Alabama
NCAA East Preliminary
Bobby Colantonio Jr., Victor Kiprop Punch Alabama’s First Tickets to Nationals on Opening Day of East Prelims
5/24/2023 11:45:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Colantonio Jr. secured his spot for the NCAA Championships via a third-and-final attempt in the men’s hammer, while Kiprop clocked the fastest 10,000-meter time in the East Region to claim his place in Austin, Texas
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On the opening day of the NCAA East Prelims, both Bobby Colantonio Jr. and Victor Kiprop became the first two Alabama track and field athletes to qualify to the NCAA National Championships.
Entering his final attempt of the event, hammer thrower Colantonio Jr. found himself in 13th place, one spot shy of the top-12 qualifying threshold. Minutes later, the seven-time All-American recorded a 68.66-meter throw (225-3) to secure his fourth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (no NCAA championship in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic).
Closing the night, reigning Southeastern Conference champion Kiprop ran away with the 10,000-meter to become the Tide's second Nationals qualifier for the opening day. The Iten, Kenya, native remained in striking distance until the final two laps where he took the lead and never looked back. Kiprop's 28:54.97 time was the fastest time recorded in the entire East Region.
Earlier, in the track preliminary events, 400-meter runner Khaleb McRae became Alabama's first athlete to advance to an event final. McRae clocked the fastest, preliminary time (45.50) to secure his automatic qualifying spot in Friday's final as the top seed.
Four-hundred-meter hurdle duo Chris Robinson (49.47) and Corde Long (49.48) also secured their spots in Friday's event final after winning both of their respective heats en route to a first and second place, overall finish, respectively.
Tarsis Orogot became the Crimson Tide's final athlete to advance out of the preliminary round, clocking a new PR (20.12) en route to a heat-winning, second-place overall finish to advance to Friday's 200-meter final.
Long, McRae, Orogot and Robinson will have to finish in the top 12 of their respective event final to punch their ticket to the NCAA National Championships (June 7-10), held in Austin, Texas.
Crimson Tide Top Finishes
- Bobby Colantonio Jr. punched his ticket to the National Championships on his final attempt of the hammer throw, recording a 68.66-meter throw (225-3) to finish seventh in the event
- Khaleb McRae clocked the fastest, preliminary 400-meter run (45.50), spanning across six heats, to advance to Friday's event final where he will have the opportunity to qualify for Nationals
- Chris Robinson (first overall, 49.47) and Corde Long (second overall, 49.48) both advanced to Friday's event final after winning their, respective, 400-meter hurdle, preliminary heats
- Tarsis Orogot set a new PR (20.12) en route to a heat-winning, second-place overall finish to advance to Friday's 200-meter final
- Victor Kiprop concluded the opening night by clinching his ticket to the National Championships via an East Region-leading performance (28:54.97) in the men's 10,000-meter run
East Prelims: UA Women Preview
- Alabama returns to North Florida's Jax Track at Hodges Stadium Thursday for the beginning of the women's competition. Preliminary track events will occur Thursday with event finals taking place Saturday.
- The second day of the East Prelims will start with the women's hammer at 9 a.m. CT as Chelsea Igbearese, Taylor Gorum and Samantha Kunza look to clinch their spot at Nationals
- The Crimson Tide will compete in eight total events on Thursday, four field events and four track events
- Six UA athletes can punch their National Championship ticket in the field events (Gorum, Igberaese, Kunza, Caelyn Harris, Cherisse Murray, Hailey Poole), as well as two athletes in the 10,000-meter run (Mercy Chelangat, Hilda Olemomoi)
- The three remaining track events (1,500m: Flomena Asekol | 100m: Milan Fields | 200m: Fields, Na'Taja Ballard, Amari Brown) will have ticket-clinching opportunities on Saturday, upon the athletes advancing in their respective event
- Top-15 nationally ranked UA women's events include:
- Flomena Asekol - No. 12, 1,500m | Mercy Chelangat - No. 2, 10,000m and No. 4, 5,000m | Hilda Olemomoi - No. 4, 10,000m and No. 6, 5,000m | Chelsea Igberaese - No. 9, shot put and No. 12, discus
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