Alabama
South Carolina Invitational
Crimson Tide Track and Field Continues Season at South Carolina Invitational
2/4/2021 4:39:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Competition begins at 8:30 a.m. CT on Friday inside the Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama track & field returns to Columbia following a weekend off, competing in the South Carolina Invitational Friday and Saturday inside the Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex.
The two-day meet will see the Crimson Tide compete against 10 programs, with five coming from the Southeastern Conference. Alabama will face conference opponents Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss and South Carolina, as well as non-conference opponents Alabama State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Furman, and North Carolina A&T.
The Alabama squad will compete throughout the second day of competition with the men's weight throw beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The last event Alabama will participate in will be the women's 4x400-meter relay taking off at 4:45 p.m. CT. Jacob Spotswood will open up the weekend on Friday, competing in the heptathlon at 8:45 a.m. CT.
Last Time Out
- Alabama heads to its second meet in Columbia and third meet of the season after competing in the Carolina Challenge two weeks ago
- The teams' achievements at the Carolina Challenge were highlighted by two facility records, a handful of top-10 times in the nation, and seven first place finishes
- Mercy Chelangat crushed the old facility record of 16:50.52 with a time of 15:52.19 in the women's 5,000-meter run securing the gold medal
- Alabama took home two silver medals in the weight throw, with Kieran McKeag (20.13m) representing for the men and Taylor Gorum (18.57m) for the women
- The Tide went 1-2 in women's shot put with Cherisse Murray (16.24m) finishing first and Nickolette Dunbar (15.86m) following suit
- Isaac Odugbesan picked up his first victory of the season with a toss of 18.46m in men's hot put, while teammate Nathan Cooper (15.75m) placed fifth
- For the second weekend in a row, Ryan Lipe (17-03.00/5.26m) won men's pole vault by the fewest number of attempts
- Eliud Kipsang cruised to a first-place victory in the men's one mile with a national top-10 time of 4:02.86
- Tamara Clark picked up two victories on the day with a win the women's 60m (7.28) and 200m (22.90)
Continuing the Cross Country Season
- Esther Gitahi will be the lone traveler to the Florida State Winter Cross Country Classic this weekend
- After a solid performance in the fall cross country season, Gitahi will compete in the 8 a.m. CT women's garnet 6,000-meter run at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Friday
- Gitahi finished the fall season with a fifth-place finish at the SEC Championships recording a 6k time of 20:10.50
- The women's runner never placed outside the top-10 during the fall season, with a fourth-place finish in the 6k race at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic and a 10th place finish in the 5k race at the Florida State Invitational
During the 2021 track season there will be no fans permitted at South Carolina Track and Field events. In accordance with SEC policy, no unattached athletes will participate at any meets throughout the season. Additionally, athletes, coaches, staff and officials will adhere to social distancing and masking measures.
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Players Mentioned
