Alabama
Crimson Tide Invitational
Alabama Track and Field Closes the Crimson Tide Invitational with Eight Wins and a School Record
4/12/2019 6:23:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Senior Portious Warren bettered her own school mark in the shot put, going 57-10.50 (17.64m)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama track and field followed a great Thursday night of competition at the Crimson Tide Invitational with an even better day on Friday, closing the meet with eight wins and a school record on the day.
"We knew we were going to perform well at home and we did," UA head coach Dan Waters said. "We had great performances in nearly every event. I think we had season bests and personal bests - just really good performances - from top to bottom, throughout the meet. For a lot of our people this was their opening weekend of the outdoor season, this was their jumping off point. Where they've started is incredibly high already, so we look forward to the meets to come and the championship portion of the season. We are only going to get better and better from this point."
Senior Portious Warren won the shot put with a throw of 57-10.5 (17.64m) in the shot put, crushing her own school record set earlier this season at the Florida Relays and retaking the national lead. Senior Haley Teel took second in the shot with a throw of 55-03.75 (16.86).
"This weekend I tried to go into the meet with a different kind of mindset," Warren said. "Tried not to be complacent with whatever mark I started with. It was my last home meet and I just wanted to put on a show. I was able to come out with a school record and PR, so I am grateful for that."
Senior Kord Ferguson opened the day with a season-best mark of 199-00.0 (60.66m) to win the shot put by more than 18 feet, before coming back and winning the discus with a meet-record mark of 65-04.0 (19.61m). Freshman Chago Basso was third in the shot put with a career-best 60-01.25 (18.32).
"I think everyone is super excited because some of the variables today," Ferguson said. "We had to overcome like the weather. I think it's pretty optimistic going forward saying, 'okay, we did this under these circumstances, what can we do when the weather is really good, the competition is really good and we're at our peak?' We're all really excited because I think we have some big steps coming."
The Tide opened the running events with a scorching 4x100-meter relay win, with sophomore Daija Lampkin, junior Mauricia Prieto, senior Krystal Sparling and sophomore Tamara Clark combining to post a season-best 43.63, which ranks fifth in the nation coming into the weekend.
Proving they not only have speed, but depth as well, the Crimson Tide women, had seven of the top-eight finishers in the 200 meters, including the top four. Lampkin and Clark went 1-2, with times of 22.95 and 22.99, respectively. Both women ran under the previous meet record of 23.28 set last year.
Alabama also went 1-2 in the women's 400 meters, with Prieto breaking the meet record with a 52.68 on the way to the win, while junior Katie Funcheon took second in a time of 54.06.
NCAA indoor high jump champion Shelby McEwen got his outdoor season started with a leap of 7-03.0 (2.22m), good for the win and a top-five national rank. Senior Will Herrscher set a new Crimson Tide Invitational record on his way to winning the pole vault, clearing 17-00.75 (5.20m).
Senior Skyler Bowden won the men's 400 meters with a meet record and personal best of 45.91, while senior Keitavious Walter cranked out a 20.49 in the men's 200 meter to finish second.
Sparling was first among collegians and second overall in the 100 meter after running a 11.51. Junior Abigail Kwarteng was second in the women's high jump with a leap of 5-10.75 (1.80m). Senior Tamara Moncrieffe was second in the triple jump after a season-best 41-05.0 (12.62m), while senior Kiara Williams took third in the women's long jump, and second among collegians, with a leap of 19-11.5 (6.08m).
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Players Mentioned
