Alabama
NCAA East Regional
Gayle, Burks Headline Alabama Performance on Second Day of the NCAA Track & Field East Regional
5/26/2017 8:57:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Crimson Tide qualify for NCAA Championships in six more events on Friday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Quanesha Burks qualified for the 100 meters and Steven Gayle sprinted to the second-fastest 400 meters time in Alabama history to headline the Crimson Tide's day at the NCAA Track & Field East Regional at the University of Kentucky Track & Field Complex in Lexington, Ky., on Friday.
Alabama advanced six athletes to the NCAA Championships in addition to Burks becoming a double qualifier on the second day of the regional meet. The senior had previously advanced in the long jump on Thursday evening. Qualifying for the men on Friday were Gayle in the 400 meters, junior Tony Brown in the 100 meters and sophomore Will Herrscher in the pole vault. Women's qualifiers included Burks in the 100 meters, Domonique Williams and Takyera Roberson in the 400 meters and Stacey Destin in the high jump.
Alabama has now qualified 14 athletes in 12 events for the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the first two days of the East Regional with 15 more athletes and four relays scheduled to compete on Saturday.
Gayle rolled to the second-fastest time in Alabama history to easily advance to the NCAA Championships in the 400 meters. The senior's time of 44.99 is second only to 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Kirani James' school-record 44.86 set at the 2011 SEC Championships. Brown finished ninth in the men's 100 meters in 10.39 to advance to the NCAA meet for the third time in his career. He earned All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles in 2016 and as a member of Alabama's 4x100-meter relay in 2015. Herrscher tied for first in the men's pole vault at 17-6 ½ (5.35m) to move on. The clearance is the third-best in school history.
Burks finished second in 11.32 to advance in the 100 meters. Williams finished second in the quarterfinals of the 400 meters to easily advance to the NCAA Championships in a personal-best 51.90, the fifth-fastest time in Alabama history. Roberson also qualified with a 12th-place finish in a personal-best 52.41, equaling the 10th-fastest in school history. Destin finished 7th in the women's high jump at 5-10 ½ (1.79m) to qualify for the outdoor championships for the first time in her career.
"We had a lot of great performances today," head coach Dan Waters said. "We're sending people to nationals in 12 different events already and have an opportunity to qualify in several more tomorrow. I think we're doing a great job of handling our business and staying focused and I expect that to continue on Saturday. I'm also excited about Quanesha (Burks) qualifying for nationals in a second event today. She's had a great career here and now has a chance finish on a high note in Eugene."
In preliminary action on Friday, junior Ruebin Walters posted the fastest time in the first round of the 110-meter hurdles at 13.53 to easily advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. Junior Jereem Richards finished fifth in the opening round of the 200 meters in 20.33 to advance. The time is the sixth-fastest in school history. Senior Diamond Gause finished 14th in the first round of the women's 200 meters in 23.13 to advance to the quarterfinals. The time is the seventh-fastest in school history.
Regional action will conclude on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. CT with the men's discus. The first running event of the day will be the 4x100-meter relay at 5 p.m.
Men's Event Summaries – NCAA Track & Field East Regional- Day 2
Quarterfinals
400 Meters
Senior Steven Gayle rolled to the second-fastest time in Alabama history to easily advance to the NCAA Championships in the men's 400 meters. Gayle's time of 44.99 is second only to 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Kirani James' school-record 44.86 set at the 2011 SEC Championships. Gayle and James are the only Alabama 400-meter sprinters to run under 45.00. Gayle will be making his second appearance of his Alabama career at the NCAA meet.
100 Meters
Junior Tony Brown finished ninth in the men's 100 meters in 10.39 to advance to the NCAA Championships. This will be Brown's third trip to the NCAA meet. He earned All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles in 2016 and as a member of Alabama's 4x100-meter relay in 2015.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Sophomore Josh Short competed in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase but did not finish.
First Round
110-Meter Hurdles
Junior Ruebin Walters posted the fastest time in the first round of the 110-meter hurdles at 13.53 to easily advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. Walters' time equals his second-fastest of the season. Junior Angelo Goss finished 35th in 14.29 and did not advance.
200 Meters
Junior Jereem Richards finished fifth in the first round of the men's 200 meters in 20.33 to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. The time is the sixth-fastest in school history. Freshman Will Allen finished 47th in 21.78 and did not advance.
Pole Vault
Sophomore Will Herrscher tied for first in the men's pole vault at 17-6 ½ (5.35m) to advance to the NCAA Championships. The clearance is the third-best in school history.
Alabama Series
- Herrscher – 15-11 (4.85m) (Pass); 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) (Pass); 16-10 ¾ (5.15m) (Pass); 17-2 ¾ (5.25m) (o); 17-6 ½ (5.35m) (o)
- Shot Put – Senior Kyle Felpel finished 18th in the men's shot put at 59-2 ¼ (18.04m) and did not advance to the NCAA Championships.
Alabama Series
- Felpel – Foul; 59-2 ¼ (18.04m); Foul
Women's Event Summaries – NCAA Track & Field East Regional- Day 2
Quarterfinals
400 Meters
Senior Domonique Williams finished second in the quarterfinals of the 400 meters to easily advance to the NCAA Championships in a personal-best 51.90, the fifth-fastest time in Alabama history. Freshman Takyera Roberson also qualified for the NCAAs with a 12th-place finish in a personal-best 52.41. Roberson's time equals the 10th-fastest in school history. Senior Alex Gholston finished 23rd in 53.74 and did not advance.
100 Meters
Senior Quanesha Burks qualified for her second event at the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish in the 100 meters in 11.32. Freshman Symone Darius finished 13th in 11.50 and did not advance.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Senior Hannah Waggoner finished 29th in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase and did not advance.
First Round
- 200 Meters – Senior Diamond Gause finished 14th in the first round of the women's 200 meters in 23.13 to advance Saturday's quarterfinals. The time is the seventh-fastest in school history.
- Discus – Junior Haley Teel finished 40th in the women's discus with a throw of 149-2 (45.47m) and did not advance to the NCAA Championships.
Alabama Series
- Teel – Foul; 149-2 (45.47m); Foul
- High Jump – Sophomore Stacey Destin finished 7th in the women's high jump at 5-10 ½ (1.79m) to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Alabama Series
- Destin – 5-4 ½ (1.64m) (Pass); 5-6 ½ (1.69m) (Pass); 5-8 ½ (1.74m) (o); 5-10 ½ (1.79m) (o); 5-11 ½ (1.82m) (xxx)
NCAA Track & Field East Regional
Friday, May 26, 2017
Lexington, Ky. (University of Kentucky)
Alabama Results
Men
- 100 Meters- 9. Tony Brown, 10.39#
- 200 Meters- 5. Jereem Richards, 20.33 (Q); 47. Will Allen, 21.78
- 400 Meters- 3. Steven Gayle, 44.99 (PB)#
- 110-Meter Hurdles- 1. Ruebin Walters, 13.53 (Q); 35. Angelo Goss, 14.29;
- 3,000-Meter Steeplechase- DNF. Josh Short
- Pole Vault- 1t. Will Herrscher, 17-6 ½ (5.35m)
- Shot Put- 18. Kyle Felpel, 59-2 ¼ (18.04m)
Women
- 100 Meters- 2. Quanesha Burks, 11.32#; 13. Symone Darius, 11.50
- 200 Meters- 14. Diamond Gause, 23.13 (Q)
- 400 Meters- 4. Domonique Williams, 51.90 (PB)#; 12. Takyera Roberson, 52.41 (PB)#; 23. Alex Gholston, 53.74;
- 3,000-Meter Steeplechase- 29. Hannah Waggoner, 10:34.86
- High Jump- 7. Stacey Destin, 5-10 ½ (1.79m)#
- Discus- 40. Haley Teel, 149-2 (45.47m)
Alabama NCAA Qualifiers
Men
- Javelin- McLean Lipschutz
- 10,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga
- 10,000 Meters- Antibahs Kosgei
- 400 Meters- Steven Gayle
- 100 Meters- Tony Brown
- Pole Vault- Will Herrscher
Women
- Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell
- Pole Vault- Lakan Taylor
- Long Jump- Quanesha Burks
- Long Jump- Filippa Fotopoulou
- Javelin- Samantha Zelden
- 400 Meters- Domonique Williams
- 400 Meters- Takyera Roberson
- 100 Meters- Quanesha Burks
- High Jump- Stacey Destin
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
- 400 Meters- 2. Steven Gayle, 44.99
- Pole Vault- 3. Will Herrscher, 17-6 ½ (5.35m)
- Pole Vault- 5. Will Herrscher, 17-2 ¾ (5.25m)
- 200 Meters- 6. Jereem Richards, 20.33
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)
- 400 Meters- 5. Domonique Williams, 51.90
- 400 Meters- 10t. Takyera Roberson, 52.41
- 200 Meters- 7. Diamond Gause, 23.13
Personal Bests
Men
- 100 Meters- Tony Brown, 10.27
- 400 Meters- Steven Gayle, 44.99
Women
- Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 207-2 (63.15m)
- 100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.31
- Javelin- Samantha Zelden, 172-7 (52.60m)
- 400 Meters- Takyera Roberson, 52.41
- 400 Meters- Domonique Williams, 51.90
- 200 Meters- Diamond Gause, 23.13
- 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
