Alabama
UAB Blazer Invitational
Alabama Track & Field Teams Open Season with Strong Performances at UAB Blazer Invitational
1/12/2018 6:59:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Ferguson and Walters post UA top-10 performances in season-opening meet
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The nationally-ranked Alabama track & field teams turned in solid performances to open the 2018 season at the UAB Blazer Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Friday.
The day featured two Crimson Tide top-10 school performances for the ninth-ranked men's team as  junior Kord Ferguson won the shot put and senior Ruebin Walters captured the 60-meter hurdles title.
Ferguson won the shot put on his final attempt of the competition with a personal-best mark of 62-3 ¾ (18.99m), which is fourth-best mark in school history. The efforts are also UA personal-bests for the duo. Walters won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.76, the ninth-fastest time in school history. Walters now owns five of the 10 best times in the indoor hurdles at UA.
In other men's events, freshman Christian Edwards won the high jump with a mark of 7-0 1/2 (2.15m) in his collegiate debut. Junior Skyler Bowden was the top collegiate finisher in the 300 meters, finishing in a time of 34.16. Senior Daniel Haugh won the weight throw with a meet-record effort of 71-10 (21.89m) on his final throw of the competition. Junior Will Herrscher led a Tide sweep of the top three spots in the pole vault, clearing 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) to win the competition on misses over UA freshman Jake Spotswood, who equaled Herrscher's clearance. Tide freshman, Ryan Lipe (15-11; 4.85m) finished third. The 4x400-meter relay of sophomore Will Allen and juniors Okeen Williams, Keitavious Walter and Bowden posted the top collegiate time in the relay at 3:12.03.
The 20th-ranked Alabama women took home victories by sophomore Symone Darius, who was the top collegiate finisher in the 300 meters, circling the track in 38.90 and junior Tamara Moncrieffe, who won the triple jump in her Alabama debut with a mark of 41-2 ½ (12.56m). The women capped the night with a win in the 4x400-meter relay as the quartet of freshman Daija Lampkin, sophomore Katie Funcheon, freshman Tamara Clark and sophomore Symone Darius circled the track in a time of 3:39.82.
"This was a good opener for us," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said following the meet. "Christian and Kord got us off to a good start on the men's side and Ruebin ran a couple of good races as well. Daniel Haugh set a meet record and was close to surpassing that on a couple of other throws. The women turned in some great splits in the 4x400 and I'm very happy with the job Daija Lampkin, Tamara Clark and Filippa Fotopoulou did to reach the final of the 60 meters. Now we need to use this as a springboard into our next meet."
Alabama will return to action next weekend at the Vanderbilt Invitational, Jan. 19-20, at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility in Nashville, Tenn.
Men's Event Summaries – UAB Blazer Invitational
High Jump – Freshman Christian Edwards won the high jump in his collegiate debut on Friday, clearing 7-0 ½ (2.15m) to take the victory.
Alabama Series
Edwards – 6-4 ¾ (1.95m) (o); 6-6 ¾ (2.00m) (o); 6-8 ¾ (2.05m) (o); 6-10 ¾ (2.10m) (o); 7-0 ½ (2.15m) (o) (PB); 7-1 ¾ (2.18m) (xxx)
Shot Put – Junior Kord Ferguson won the shot put on his final attempt of the competition with a personal-best mark of 62-3 ¾ (18.99m), which is fourth-best mark in school history.
Alabama Series
Ferguson – 58-11 ¾ (17.98m); 60-0 ½ (18.30m); 60-0 ¾ (18.31m); 60-8 ¾ (18.51m); Foul; 62-3 ¾ (18.99m) (PB)
500 Meters – Sophomore Will Allen was the No. 2 collegiate finisher in the 500 meters in a time of 1:03.47. Junior Okeen Williams finished fourth in 1:04.47 in his Alabama debut.
60-Meter Hurdles – Senior Ruebin Walters won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.76, the ninth-fastest time in school history. Walters now owns five of the 10 best times in the indoor hurdles at UA.
60 Meters – Sophomore Alize Ford finished fourth in the 60 meters in a personal best 6.75. Ford ran a 6.83 in the prelims to advance to the final. His prelim time also bettered his previous best.
300 Meters – Junior Skyler Bowden was the top collegiate finisher in the 300 meters, finishing in a time of 34.16.
Triple Jump – Sophomore Michael Wiggins finished fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 47-9 ¾ (14.57m).
Alabama Series
Wiggins – 47-9 ¾ (14.57m); 47-8 (14.53m); Foul; 46-6 ¾ (14.19m); 47-3 ½ (14.41m); Foul
Weight Throw – Senior Daniel Haugh won the weight throw with a meet-record effort of 71-10 (21.89m) on his final throw of the competition.
Alabama Series
Haugh – Foul; Foul; 68-3 (20.80m); Foul; 71-2 (21.69m); 71-10 (21.89m) (MR)
Pole Vault – Junior Will Herrscher led a Tide sweep of the top three spots in the pole vault, clearing 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) to win the competition on misses over UA freshman Jake Spotswood, who equaled Herrscher's clearance. Tide freshman Ryan Lipe finished third at 15-11 (4.85m).
Alabama Series
Herrscher – 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) (o); 16-8 ¾ (5.10m) (xxx)
Spotswood –15-11 (4.85m) (xo); 16-4 ¾ (5.00m) (xo); 16-8 ¾ (5.10m) (xxx)
Lipe – 15-11 (4.85m) (xo);16-4 ¾ (5.00m) (xxx); Â
Barrett –15-5 (4.70m) (xxx)
Obadia – 13-11 ¼ (4.25m) (xxx)
600 Meters – Freshman Dylan Scott finished ninth in the 600 meters in 1:24.15 in his collegiate debut on Friday. Â
Distance Medley Relay – The Alabama "A" relay of sophomore Clay Austell, freshman Drew Williams, sophomore Oliver Rigg and freshman Chase Buckelew finished second in 10:19.29. The Tide's "B" relay of sophomore Elliott Miller, freshman Andrew Powell and sophomores Noah Karr and J.P. Brinyark finished third in 10:27.10.
3,000 Meters – Freshmen Paul Selden (8:58.80) and Colton Smith (9:31.93) finished seventh and ninth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters in their collegiate track & field debuts.
4x400-Meter Relay – The 4x400-meter relay of sophomore Will Allen and juniors Okeen Williams, Keitavious Walter and Skyler Bowden posted the top collegiate time in the relay at 3:12.03.
Women's Event Summaries – UAB Blazer Invitational
Weight Throw – Senior Danielle McConnell finished ninth in the weight throw with a personal best mark of 55-5 (16.89m). The effort is an improvement of nearly five feet on her previous best.
Alabama Series
McConnell – 54-9 ¼ (16.69m); Foul; 55-5 (16.89m); 52-6 ¾ (16.02m); 54-1 ¼ (16.49m); 53-11 ¼ (16.44m)
Mile – In the first running event of the day, sophomore Elisabeth Danis was the No. 2 collegiate finisher in the women's mile in a personal-best 4:57.30. Freshman Maddie Dearborn finished eighth in her collegiate indoor debut in 5:14.33. Sophomore Brittany Tolson finished 11th in 5:18.21, just ahead of freshmen Shannon Marsh (5:19.99) and Ashley Eavenson (5:20.77), who finished 12th and 13th, respectively. Sophomore Haley Wright finished 17th in 5:28.26.
Pole Vault – Freshman Colleen Clancy finished second and senior Britainy Smith finished third in the pole vault as the Tide claimed four of the top-10 spots in the event. Clancy cleared 12-11 ½ (3.95m) in her UA debut while Smith topped 12-5 ½ (3.80m) to finish just behind her. Freshman Kaylee Riley finished eighth at 11-5 ¾ (3.50m) and redshirt freshman Emma Neumann finished 10th at 10-11 ¾ (3.35m). Â
Alabama Series
Clancy – 11-11 ¾ (3.65m) (o); 12-5 ½ (3.80m) (xo); 12-11 ½ (3.95m) (o); 13.3 ½ (4.05m) (xxx)
Smith – 11-11 ¾ (3.65m) (o); 12-5 ½ (3.80m) (o); 12-11 ½ (3.95m) (xxx);
Riley –10-11 ¾ (3.35m) (o); 11-5 ¾ (3.50m) (o); 11-11 ¾ (3.65m) (xxx)
Neumann – 10-0 (3.05m) (xxo); 10-6 (3.20m) (xo); 10-11 ¾ (3.35m) (o); 11-5 ¾ (3.50m) (xxx)
Pickett –10-0 (3.05m) (o); 10-6 (3.20m) (xxo); 10-11 ¾ (3.35m) (xxx)
Stuchell – 10-0 (3.05m) (xxx)
Dickinson – 10-0 (3.05m) (xxx)
Cecil – 10-0 (3.05m) (xxx)
60 Meters – Freshmen Daija Lampkin (7.37) and Tamara Clark (7.40) were the No. 2 and No. 3 collegiate finishers in the 60 meters in their UA debuts. Senior Filippa Fotopoulou finished fifth in a personal-best 7.42.
1,000 Meters – Freshman Margot Dooley finished fourth in the 1,000 meters in 2:58.95 in her UA track debut on Friday. Junior Sarah Mohan finished sixth in 3:00.12. Sophomore Caroline Brooks finished 11th in 3:01.73 while fellow sophomore Gabby Prizio finished 15th in 3:06.21.
Shot Put – Junior Portious Warren finished second in the shot put in her UA debut with an effort of 51-6 ½ (15.71m) on her final throw of the competition.
Alabama Series
Warren – 47-4 ¼ (14.43m); Foul; Foul; 48-9 ½ (14.87m); 49-2 ½ (15.00m); 51-6 ½ (15.71m)
Triple Jump – Junior Tamara Moncrieffe won the triple jump in her Alabama debut with a mark of 41-2 ½ (12.56m).
Alabama Series
Moncrieffe – Foul; Foul; 41-2 ½ (12.56m); 41-2 ½ (12.56m); Foul; Foul
High Jump – Junior Stacey Destin was the No. 2 collegiate finisher in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10 ¾ (1.80m).
Alabama Series
Destin – 5-8 ½ (1.74m) (o); 5-9 ¾ (1.77m) (o); 5-10 ¾ (1.80m) (xo); 6-0 (1.83m) (xxx)
300 Meters – Sophomore Symone Darius was the top collegiate finisher in the 300 meters, circling the track in 38.90. Junior Mauricia Prieto finished third in her UA debut in 39.42. Junior Katie Funcheon finished eighth in 39.98.
600 Meters – Junior Kristyn Williams (1.33.66) and senior Kaitlyn Walker (1.34.43) finished sixth and seventh in the 600 meters.
3,000 Meters – Sophomore Brianna Koshy (10:42.46) and freshman Eliza Witherspoon (10:45.21) earned top-10 finishes, placing eighth and ninth, respectively, in the women's 3,000 meters.
4x400-Meter Relay – The quartet of freshman Daija Lampkin, sophomore Katie Funcheon, freshman Tamara Clark and sophomore Symone Darius won the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:39.82.
UAB Blazer Invitational
Friday, January 12, 2018
Birmingham, Ala. (UAB)
Final Results
Men
60 Meters (Prelims): 6. Alize Ford, 6.83 (q)
60 Meters (Final): 4. Alize Ford, 6.75 (PB)
300 Meters: 1. Skyler Bowden, 34.16
500 Meters: 2. Will Allen, 1:03.20; 4. Okeen Williams, 1:04.47
600 Meters: 9. Dylan Scott, 1:24.15; DNS. Connor Dessert
3,000 Meters: 7. Paul Selden, 8:58.80; 9. Colton Smith; 9:31.93
60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims): 1. Ruebin Walters, 7.83 (q); 20. Jake Spotswood, 9.03
60-Meter Hurdles (Final): 1. Ruebin Walters, 7.76
Distance Medley Relay: 2. Alabama A (Clay Austell, Drew Williams, Oliver Rigg, Chase Buckelew), 10:19.29; 3. Alabama B (Elliott Miller, Andrew Powell, Noah Karr, J.P. Brinyark), 10:27.10; Alabama C, DNS
4x400-Meter Relay: 1. Alabama A (Will Allen, Okeen Williams, Keitavious Walter, Skyler Bowden), 3:12.03; 14. Alabama C (Noah Karr, Oliver Rigg, Andrew Powell, Drew Williams), 3:29.57; DNS. Alabama B
High Jump: 1. Christian Edwards, 7-0 ½ (2.15m) (PB)
Pole Vault: 1. Will Herrscher, 16-4 ¾ (5.00m); 2. Jake Spotswood, 16-4 ¾ (5.00m); 3. Ryan Lipe, 15-11 (4.85m); NH. Henry Barrett; NH. Marc Obadia
Triple Jump: 5. Michael Wiggins, 47-9 ¾ (14.57m)
Shot Put: 1. Kord Ferguson, 62-3 ¾ (18.99m) (PB)
Weight Throw: 1. Daniel Haugh, 71-10 (21.89m) (MR)
Women
60 Meters (Prelims): 1. Daija Lampkin, 7.36 (q); 3. Tamara Clark, 7.44 (q); 4. Filippa Fotopoulou, 7.47 (q); 19. Kiara Williams, 7.75 21. Jaimie Robinson, 7.77
60 Meters (Final): 2. Daija Lampkin, 7.37; 3. Tamara Clark, 7.40; 5. Filippa Fotopoulou, 7.42 (PB);
300 Meters: 1. Symone Darius, 38.90; 3. Mauricia Prieto, 39.42; 8. Katie Funcheon, 39.98; 35. Jada Jackson, 42.82; 47. Amber Saffore, 45.57
600 Meters: 6. Kristyn Williams, 1:33.66; 7. Kaitlin Walker, 1:34.43; DNS. Stacey Destin
1,000 Meters: 4. Margot Dooley, 2:58.95; 6. Sarah Mohan, 3:00.12; 11. Caroline Brooks, 3:01.73; 15. Gabby Prizio, 3:06.21
Mile: 2. Elisabeth Danis, 4:57.30 (PB); 8. Maddie Dearborn, 5:14.33 (PB); 11. Brittany Tolson, 5:18.21 (PB); 12. Shannon Marsh, 5:19.99 (PB); 13. Ashley Eavenson, 5:20.77 (PB); 17. Haley Wright, 5:28.26
3,000 Meters: 8. Brianna Koshy, 10:42.46; 9. Eliza Witherspoon, 10:45.21; 11. Caroline Cumbest, 11:17.48; 12. Savannah Fraleigh, 11:28.97
4x400-Meter Relay: 1. Alabama A (Daija Lampkin, Katie Funcheon, Tamara Clark, Symone Darius), 3:39.82; 7. Alabama B (Kaitlin Walker, Mauricia Prieto, Kristyn Williams, Jada Jackson), 3:49.05; 18. Alabama C (Caroline Brooks, Margot Dooley, Sarah Mohan, Gabby Prizio), 4:12.69
High Jump: 2. Stacey Destin, 5-10 ¾ (1.80m)
Pole Vault: 2. Colleen Clancy 12-11 ½ (3.95m); 3. Britainy Smith, 12-5 ½ (3.80m); 8. Kaylee Riley, 11-5 ¾ (3.50m); 10. Emma Neumann, 10-11 ¾ (3.35m); 15. Taylor Pickett, 10-6 (3.20m); NH. Avery Stuchell; NH. Abigail Dickinson; NH. Kayla Cecil
Triple Jump: 1. Tamara Moncrieffe, 41-2 ½ (12.56m)
Shot Put: 2. Portious Warren, 51-6 ½ (15.71m)
Weight Throw: 9. Danielle McConnell, 55-5 (16.89m) (PB)
Alabama Superlatives
Meet Records
Men
Weight Throw – Daniel Haugh, 71-10 (21.89m)
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Shot Put – T-4. Kord Ferguson, 62-3 ¾ (18.99m)
High Jump – T-9. Christian Edwards, 7-0 ½ (2.15m)
60-Meter Hurdles – 9. Ruebin Walters, 7.76
Personal Bests
Men
Shot Put – Kord Ferguson, 62-3 ¾ (18.99m)
High Jump – Christian Edwards, 7-0 ½ (2.15m)
Women
Mile – Elisabeth Danis, 4:57.30
Mile – Brittany Tolson, 5:18.21
Weight Throw – Danielle McConnell, 55-5 (16.89m)
PB – Personal Best
MR – Meet Record
NM – No mark
NH – No height
DNF – Did not finish
DNS – Did not start
Q – Qualified for final with heat finish
q – Qualified for final with heat time
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Players Mentioned
