Alabama
NCAA East Preliminaries
Alabama Sends 10 to Nationals on Third Day of East Prelims
5/24/2024 11:47:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Victoria Faber, Oussama El Bouchayby, Clayton Elder, Corde Long, Khaleb McRae, Samuel Ogazi, Tarsis Orogot, Jekovan Rhetta, Chris Robinson and Matthew Weaver all advanced to the NCAA Championships
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Alabama track and field programs saw 10 student-athletes, across seven events, punch their ticket to the NCAA 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 competition at Kentucky's Outdoor Track and Field Complex.
In Alabama's opening event of the day, Victoria Faber suited up in the rescheduled women's pole vault. Sitting on her third-and-final attempt at the 4.20-meter threshold (13-9.25), the Crimson Tide senior sailed over the bar to stay alive for a spot in the national meet. Once the bar was raised to the 4.30-meter mark, Faber would become one of only three pole vaulters to clear the mark on the first attempt. The feat not only became a personal best for Faber, but also became the third-highest mark in UA history as Faber successfully earned a National Championships advancement for the first time in her career.
From there, the Crimson Tide men would steamroll through the track as nine student-athletes advanced to the national meet across six events.
In the first men's event of the day for UA, Jekovan Rhetta, Tarsis Orogot, Khaleb McRae and Matthew Weaver solidified their place in Eugene, Ore., behind a season-best, 39.03-performance in the 4x100-meter relay.
McRae (third | 44.78) returned to the track soon after, alongside Samuel Ogazi (first | 44.53, PB), as the duo calmly finished in the top-three overall en route to their Nationals-advancing performances. Oussama El Bouchayby would follow suit with a qualifying time of his own in the 800-meter quarterfinal after clocking the fourth-fastest time overall, at 1:45.69.
Later in the evening, UA's 400-meter hurdle trio of Clayton Elder (11th | 50.48), Corde Long (third | 49.27) and Chris Robinson (first | 48.77) glided through the event, highlighted by Robinson's facility-record performance. Joining the reigning national champion in the top three was the 2023 national runner-up, Long, before Elder rounded out the successful event with a personal-best performance.
In the very next event, Tarsis Orogot (20.00) advanced to Eugene, Ore., after he finished in the top three of his 200-meter heat. Competing in his signature head band and crazy socks, the Ugandan clocked the fifth-fastest time, overall, to secure his place at Nationals.
A short time later, Ogazi, Robinson, Weaver and McRae, after already advancing in other events, hit the track again, this time for the 4x400-meter relay. The squad not only broke the facility record (3:00.63), 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
- Victoria Faber (4.30m | 14-1.25) became Alabama's first field athlete to advance to the National Championships following her first-place tie in the rescheduled women's pole vault
- The Tide's 4x100-meter relay squad (Jekovan Rhetta, Tarsis Orogot, Khaleb McRae, Mattew Weaver) secured their trip to Eugene, Ore., by clocking 39.03 to finish sixth
- Samuel Ogazi and McRae secured their ticket to Nationals after finishing first (44.53, PB) and third (44.78) overall, respectively, in the 400-meter quarterfinal
- Oussama El Bouchayby clocked the fourth-fastest overall time (1:45.69) to secure his place at Nationals in the 800m
- Clayton Elder (11th | 50.48), Corde Long (third overall, 49.27) and Chris Robinson (first overall, 48.77 – facility record) advanced to Nationals in the 400-meter hurdles
- Their advancement gave the Tide its second event with at least two UA representatives at the NCAA Championships
- Tarsis Orogot clinched his place at Nationals after clocking the fifth-fastest overall time in the 200-meter quarterfinal (20.00)
- Ogazi, Robinson, Weaver and McRae teamed up to qualify in the 4x400-meter relay via a facility-record performance (3:00.63). The feat came after all four advanced in other events earlier in the evening.
East Prelims: UA Women Final Day Preview
- Alabama returns to Kentucky's Outdoor Track and Field Complex Saturday for the final day of the meet
- The fourth, and final, day of the East Prelims will start with the women's discus at noon CT as Amani Heaven looks to qualify for the national meet
- The Crimson Tide will compete in seven total events on Saturday, two field events and five track events
- Alabama will look to advance to Eugene, Ore., in the discus, high jump (Miracle Ailes), 4x100-meter relay, 3,000-meter steeplechase (Doris Lemngole), 200 meters (Na'Taja Ballard), 5,000 meters (Hilda Olemomoi) and the 4x400-meter relay
- Already qualified for Nationals are: Olemomoi (10,000m) and Victoria Faber (pole vault)
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Players Mentioned
