Alabama
NCAA East Preliminary
Alabama Sends Nine to Nationals on Third Day of East Prelims
5/26/2023 9:29:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Antonio Crisco (4x100m relay), Alan de Falchi (discus), Corde Long (400m hurdles, 4x400m relay), Khaleb McRae (400m, 4X400m relay), Tarsis Orogot (200m, 4x400m relay), Jekovan Rhetta (4x100m relay), Chris Robinson (400m hurdles, 4x400m relay), Quincy Scott (4x100m relay) and Matthew Weaver (4x100m relay) all advanced to the NCAA National Championships
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –The Alabama track and field men's program saw nine student-athletes, across six events, punch their ticket to the NCAA National Championships, as the Crimson Tide's entire 4x400-meter relay contingent advanced in multiple events. The third day of the NCAA East Prelims served as the conclusion of the men's action competition at North Florida's Hodges Stadium.
In Alabama's opening event of the day, Alan de Falchi earned his qualifying spot after finishing fifth in the discus (57.59m | 188-11). The thrower used his third and final attempt to secure his place at Nationals.
On the track, Antonio Crisco, Jekovan Rhetta, Quincy Scott and Matthew Weaver solidified their place in Austin, Texas, behind a 39.98-performance in the 4x100-meter relay. Khaleb McRae would follow suit with a qualifying time of his own in the 400-meter final after clocking 46.32 to finish in the top three of his heat.
Later in the evening, 400-meter hurdle duo Corde Long and Chris Robinson clocked the fastest two times in the East Region in the event final to become the fourth pair of Crimson Tide athletes to qualify for Nationals in the same event (Chelsea Igberase/Cherisse Murray: women's shot put; Taylor Gorum/Samantha Kunza: women's hammer; Mercy Chelangat/Hilda Olemomoi: women's 10,000m).
In the very next event, Tarsis Orogot advanced to Austin, Texas, after he finished in the top three of his 200-meter heat. Competing in his signature head band and crazy socks, the Ugandan clocked UA's fourth-fastest time (20.08) in program history to secure his place at Nationals.
A short while after advancing in individual events, Long, McRae, Orogot and Robinson hit the track again, this time for the 4x400-meter relay. The squad not only won their heat (3:06.80), but secured yet another ticket to the NCAA National Championships in the final event of the men's East Region preliminary competition.
Crimson Tide Top Finishes
- Alan de Falchi (57.59m | 188-11) became Alabama's seventh field athlete to advance to the National Championships following a fifth-place finish in the men's discus
- The Tide's 4x100-meter relay squad (Antonio Crisco, Jekovan Rhetta, Quincy Scott, Matthew Weaver) secured their trip to Austin, Texas, by clocking 39.98 to finish 12th
- Khaleb McRae secured his ticket to Nationals after finishing second in his heat (fifth overall) behind a 46.32-performance in the 400-meter final
- Corde Long (first overall, 49.98) and Chris Robinson (second overall, 50.09) punched their tickets to Nationals by clocking the East Region's top-two times in the 400-meter hurdle final. The duo became the fourth UA pair to advance to Nationals in the same event.
- Tarsis Orogot clinched his place at Nationals after clocking UA's fourth-fastest time, in program history, in the 200-meter final (20.08). He finished sixth overall to secure his spot in the next round in Texas.
- Long, McRae, Orogot, Robinson teamed up to qualify in the 4x400-meter relay via a heat-winning performance (3:06.80). The feat comes after all four advanced in individual events earlier in the evening.
East Prelims: UA Women Final Day Preview
- Alabama returns to North Florida's Jax Track at Hodges Stadium Saturday for the final day of the women's competition
- The fourth, and final, day of the East Prelims will start with the women's discus at 12 p.m. CT as Taylor Gorum and Chelsea Igberaese look to each earn their ticket in their second event
- The Crimson Tide will compete in six total events on Saturday, one field event and five track events
- Alabama will look to punch tickets to Austin, Texas, in the discus, 4x100-meter relay, 1,500 meters (Flomena Asekol), 100 meters (Milan Fields), 200 meters (Na'Taja Ballard) and the 4x400-meter relay
- Already qualified for Nationals are: Gorum (hammer), Igberaese (shot put), Mercy Chelangat (10,000m), Caelyn Harris (long jump), Samantha Kunza (hammer), Cherisse Murray (shot put) and Hilda Olemomoi (10,000m)
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
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