Alabama Track & Field’s Shelby McEwen Wins Men’s High Jump on Day 1 of SEC Championships
2/24/2018 8:32:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Portious Warren sets a new school record in the women’s shot put on opening night of league meet
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – The Alabama track & field teams got off to a strong start on the opening day of the 2018 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships winning one event and setting a school record in a second during competition Saturday at Texas A&M University.
On the men's side, junior Shelby McEwen became Alabama's first SEC high jump champion in 33 years when he won the event with a personal-best equaling clearance of 7-4 ¼ (2.24m). McEwen joins Thomas McCants (1984, 1985) and Jeff Woodard (1978) as the Crimson Tide's only conference champions in the indoor high jump. McEwen's winning effort equals his personal best, which is the No. 2 mark in school history.
"It feels awesome to be a conference champion, especially in my first season jumping indoors," McEwen said. "I felt good going into tonight and I knew it was going to be a competitive meet. I just tried to stay focused on clearing that bar. Now it's time to get ready for nationals."
For the Alabama women, junior Portious Warren finished third in the shot put with a school-record mark of 56-3 ¼ (17.15m) on her fifth attempt of the evening. Warren is now the first Alabama shot putter to surpass 56 feet indoors. She initially broke the previous school record on her third attempt of the competition with an effort of 55-11 ¾ (17.06m). In her first season with the Tide, Warren has recorded five of the top six shot put marks in UA history.
The Alabama men sit in second place in the team race with 28 points. Florida is in first with 30.5 points. Georgia is third at 26, followed by Arkansas (24) and Kentucky (15) to round out the top five. The Crimson Tide women are tied for fifth with Ole Miss at 13 points following tonight's action. Arkansas is first at 41 points, followed by Georgia (38), Florida (29) and Kentucky (21) to round out the top five.
In other men's finals on Saturday, senior Daniel Haugh started the scoring for the Crimson Tide with a second place finish in the weight throw with a season-best mark of 74-10 (22.81m). The throw ranks No. 2 all-time in Alabama history, trailing the 75-8 (23.06m) mark Haugh recorded at last year's SEC meet. Juniors Vincent Kiprop (7:55.79) and Gilbert Kigen (7:59.04) finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters. The times are personal bests for both and rank No. 4 and No. 7 all-time at Alabama.
In women's finals action, junior Stacey Destin finished fourth in the pentathlon with a score of 4,144 points, equaling the No. 3 score in school history. Senior Filippa Fotopoulou finished seventh in the long jump with a season-best leap of 20-6 ¼ (6.25m).
In preliminary action, senior Ruebin Walters advanced to the finals of the men's 60-meter hurdles with a heat-winning time of 7.71. Junior Keitavious Walter advanced to the finals of the men's 60 meters with a heat-winning time of 6.68 and moved on in the 200 meters with another personal-best of 20.89.
Women's preliminaries saw senior Kaitlin Walker (2:07.61) and junior Kristyn Williams (2:08.50) advance to the final in the 800 meters. Walker's time is a UA season- and personal-best. Williams' time is her fastest this season. Junior Nicole Gardner advanced to the finals in the women's mile, finishing ninth in the prelims with a personal-best time of 4:50.87. Freshman Daija Lampkin advanced to the finals in the 200 meters with a personal-best 23.03 in the preliminaries. The time ranks No. 2 all-time at Alabama.
Sunday's finals will get underway at 5 p.m. CT on the track with the men's 60-meter hurdles. Field events will also begin at 5 p.m. with the men's pole vault, triple jump and shot put and the women's weight throw, triple jump and high jump.
Men's Event Summaries – SEC Championships Day 1
Weight Throw – Senior Daniel Haugh finished second in the weight throw with a season-best mark of 74-10 (22.81m). The throw ranks No. 2 all-time in Alabama history.
Alabama Series
Haugh – 70-8 ½ (21.55m); 73-8 ¾ (22.47m); Foul; Foul; 74-10 (22.81m); Foul
High Jump – Junior Shelby McEwen won the high jump with a clearance of 7-4 ¼ (2.24m), becoming Alabama's first SEC indoor high jump champion since Thomas McCants won back-to-back titles in 1984 and 1985. Freshman Christian Edwards tied for 10th at 6-10 ¾ (2.10m).
Alabama Series
McEwen – 6-8 ¾ (2.05m) (pass); 6-10 ¾ (2.10m) (o); 7-0 ½ (2.15m) (o); 7-1 ¾ (2.18m) (xo); 7-3 (2.21m) (o); 7-4 ¼ (2.24m) (o); 7-5 ¼ (2.27m) (xxx)
Edwards – 6-8 ¾ (2.05m) (o); 6-10 ¾ (2.10m) (o); 7-0 ½ (2.15m) (xxx)
60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) – Senior Ruebin Walters advanced to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with a heat-winning time of 7.71.
60 Meters (Prelims) – Junior Keitavious Walter advanced to the finals of the 60 meters with a heat-winning time of 6.68. Sophomore Alize Ford finished fifth in his heat in 6.98 and did not advance.
400 Meters (Prelims) – Junior Okeen Williams finished 14th in the 400 meters in a personal-best 46.84 but did not advance to the finals.
200 Meters (Prelims) – Junior Keitavious Walter advanced to the finals of the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 20.89. Sophomore Alize Ford (21.42) and freshman Champion Allison (22.11) finished 16th and 19th, respectively, and did not advance.
3,000 Meters (Final) – Juniors Vincent Kiprop (7:55.79) and Gilbert Kigen (7:59.04) finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters. The times are personal bests for both and rank No. 4 and No. 7 all-time at Alabama.
Women's Event Summaries – SEC Championships Day 2
Pentathlon – Junior Stacey Destin finished fourth in the pentathlon with a score of 4,144 points, equaling her No. 3 mark in school history. Destin opened the day with a time of 8.63 in the 60-meter hurdles, which put her in eighth place with 989 points. She followed that up with a clearance of 5-10 ½ (1.79m) in the high jump, which was the best among all competitors, to move into third place with 1,955 points. Destin slipped to fifth following a mark of 37-1 ¾ (11.32m) in the shot put gave her 2,571 points. She followed that up with a season-best 19-1 ¼ (5.82m) in the long jump to move into fourth place with 3,366 points and wrapped up the night with a time of 2:23.43 in the 800 meters to secure her finishing total of 4,144.
Alabama Pentathlon Scoring
60-Meter Hurdles – 8. Stacey Destin, 8.63 (989 points/989 total points – Eighth place)
High Jump – 1. Stacey Destin, 5-10 ½ (1.79m) (966 points/1,955 total points – Third place)
Alabama Series
Destin – 5-3 ¼ (1.61m) (ppp); 5-4 ½ (1.64m) (ppp); 5-5 ¼ (1.67m) (ppp); 5-7 (1.70m) (o); 5-8 (1.73m) (o); 5-9 ¼ (1.76m) (o); 5-10 ½ (1.79m) (xo); 5-11 ½ (1.82m) (xxx)
Shot Put – 7. Stacey Destin, 37-1 ¾ (11.32m) (616 points/2,571 total points – Fifth place)
Alabama Series
Destin – 36-0 (10.97m); 37-1 ¾ (11.32m); 33-10 ¾ (10.33m)
Long Jump – 6. Stacey Destin, 19-1 ¼ (5.82m) (PSB) (795 points/3,366 total points – Fourth place)
Alabama Series
Destin – 18-8 ½ (5.70m); Foul; 19-1 ¼ (5.82m)
800 Meters – 7. Stacey Destin, 2:23.43 (778 points/4,144 total points – Fourth place)
Pole Vault – Senior Britainy Smith did not record a clearance in the women's pole vault.
Alabama Series
Smith – 12-9 ½ (3.90m) (xxx)
Long Jump – Senior Filippa Fotopoulou finished seventh in the long jump with a season-best leap of 20-6 ¼ (6.25m). Junior Kiara Williams finished 10th at 19-7 ½ (5.98m).
Alabama Series
Fotopoulou – Foul; 19-9 ½ (6.03m); 20-6 ¼ (6.25m); 19-10 ¼ (6.05m); Foul; 20-0 ¼ (6.10m)
Kiara Williams – Foul; Foul; 19-7 ½ (5.98m)
Shot Put – Junior Portious Warren finished third in the shot put with a school-record mark of 56-3 ¼ (17.15m) on her fifth attempt of the evening. Warren is now the first Alabama shot putter to surpass 56 feet indoors. She initially surpassed the previous school record on her third attempt of the competition with an effort of 55-11 ¾ (17.06m). In her first season with the Tide, Warren has recorded five of the top six marks in UA history.
Alabama Series
Warren – 54-7 ½ (16.65m); 54-3 ¾ (16.55m); 55-11 ¾ (17.06m); 53-1 ¾ (16.20m); 56-3 ¼ (17.15m); 53-0 ¼ (16.16m)
60 Meters (Prelims) – Freshman Tamara Clark finished eighth in the prelims of the 60 meters in a personal- and UA season-best 7.29 but did not advance to the finals. Fellow freshman Daija Lampkin finished 14th in a personal-best equaling 7.36. Sophomore Symone Darius finished 18th in 7.39.
Mile (Prelims) – Junior Nicole Gardner advanced to the finals in the women's mile, finishing ninth in the prelims with a personal-best time of 4:50.87. Senior Caroline Barlow finished 14th in 4:56.61 but did not advance.
400 Meters (Prelims) – Sophomore Takyera Roberson finished 15th in the 400 meters in a UA season- and personal-best 53.91 but did not advance to Sunday's final. Juinor Maurcia Prieto finished 16th in a 54.02 and sophomore Hope Mazi finished 25th in 55.23. Prieto and Mazi's times are also personal bests.
800 Meters (Prelims) – Senior Kaitlin Walker (2:07.61) and junior Kristyn Williams (2:08.50) advanced to the final in the 800 meters. Walker's time is a UA season- and personal-best. Williams' time is her fastest this season.
200 Meters (Prelims) – Freshman Daija Lampkin advanced to the finals in the 200 meters with a personal-best 23.03 in the preliminaries. The time ranks No. 2 all-time at Alabama. Freshman Tamara Clark (23.49) and sophomore Symone Darius (23.50) finished 19th and 20th, respectively, and did not advance.
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Saturday, February 24, 2018
College Station, Texas (Texas A&M University)
Men
Team Scoring
1. Florida – 30.5
2. ALABAMA – 28
3. Georgia – 26
4. Arkansas – 24
5. Kentucky – 15
Finals
3,000 Meters – 3. Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79 (PB) (TSB); 5. Gilbert Kigen, 7:59.04 (PB)
High Jump – 1. Shelby McEwen, 7-4 ¼ (2.24m) (PB) (TSB); T-10. Christian Edwards, 6-10 ¾ (2.10m)
Weight Throw – 2. Daniel Haugh, 74-10 (22.81m) (TSB)
Heptathlon (Day 1) – DNF. Jake Spotswood
Prelims
60 Meters – 5. Keitavious Walter, 6.68 (Q); 23. Alize Ford, 6.98
200 Meters – 6. Keitavious Walter, 20.89 (PB) (TSB) (q); 16. Alize Ford, 21.42; 19. Champion Allison, 22.11
400 Meters – 14. Okeen Williams, 46.84 (PB)
60-Meter Hurdles – 2. Ruebin Walters, 7.71 (Q)
Women
Team Scoring
1. Arkansas – 41
2. Georgia – 38
3. Florida – 29
4. Kentucky – 21
T-5. ALABAMA – 13
T-5. Ole Miss – 13
Finals
Long Jump – 7. Filippa Fotopoulou, 20-6 ¼ (6.25m) (TSB); 10. Kiara Williams, 19-7 ½ (5.98m)
Pole Vault – NH. Britainy Smith
Shot Put – 3. Portious Warren, 56-3 ¼ (17.15m) (SR)
Pentathlon – 4. Stacey Destin, 4,144
Prelims
60 Meters – 8. Tamara Clark, 7.29 (PB) (TSB); 14. Daija Lampkin, 7.36 (PB); 18. Symone Darius, 7.39
200 Meters – 5. Daija Lampkin, 23.03 (PB) (TSB); 19. Tamara Clark, 23.49; 20. Symone Darius, 23.50
400 Meters – 15. Takyera Roberson, 53.91 (PB) (TSB); 16. Mauricia Prieto, 54.02 (PB); 25. Hope Mazi, 55.23 (PB)
800 Meters – 3. Kaitlin Walker, 2:07.61 (PB) (TSB) (Q); 4. Kristyn Williams, 2:08.50 (PSB) (q)
Mile – 9. Nicole Gardner, 4:50.87 (PB) (q); 14. Caroline Barlow, 4:56.51
Alabama Superlatives
School Records
Women
Shot Put – Portious Warren, 56-3 ¼ (17.15m) (SR)
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Weight Throw – 2. Daniel Haugh, 74-10 (22.81m)
Weight Throw – 7. Daniel Haugh, 73-8 ¾ (22.47m)
60-Meter Hurdles – T-8. Ruebin Walters, 7.71
3,000 Meters – 4. Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
3,000 Meters – 7. Gilbert Kigen, 7:59.04
High Jump – T-2. Shelby McEwen, 7-4 ¼ (2.24m)
High Jump – T-5. Shelby McEwen, 7-3 (2.21m)
Women
200 Meters – 2. Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Shot Put – 1. Portious Warren, 56-3 ¼ (17.15m)
Shot Put – 2. Portious Warren, 55-11 ¾ (17.06m)
Shot Put – T-9. Portious Warren, 54-7 ½ (16.65m)
Personal Bests
Men
High Jump – Shelby McEwen, 7-4 ¼ (2.24m) (tie)
400 Meters – Okeen Williams, 46.84
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter, 20.89
3,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
3,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen, 7:59.04
Women
60 Meters – Tamara Clark, 7.29
60 Meters – Daija Lampkin, 7.36
Mile – Nicole Gardner, 4:50.87
400 Meters – Takyera Roberson, 53.91
400 Meters – Mauricia Prieto, 54.02
400 Meters – Hope Mazi, 55.23
800 Meters – Kaitlin Walker, 2:07.61
200 Meters – Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Team Season Bests
Men
High Jump – Shelby McEwen, 7-4 ¼ (2.24m) (tie)
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter, 20.89
3,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
Women
60 Meters – Tamara Clark, 7.29
400 Meters – Takyera Roberson, 53.91
Weight Throw – Daniel Haugh, 74-10 (22.81m)
800 Meters –Kaitlin Walker, 2:07.61
Long Jump – Filippa Fotopoulou, 20-6 ¼ (6.25m)
200 Meters – 5. Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Individual Season Bests
Men
High Jump – Shelby McEwen, 7-5 ¼ (2.24m) (tie)
Women
Long Jump – Stacey Destin, 19-1 ¼ (5.82m)
800 Meters – Kristyn Williams, 2:08.50 (PSB);
PB – Personal Best
PSB – Personal Season Best
TSB – Team Season Best
SR – School Record
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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