-best.
100 Meters
Senior Quanesha Burks finished fourth in the prelims of the women's 100 meters in 11.21 to advance to Saturday's final. Burks' time is her second-fastest this season.
Finals
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Senior Hannah Waggoner finished seventh in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:28.70.
Pole Vault
Senior Lakan Taylor finished fourth in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-8 1/4 (4.17m).
Alabama Series
- Taylor – 12-8 1/4 (3.87m) (Pass); 13-2 ¼ (4.02m) (xxo); 13-8 ¼ (4.17m) (o); 14-0 (4.27m) (xxx)
Long Jump
Senior Quanesha Burks captured her third consecutive SEC outdoor long jump title with a leap of 22-4 1/2 (6.82m) on her first attempt of the competition. Burks would go on to equal that jump on her final attempt of the evening. The mark is the fourth-best in school history. Junior Filippa Fotopoulou finished 11th at 20-4 1/4 (6.20m). Sophomore Kiara Williams finished 12th at 20-0 1/4 (6.10m)
Alabama Series
- Burks – 22-4 1/2 (6.82m); 22-1 (6.73m); Pass; 20-7 1/4 (6.28m); 22-1 (6.73m); 22-4 1/2 (6.82m)
- Filippa Fotopoulou – 20-3 (6.17m); Foul; 20-4 1/4 (6.20m)
- Kiara Williams – 19-2 (5.84m); 20-0 1/4 (6.10m); 19-10 3/4 (6.06m)
Shot Put
Junior Haley Teel finished second in the women's shot put with a mark of 54-6 1/2 (16.62m), the fourth-best mark in school history.
Alabama Series
- Teel- 54-6 1/2 (16.62m); Foul; 52-2 3/4 (15.92m); Foul; 54-1 (16.48m); 51-9 1/4 (15.78m)
SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Friday, May 12, 2017
Columbia, S.C. (University of South Carolina)
Alabama Results
Men
Team Scoring
- 1. ALABAMA- 54
- 2. Texas A&M- 38
- 3. Georgia- -35
- 4t. Arkansas- 31
- 4t. Ole Miss- 31
Prelims
- 100 Meters- 11. Tony Brown, 10.37; 21. Alize Ford, 10.60 Â Â
- 400 Meters- 9. Steven Gayle, 46.08 (q)
- 1,500 Meters- 7. Robbie Farnham-Rose, 3:47.76 (Q); 17. Payton Ballard, 3:51.46Â
- 110-Meter Hurdles- 5. Ruebin Walters, 13.69 (Q); 10. Angelo Goss, 14.21
Finals
- 3,000-Meter Steeplechase- 2. Antibahs Kosgei, 8:54.94; DNF. Josh Short
- Discus- 2. Joe Williams, 195-3 (59.53m); 4. Kord Ferguson, 187-5 (57.13m); 5. Daniel Haugh, 187-3 (57.08m); 11. Hayden Reed, 175-9 (53.58m)
Women
Team Scoring
- 1. Arkansas- 73
- 2. ALABAMA- 30
- 3. Ole Miss- 27.5
- 4t. Georgia- 27
- 5t. Kentucky-27
Prelims
- 100 Meters- 4. Quanesha Burks, 11.21 (q); 16. Diamond Gause, 11.46; 22. Janel Pate, 11.65; 29. Olivia Fotopoulou; 11.81
- 400 Meters- 3. Takyera Roberson, 52.51 (Q) (PB); 7. Domonique Williams, 53.05 (q); 10. Alex Gholston, 53.37; 22. Symone Darius, 54.82 (PB)
- 1,500 Meters- 9. Nicole Gardner, 4:24.46 (Q) (PB); 20. Rebecca Buteau, 4:38.16Â
Finals
- 3,000-Meter Steeplechase- 7. Hannah Waggoner, 10:28.70
- Pole Vault- 4. Lakan Taylor, 13-8 1/4 (4.17m)
- Long Jump- 1. Quanesha Burks, 22-4 1/2 (6.82m); 11. Filippa Fotopoulou, 20-4 1/4 (6.20m); 12. Kiara Williams, 20-0 1/4 (6.10m)
- Shot Put- 2. Haley Teel, 54-6 1/2 (16.62m)
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)
- Long Jump- 4. Quanesha Burks, 22-4 1/2 (6.82m)
- Shot Put- 4. Haley Teel, 54-6 1/2 (16.62m)
- Shot Put- 6. Haley Teel, 54-1 (16.48m)
Personal Bests
Men
- 200 Meters- Jereem Richards, 19.98w
- 200 Meters- Will Allen, 20.82w
- 400-Meter Hurdles- Ruebin Walters, 52.74
Women
- 200 Meters- Olivia Fotopoulou, 23.81
- 1,500 Meters- Nicole Gardner, 4:24.46
- 400 Meters- Symone Darius, 54.82
Season Bests
Men
- 200 Meters- Skyler Bowden, 21.59w
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
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