
Alabama Track and Field Closes Two-Meet Weekend Strong
3/27/2021 9:58:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide tallied a dozen top-five finishes between the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays and Raleigh Relays
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama closed its two-meet weekend with a number of strong performances on Saturday, including a dozen top-five finishes between the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relay in Starkville, Miss., and the Raleigh Relay in Raleigh, N.C.
A weekend that opened with a school record and the win in the 10,000-meters from Mercy Chelangat in Raleigh, closed with four gold-medal performances in Starkville from Natassha McDonald (200 meters), Robert Dunning (110-meter hurdles), Taylor Gorum (shot put) and Ryan Lipe (pole vault).
Alabama Highlights on the Final Day of the Al Schmidt Relays
- Natassha McDonald blew away the field in the women's 200 meters, going 23.05, more than a half second ahead of the field
- McDonald also won the 400 meters on Friday with a 52.31
- Robert Dunning won the men's 110-meter hurdles in a time of 13.45, edging Crimson Tide alum Ruebin Walters, who ran a 13.59
- The Tide went 1-2 in the women's shot put with Taylor Gorum (15.64 meters) getting the win, followed by Nickolette Dunbar (15.52m)
- Gorum also won the discus on Friday with a throw of 51.01m
- Ryan Lipe cleared 5.25 meters to win the men's pole vault
- Kristen Hopkins finished second in the women's javelin after a throw of 46.52 meters
- Sydney Milani took second in the women's 400-meter hurdles with a 1:00.94
- Talaya Lewis ran an 11.75 to take bronze in the women's 100 meters and went 23.90 to take fifth in the 200 meters
- Chago Basso used a throw of 17.68 meters in the men's shot put to earn third place on Saturday after also taking third in the discus on Friday
- Matthew Weaver posted the Crimson Tide's top finish in the 400-meter hurdles with a 53.86, taking fourth
- Riley White led Alabama's pole vault contingent taking fifth with a clearance of 3.5 meters
- Kristoni Barnes went a 2:12.82 in the 800 meters to take sixth place
- Braden Pyron posted Alabama's top throw of the day in the men's javelin, taking seventh with a 57.41 meters
- Aysia Ward led Alabama in the long jump with a leap of 5.62 meters, good for eighth
- Joshua St. Clair finished ninth in the men's 200 meters after going a time of 21.21
Alabama Highlights on the Final Day of the Raleigh Relays
- Leah Hanle finished fifth in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase as the Crimson Tide's only Saturday competitor in Raleigh
- Hanle's time of 10:07.81 is the fastest of her career and fourth fastest all-time for Alabama
Up Next
- Alabama returns to action April 1-3 at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla.
- After its trip to Gainesville, UA hosts the Crimson Tide Invite April 8-10 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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