Alabama
NCAA East Regional
Throwers Continue to Shine for Alabama Track & Field at NCAA East Preliminary
5/25/2018 6:19:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Haugh, Ferguson, Warren, Smith and Clark also advance to NCAA Championships on Friday
TAMPA, Fla. – The Alabama track & field teams continued to excel in the throws at the NCAA East Preliminary on Friday in Tampa, Fla., as juniors Daniel Haugh and Kord Ferguson advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men's discus and junior Portious Warren qualified for the national meet in the women's discus.
The trio were joined in qualifying on Friday by senior Britainy Smith (women's pole vault) and freshman Tamara Clark (women's 100 meters), giving the Tide eight individual qualifiers in seven events in the first two days of competition at the University of South Florida.
Haugh and Ferguson finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in the men's discus to earn trips to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships. Haugh, who was already headed to Eugene after qualifying in the hammer throw on Thursday, posted a mark of 182-9 (55.71m) on his first throw of the competition. Ferguson launched a throw of 180-6 (55.02m) on his second attempt to secure his spot.
Smith was the first qualifier for the Tide women on Friday, tying for third in the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 13-8 ½ (4.18m). The Tampa, Fla., native will be making her first NCAA Championships appearance. Clark joined Smith on the women's qualifier list with a 10th place finish in the 100 meters in 11.21. Warren finished fifth in the discus with a personal-best throw of 176-1 (53.68m). The effort ranks No. 5 all-time in school history. She joins Haugh as the Tide's second double qualifier after already securing a spot at the national championships in the women's shot put Thursday evening.
"We had some good things happen again today," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "Daniel Haugh and Portious Warren are both double qualifiers now, Kord Ferguson had a very solid day in the discus and Tamara Clark ran another great race in the 100 meters to advance as well. But I'm really happy for Britainy Smith who not only qualified in the pole vault, but did it in her hometown as a senior, which is pretty special."
Alabama also advanced two men and three women out of the first round in three events on Friday. Junior Keitavious Walter finished 20th in the first round of the 200 meters in 20.56 and will run for a spot in Eugene on Saturday. Junior Ruebin Walters cruised into Saturday's quarterfinals in the 110-meter hurdles with a first round-best time of 13.44.
In the women's 200 meters, Clark finished sixth in a personal best time of 22.53, which ranks No. 3 all-time at Alabama to advance while sophomore Symone Darius finished 19th in 23.03 and freshman Daija Lampkin finished 24th in 23.16 to move on to Saturday's quarterfinals as well.
Alabama will return to action beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET on Saturday with Danielle McConnell in the women's hammer throw. Track events get underway at 12:45 p.m. ET with the women's 4x100-meter relay.
Men's Event Summaries – NCAA East Preliminary Day 2
Discus – Juniors Daniel Haugh and Kord Ferguson finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in the men's discus to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Haugh, who is already headed to Eugene as a qualifier in the hammer throw, posted a mark of 182-9 (55.71m) on his first throw of the competition. Ferguson launched a throw of 180-6 (55.02m) on his second attempt to secure his spot.
Alabama Series
Haugh – 182-9 (55.71m); 179-2 (54.62m); Foul
Ferguson – 168-7 (51.39m); 180-6 (55.02m); Foul
110-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters cruised into Saturday's quarterfinals in the 110-meter hurdles with a first round-best time of 13.44.
400 Meters – Freshman Champion Allison finished 16th in the quarterfinals of the 400 meters in 46.16.
100 Meters – Junior Keitavious Walter finished 20th in the quarterfinals of the 100 meters in 10.30.
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter finished 20th in the first round of the 200 meters in 20.56 to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. Sophomore Alize Ford finished 46th in 21.20.
Women's Event Summaries – NCAA East Preliminary Day 2
Pole Vault – Senior Britainy Smith tied for third in the pole vault to qualify for the NCAA Championships with a personal best clearance of 13-8 ½ (4.18m).
Alabama Series
Smith – 12-4 ¾ (3.78m) (ppp); 12-10 ¾ (3.93m) (o); 13-4 ½ (4.08m) (o); 13-8 ½ (4.18m) (xo)
100 Meters – Freshman Tamara Clark qualified for the NCAA Championships with a 10th place finish in the 100 meters in 11.21.
Discus – Junior Portious Warren finished fifth in the discus with a personal-best throw of 176-1 (53.68m). The effort ranks No. 5 all-time in school history.
Alabama Series
Warren – 170-3 (51.89m); 176-1 (53.68m); Foul
Julifs – Foul; Foul; Foul
400-Meter Hurdles – Senior Kaitlin Walker finished 19th in the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles in 58.95.
200 Meters – Alabama advanced three to Saturday's quarterfinals in the 200 meters. Freshman Tamara Clark finished sixth in a personal best time of 22.53, which ranks No. 3 all-time at Alabama. Sophomore Symone Darius finished 19th in 23.03 and freshman Daija Lampkin finished 24th in 23.16.
NCAA East Preliminary
Friday, May 25, 2018
Tampa, Fla. (University of South Florida)
Men
100 Meters (Quarterfinals) – 20. Keitavious Walter, 10.30
200 Meters (First Round) – 20. Keitavious Walter, 20.56 (q); 46. Alize Ford, 21.20
400 Meters (Quarterfinals) – 16. Champion Allison, 46.16
110-Meter Hurdles (First Round) – 1. Ruebin Walters, 13.44 (Q)
Discus (First Round) – 5. Daniel Haugh, 182-9 (55.71m)*; 7. Kord Ferguson, 180-6 (55.02m)*
Women
100 Meters (Quarterfinals) – 10. Tamara Clark, 11.21*
200 Meters (First Round) – 6. Tamara Clark, 22.53 (Q) (PB); 19. Symone Darius, 23.02w (q); 24. Daija Lampkin, 23.16 (Q)
400-Meter Hurdles (Quarterfinals) – 19. Kaitlin Walker, 58.95
Pole Vault (First Round) – T-3. Britainy Smith, 13-8 ½ (4.18m)* (PB)
Discus (First Round) – 5. Portious Warren, 176-1 (53.68m)* (PB); NM. Holly Julifs
Alabama Superlatives
NCAA Qualifiers
Men
Hammer Throw – Daniel Haugh
10,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop
10,000 Meters – Alfred Chelanga
10,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen
Discus – Daniel Haugh
Discus – Kord Ferguson
Women
Shot Put – Portious Warren
Pole Vault – Britainy Smith
100 Meters – Tamara Clark
Discus – Portious Warren
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Hammer Throw – 4. Daniel Haugh, 234-3 (71.41m)
Hammer Throw – 7. Daniel Haugh, 233-10 (71.29m)
Women
Shot Put – 6. Portious Warren, 55-3 ½ (16.58m)
Discus – 5. Portious Warren, 176-1 (53.68m)
Personal Bests
Women
400 Meters – Katie Funcheon, 53.27
Pole Vault – Britainy Smith, 13-8 ½ (4.18m)
Discus – Portious Warren, 176-1 (53.68m)
200 Meters – Tamara Clark, 22.53
Personal Season Bests
Men
Pole Vault – Ryan Lipe, 17-2 ¾ (5.25m)
*- Advances to NCAA Championships
PB – Personal Best
PSB – Personal Season Best
TSB – Team Season Best
SR – School Record
MR – Meet Record
FR – Facility 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
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
