Alabama
NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Alabama Women Fourth and Men 11th After NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Opening Day
3/8/2019 10:08:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide women broke a pair of school records on the way to 10 team points, while a pair of UA seniors led the men to seven points after day one
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama track and field got off to a strong start on day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships, opening with a pair of school records and top-five finishes.
Alabama's women are tied for fourth in the team race after scoring 10 points on day one, while the men are 11th with seven points.
"We got off to a great start today," UA head coach Dan Waters said. "At this meet, if you can do what got you here, a lot of times you'll move up the standings, so to get things going with a pair of school records was strong for us."
Senior Stacey Destin got the scoring started for Alabama, taking fifth place in the pentathlon with a school record 4,287 points after coming in seeded 14th. She bettered her own school mark, set in 2017, by 101 points.
"I am very excited about what I have done for the team," Destin said. "It's my last competition as a senior so I thought I did a good job of leading the team in a positive way."
Senior Portious Warren uncorked a huge effort on her final throw, going 57-1.5 (17.41) to take third place in the shot put after coming into the meet ranked eighth. Already the only Alabama thrower over 56 feet, the SEC indoor shot put champion is now the first to throw over 57 feet, going more than three inches past her previous school record.
"I told myself I am going to leave something for the ladies behind me here at Alabama," Warren said. "I wanted to give them something to chase and be the best. I am glad I got here, and all my hard work is paying off."
Later in the evening, senior Kord Ferguson got the men on the board, taking sixth in the shot put with a throw of 65-0.5 (19.82m).
"I am happy about moving up on the list and getting sixth place," Ferguson said. "This competition is not easy, it is probably one of the best shot put competitions in NCAA history. I'm leaving here knowing I could have done better, so it makes me hungry for outdoor season."
Senior Vincent Kiprop closed day one by taking fifth in the men's 5,000 meters after coming into the meet ranked 16th. He crossed the line with a time of 13:47.38.
"I gave my school the best of my abilities today and I am ready for the next challenge," Kiprop said.
The Crimson Tide also advanced a pair of 200-meter runners to Saturday's finals. Sophomore Tamara Clark posted a 23.04 to earn a place in the women's final, while senior Keitavious Walter clocked a career-best 20.61 to earn his spot in the men's final.
In addition to Clark, the Tide women will run the 4x400-meter relay on Saturday. On the men's side of the meet, Walter will be joined by junior Shelby McEwen (high jump) and freshman Bobby Colantonio Jr. (weight throw) in the hunt for team points. McEwen is the nation's top seed in the high jump after posting a career-best 7-7 (2.31m) earlier this season.
McEwen gets the Tide started on the second and final day of the championships, with a 1 p.m. CT start in the high jump, while the women's 4x400m relay will close out the meet for the Tide.
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