Alabama
NCAA East Regional
Alabama Track & Field Qualifies 13 on Final Day of NCAA East Preliminary
5/26/2018 8:23:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Fourteen Crimson Tide athletes and two relays earn 23 qualifying spots for NCAA Championships during three days of competition in Tampa
TAMPA, Fla. – The Alabama track & field teams stormed through qualification on the final day of the NCAA East Preliminary at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., as the Tide qualified 11 individuals and two relays in 10 events on Saturday.
Over the three days of competition at the East Preliminary, Alabama saw 14 individuals and two relays earn 23 qualifying spots for the 2018 NCAA Track & Field Championships, which will be held June 6-9 at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.
The three-day total includes the men's and women's teams earning qualifying spots in 10 of the 11 events they competed in on a wet, windy Saturday at the USF Track Complex.
Five Crimson Tide athletes qualified for a second event at the NCAA meet with their performances on Saturday. Junior Kord Ferguson, who had previously qualified in the discus, finished fourth in the shot put with a personal best of 6-2 (19.86m) to qualify. Ferguson's mark ranks No. all-time at Alabama. The Ottawa, Kan., native two other throws in the competition rank No. 3 and No. 6 in school history.
Already qualified in the 10,000 meters, the men's distance trio of juniors Vincent Kiprop and Gilbert Kigen and senior Alfred Chelanga repeated their triple qualification in the 5,000 meters on Saturday. Kiprop finished second in 13:55.35 while Chleanga (14:02.72) and Kigen (14:11.06) finished seventh and 11th, respectively.
Freshman Tamara Clark also qualified in the 200 meters with a sixth place finish in 22.73 the seventh-fastest time in school history. The High Point, N.C., native qualified in the 100 meters on Friday. Clark also teamed with freshman Daija Lampkin and sophomores Symone Darius and Takyera Roberson to advance to the national championships in the 4x100-meter relay with a fourth place finish in 43.41.
Lampkin, Darius, sophomore Katie Funcheon and Roberson ended the day for the Tide women with a sixth place finish in the 4x400-meter relay in 3:32.26 to give the Tide a two-for-two day in the relays. The time is the 10th-fastest in school history. The final women's qualifiers for Alabama were junior Tamara Moncrieffe and freshman Jaimie Robinson, who finished fifth and 12th, respectively, in the triple jump. Moncrieffe posted a mark of 43-0 ¼ (13.11m) while Robinson got in with a leap of 42-4 (12.90m).
Ruebin Walters became the first qualifier for the UA men on Saturday when he cruised to the fastest time in the quarterfinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 13.55 to qualify. Junior Keitavious Walter followed that up with a 10th place finish in the 200 meters in 20.58 to punch his ticket.
In the men's field events, junior Shelby McEwen qualified in the high jump with a clearance of 7-1 (2.16m) and freshman Christian Edwards finished ninth in the triple jump with a mark of 52-1 ¼ (15.91m) on his final attempt of the competition to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships.
"We showed a lot of determination today," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "Keitavious advancing out of lane one in the 200 meters was just a gutsy race. Tamara Clark did a great job, both women's relays got through, Kord Ferguson had a big throw in the shot put and Christian Edwards had a clutch jump in the triple jump on his last attempt. We just had a lot of really special things happen today that will allow us to have as many opportunities to score as possible in the next round. That was the goal coming into the weekend and I think we came out in a very good spot."
With this weekend's performance, Alabama will be represented in 17 events at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Tide men will compete in the 200 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 110-meter hurdles, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and hammer throw. The women will compete in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, pole vault, triple jump, shot put and discus.
Men's Event Summaries – NCAA East Preliminary Day 3
110-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters cruised to the fastest time in the quarterfinals of the 110-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 13.55 to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
High Jump – Junior Shelby McEwen posted the top qualifying clearance in the men's high jump at 7-1 (2.16m) to advance to Eugene.
Alabama Series
McEwen – 6-7 (2.01m) (o); 6-9 (2.06m) (xo); 6-11 (2.11m) (o); 7-1 (2.16m) (o)
200 Meters – Junior Keitavious Walter finished 10th in the quarterfinals of the 200 meters to qualify for the NCAA Championships with a time of 20.58.
Triple Jump – Freshman Christian Edwards finished ninth in the triple jump with a mark of 52-1 ¼ (15.91m) on his final jump of the competition to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships.
Alabama Series
Edwards – Foul; 48-10 ¾ (14.90m); 52-1 ¼ (15.88m)
Shot Put – Junior Kord Ferguson finished fourth in the shot put with a personal best of 6-2 (19.86m) to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Ferguson's mark ranks No. all-time at Alabama. The Ottawa, Kan., native two other throws in the competition rank No. 3 and No. 6 in school history.
Alabama Series
Ferguson – 65-2 (19.86m); 65-0 ¾ (19.83m); 63-5 ½ (19.34m)
5,000 Meters – Already qualified in the 10,000 meters, the men's distance trio of juniors Vincent Kiprop and Gilbert Kigen and senior Alfred Chelanga repeated their triple qualification in the 5,000 meters on Saturday. Kiprop finished second in 13:55.35 while Chleanga (14:02.72) and Kigen (14:11.06) finished seventh and 11th, respectively.
Women's Event Summaries – NCAA East Preliminary Day 3
Hammer Throw – Senior Danielle McConnell finished 30th in the hammer throw with a mark of 187-1 (57.03m).
Alabama Series
McConnell – 185-8 (56.60m); 184-0 (56.08m); 187-1 (57.03m)
4x100-Meter Relay – Alabama's 4x100-meter relay quartet of freshmen Daija Lampkin and Tamara Clark and sophomores Symone Darius and Takyera Roberson finished fourth in 43.41 to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Triple Jump – Junior Tamara Moncrieffe and freshman Jaimie Robinson finished fifth and 12th, respectively, to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the triple jump. Moncrieffe posted a mark of 43-0 ¼ (13.11m) while Robinson got in with a leap of 42-4 (12.90m).
Alabama Series
Moncrieffe – 40-8 ¾ (12.41m); 42-11 ½ (13.09m); 43-0 ¼ (13.11m)
Robinson – 42-0 ¾ (12.82m); 42-4 (12.90m); 40-0 ¾ (12.21m)
200 Meters – Freshman Tamara Clark qualified for her second individual event with a sixth place finish in the 200 meters in 22.73 the seventh-fastest time in school history.
4x400-Meter Relay – Freshman Daija Lampkin and sophomores Symone Darius, Katie Funcheon and Takyera Roberson finished sixth in 3:32.26 to qualify for the national meet. The time is the 10th-fastest in school history.
NCAA East Preliminary
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Tampa, Fla. (University of South Florida)
Men
200 Meters (Quarterfinals) – 10. Keitavious Walter, 20.58*
5,000 Meters (Semifinals) – 1. Vincent Kiprop, 13;55.35*; 7. Alfred Chelanga, 14:02.72*; 11. Gilbert Kigen, 14:11.06*
110-Meter Hurdles (Quarterfinals) – 1. Ruebin Walters, 13.55*
High Jump (First Round) – 1. Shelby McEwen, 7-1 (2.16m)*
Triple Jump (First Round) – 9. Christian Edwards, 52-1 ¼ (15.91m)*
Shot Put (First Round) – 4. Kord Ferguson, 65-2 (19.86m)* (PB)
Women
200 Meters (Quarterfinals) – 6. Tamara Clark, 22.73*; 17. Symone Darius, 23.38 (PB); 20. Daija Lampkin, 23.53
4x100-Meter Relay (Quarterfinals) – 4. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Tamara Clark, Symone Darius, Takyera Roberson), 43.41*
4x400-Meter Relay (Quarterfinals) – 6. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Symone Darius, Katie Funcheon, Takyera Roberson), 3:32.26*
Triple Jump (First Round) – 5. Tamara Moncrieffe, 43-0 ¼ (13.11m)*; 12. Jaimie Robinson, 42-4 (12.90m)*
Hammer Throw (First Round) – 30. Danielle McConnell, 187-1 (57.03m)
Alabama Superlatives
NCAA Qualifiers
Men
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter
5,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop
5,000 Meters – Alfred Chelanga
5,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen
10,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop
10,000 Meters – Alfred Chelanga
10,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen
110-Meter Hurdles – Ruebin Walters
High Jump – Shelby McEwen
Triple Jump – Christian Edwards
Shot Put – Kord Ferguson
Discus – Kord Ferguson
Discus – Daniel Haugh
Hammer Throw – Daniel Haugh
Women
100 Meters – Tamara Clark
200 Meters –Tamara Clark
4x100-Meter Relay – Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Tamara Clark, Symone Darius, Takyera Roberson)
4x400-Meter Relay – 6. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Symone Darius, Katie Funcheon, Takyera Roberson)
Pole Vault – Britainy Smith
Triple Jump – Tamara Moncrieffe
Triple Jump – Jaimie Robinson
Shot Put – Portious Warren
Discus – Portious Warren
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Shot Put – 2. Kord Ferguson, 65-2 (19.86m)
Shot Put – 3. Kord Ferguson, 65-0 ¾ (19.83m)
Shot Put – 6. Kord Ferguson, 63-5 ½ (19.34m)
Hammer Throw – 4. Daniel Haugh, 234-3 (71.41m)
Hammer Throw – 7. Daniel Haugh, 233-10 (71.29m)
Women
200 Meters – 3. Tamara Clark, 22.53
200 Meters – 7. Tamara Clark, 22.73
4x400-Meter Relay – 10. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Symone Darius, Katie Funcheon, Takyera Roberson), 3:32.26
Discus – 5. Portious Warren, 176-1 (53.68m)
Personal Bests
Men
Shot Put – Kord Ferguson, 65-2 (19.86m)
Women
200 Meters – Tamara Clark, 22.53
200 Meters – Symone Darius, 23.38
400 Meters – Katie Funcheon, 53.27
Pole Vault – Britainy Smith, 13-8 ½ (4.18m)
Discus – Portious Warren, 176-1 (53.68m)
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
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Players Mentioned
