Alabama
NCAA East Regional
Alabama Qualifies Eight Athletes on Day One of NCAA Track & Field East Regional
5/25/2017 10:03:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
McConnell, Lipschutz, Taylor, Burks, Fotopoulou, Zelden, Chelanga and Kosgei punch tickets to the NCAA Championships on Thursday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Alabama Crimson Tide qualified eight athletes to the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and advanced eight others to the quarterfinals on the opening day of the NCAA Track & Field East Regional at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Complex in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday.
Qualifying for the women were junior Danielle McConnell in the hammer throw, senior Lakan Taylor in the pole vault, senior Quanesha Burks and junior Filippa Fotopoulou in the long jump and freshman Samantha Zelden in the javelin. Men's qualifiers included senior McLean Lipschutz in the javelin and junior Alfred Chelanga and senior Antibahs Kosgei in the 10,000 meters.
McConnell posted three throws beyond 200 feet to advance to the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw for the second time in her career. Her opening throw of 207-2 (63.15m) was good enough for fourth place and ranks as the second-longest throw in school history. She also posted the third- and ninth-longest throws in UA history in the competition. McConnell has now recorded seven of the top-10 marks in Alabama history this season.
Burks (21.11/6.88m) and Fotopoulou (20-9 ¼/6.33m) finished second and 10th, respectively, in the long jump. Burks, who won the 2015 NCAA outdoor long jump title, is making her fourth appearance at the NCAA meet. Fotopoulou has qualified for the second time in her career. Taylor qualified with a seventh-place finish in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-9 ¼ (4.20m). This will be Taylor's second trip to the NCAA meet. Zelden finished third in the javelin with a personal-best mark of 172-7 (52.60m) to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time in her career. The mark is the third-best in school history.
Lipschutz finished seventh in the men's javelin with a mark of 219-10 (67.02m) to advance to the NCAA meet for the first time in his career at Alabama. Chelanga (29:59.98) and Kosgei (30:02.96) finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in the men's 10,000 meters to qualify. Chelanga is making his first trip to the NCAA meet. Kosgei will be competing for the second time.
"I thought it was a good day," head coach Dan Waters said. "We came in very focused and did what we expected to do. If we carry the focus and effort over to the next two days we have a chance to have a good meet."
In men's preliminary round action, senior Robbie Farnham-Rose advanced to Saturday's quarterfinals in the men's 1,500 meters with a first place finish in his heat in a time of 3:50.06. Junior Tony Brown finished third in his heat and 10th overall in the first round of the men's 100 meters in a personal-best and Alabama season-best 10.27 to advance to Friday's quarterfinals. Senior Steven Gayle won his heat and finished fourth overall in the first round of the men's 400 meters in 46.35 to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
In women's preliminaries, freshman Symone Darius (11.31) and Burks (11.44) advanced to Friday's quarterfinals in the women's 100 meters. Darius' time is a personal-best. Senior Domonique Williams (52.56), freshman Takyera Roberson (53.29) and senior Alex Gholston (53.93) all advanced to Friday's quarterfinals in the women's 400 meters.
Day 2 of the NCAA East Regional will get underway at 1 p.m. CT on Friday with the women's discus. Running events will start at 3:30 p.m. with the women's 100-meter hurdles.
Men's Event Summaries – NCAA Track & Field East Regional- Day 1
Semifinals
10,000 Meters – Junior Alfred Chelanga (29:59.98) and senior Antibahs Kosgei (30:02.96) finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in the men's 10,000 meters to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Chelanga is making his first trip to the NCAA meet. Kosgei will be competing for the second time.
First Round
1,500 Meters – Senior Robbie Farnham-Rose advanced to Saturday's quarterfinals in the men's 1,500 meters with a first place finish in his heat in a time of 3:50.06.
100 Meters – Junior Tony Brown finished third in his heat and 10th overall in the first round of the men's 100 meters in a personal-best and Alabama season-best 10.27 to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
400 Meters – Senior Steven Gayle won his heat and finished fourth overall in the first round of the men's 400 meters in 46.35 to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
Javelin – Senior McLean Lipschutz finished seventh in the men's javelin with a mark of 219-10 (67.02m) to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career at Alabama.
Alabama Series
Lipschutz – 219-10 (67.02m); Foul; 211-11 (67.96m)
Hammer Throw – Senior Elias Hakansson finished 13th in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 218-4 (66.56m) and did not advance to the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Daniel Haugh finished 18th with a mark of 214-1 (65.26m).
Alabama Series
Hakansson – Foul; Foul; 218-4 (66.56m)
Haugh – Foul; 214-1 (65.26m); Foul
Women's Event Summaries – NCAA Track & Field East Regional- Day 1
Semifinals
10,000 Meters – Freshman Hannah Capek finished 30th in the women's 10,000 meters in 35:14.69 and did not advance to the NCAA Championships.
First Round
400-Meter Hurdles – Junior Kaitlin Walker finished 29th in 1:00.29 in the first round of the women's 400-meter hurdles and did not advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
100 Meters – Freshman Symone Darius (11.31) and senior Quanesha Burks (11.44) advanced to Friday's quarterfinals in the women's 100 meters. Darius' time is a personal-best.
400 Meters – Senior Domonique Williams (52.56), freshman Takyera Roberson (53.29) and senior Alex Gholston (53.93) all advanced to Friday's quarterfinals in the women's 400 meters.
800 Meters – Sophomore Kristyn Williams finished 33rd in the first round of the women's 800 meters in 2:09.88 and did not advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
Hammer Throw – Junior Danielle McConnell posted three throws beyond 200 feet and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the second time in her career. McConnell's opening throw of 207-2 (63.15m) was good enough for fourth place and ranks as the second-longest throw in school history. McConnell also posted the third- and ninth-longest throws in UA history in the competition. She has now recorded seven of the top-10 marks in Alabama history this season.
Alabama Series
McConnell – 204-6 (62.34m); 207-2 (63.15m); 200-6 (61.11m);
Javelin – Freshman Samantha Zelden finished third in the women's javelin with a personal-best mark of 172-7 (52.60m) to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time in her career. The mark is the third-best in school history.
Alabama Series
Zelden – 156-11 (47.84m); 172-7 (52.60m); 155-10 (47.50m)
Pole Vault – Senior Lakan Taylor qualified for the NCAA Championships with a seventh-place finish in the women's pole vault. Taylor was among a group of nine vaulters who cleared 13-9 ¼ (4.20m). This will be Taylor's second trip to the NCAA meet. She earned second team All-America honors in 2014.
Alabama Series
Taylor – 12-5 ½ (3.80m) (Pass); 12-11 ½ (3.95m) (o); 13-5 ¼ (4.10m) (xo); 13-9 ¼ (4.20m) (xo)
Long Jump – Senior Quanesha Burks (21.11/6.88m) and junior Filippa Fotopoulou (20-9 ¼/6.33m) finished second and 10th, respectively, in the women's long jump to advance to the NCAA Championships. Burks, who won the 2015 outdoor long jump title, is making her fourth appearance at the NCAA meet. Fotopoulou has qualified for the second time in her career.
Alabama Series
Burks – 21-11 (6.68m); Pass; Pass
Filippa Fotopoulou – 20-9 ¼ (6.33m); 20-5 ¼ (6.23m); Foul
Kiara Williams – 18-11 ¼ (5.77m); 19-9 ¾ (6.04m)
NCAA Track & Field East Regional
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Lexington, Ky. (University of Kentucky)
Alabama Results
Men
100 Meters First Round- 10. Tony Brown, 10.27 (PB) (Q)
400 Meters First Round- 4. Steven Gayle, 46.35 (Q)
1,500 Meters First Round- 9. Robbie Farnham-Rose, 3:50.06 (Q)
10,000 Meters Semifinals- 8. Alfred Chelanga, 29:59.98#; 10. Antibahs Kosgei, 30:02.96#; 41. Conner Thompson, 31:34.63
Hammer Throw First Round- 13. Elias Hakansson, 218-4 (66.56m); 18. Daniel Haugh, 214-1 (65.26m)
Javelin First Round- 7. McLean Lipschutz, 219-10 (67.02m)#
Women
100 Meters First Round- 8. Symone Darius, 11.31 (PB) (Q); 15. Quanesha Burks, 11.44 (Q); 27. Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.64
400 Meters First Round- 2. Domonique Williams, 52.56 (Q); 11. Takyera Roberson, 53.29 (Q); 23. Alex Gholston, 53.93 (q)
800 Meters First Round- 33. Kristyn Williams, 2:09.88
10,000 Meters Semifinals- 30. Hannah Capek, 35:14.69
400-Meter Hurdles First Round- 29. Kaitlin Walker, 1:00.29
Pole Vault First Round- 7. Lakan Taylor, 13-9 ¼ (4.20m)#
Long Jump First Round- 2. Quanesha Burks, 21-11 (6.68m)#; 10. Filippa Fotopoulou, 20-9 ¼ (6.33m)#; 24. Kiara Williams, 19-9 ¾ (6.04m)
Hammer Throw First Round- 4. Danielle McConnell, 207-2 (63.15m) (PB)#
Javelin First Round- 3. Samantha Zelden, 172-7 (52.60m) (PB)#
Alabama NCAA Qualifiers
Men
Javelin- McLean Lipschutz
10,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga
10,000 Meters- Antibahs Kosgei
Women
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell
Pole Vault- Lakan Taylor
Long Jump- Quanesha Burks
Long Jump- Filippa Fotopoulou
Javelin- Samantha Zelden
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Women
Hammer Throw – 2. Danielle McConnell, 207-2 (63.15m)
Hammer Throw – 3. Danielle McConnell, 204-6 (62.34m)
Hammer Throw – 9. Danielle McConnell, 200-6 (61.11m)
Javelin - 3. Samantha Zelden, 172-7 (52.60m)
Personal Bests
Men
100 Meters- Tony Brown, 10.27
Women
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 207-2 (63.15m)
100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.31
Javelin - Samantha Zelden, 172-7 (52.60m)
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
#- Advanced to NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Q- Qualified for next round with heat finish
q- Qualified for next round with heat time
w- Wind above allowable
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Players Mentioned
