Alabama
Raleigh Relays
Alabama Track and Field Shines at Two Different Meets
3/26/2021 9:14:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide has a small contingent at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina while the main group is competing at the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays in Mississippi
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Competing in two different meets states apart, the Crimson Tide put up strong performance to start the weekend including a school-record from Mercy Chelangat in the 10,000-meters.
March has been a very good month for Chelangat, who won the NCAA cross country title two weeks ago. She became the first UA woman under 33 minutes in her first collegiate 10,000-meter race, going 32:31.43 to win the event at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina. She shattered the pervious Alabama mark of 33:05.43 from Elspeth Turner in 1988, by more than 30 seconds.
In Starkville, Miss., the Crimson Tide racked up eight top-three finishes at the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays on Friday, including gold medals for Samantha Kunza (hammer), Taylor Gorum (discus) and Natassha McDonald (400m).
2021 Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays Highlights
- The only two to go over 60-meters, Samantha Kunza (61.13m) and Taylor Gorum (60.58) went 1-2, respectively, in the women's hammer throw
- After taking second in the hammer, Gorum came back to take gold in the discus with a toss of 51.01m, making her the only woman in the competition over 50-meters
- The Tide women swept the medals in the 400-meters, led by Natassha McDonald (52.31), with Christal Mosley (54.13) and D'Jai Baker (54.82), going second and third, respectively
- Kieran McKeag medaled in the men's hammer throw with a throw of 67.62m, taking second and making him one of just two men to go over 60-meters and the only collegian
- Chago Basso led the Tide's efforts in the men's discus, taking third with a throw of 52.74m
- Joshua St. Clair led the Tide men in the 400-meters, taking fifth with a 47.79
2021 Raleigh Relays Highlights
- Mercy Chelangat led off the Tide's meet in Raleigh with a dominant, school-record setting win in the 10,000-meters, taking top honors with a 32:31.43, more than a minute ahead of the field and more than 30 seconds ahead of the previous school mark
- Vincent Kiprop posted a 28:23.60 to take second in the men's 10,000-meters, just .05 out of first and 10 seconds ahead of third place
- Kiprop's time in the 10k is the second fastest of his career and ranks fifth all-time for UA
- Leah Hanle posts a career-best 4:24.39 in the 1,500-meters, taking 16th place
Up Next
- Alabama finishes the Raleigh Relays on Saturday with Leah Hanle in the 3,000-meter steeplechase
- The Crimson Tide closes the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays with a full slate of events, totaling 17 between track and field events
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