Distance Events Take Center Stage on Opening Day of PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

Friday, January 30

Louisville, Ky.

All Day

Alabama

PNC Lenny Lyles Invite

1/17/26 MWTR Alabama vs Indiana Invitational
Alabama Track & Field Athlete McCauley Flanagan (Sprints)
Photo by Jeff Hanson

Photo by: Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

Distance Events Take Center Stage on Opening Day of PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

1/31/2026 12:25:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country

Day 1 Final Results (Web)

The women’s distance medley relay clocked a top-five NCAA time this season as the Crimson Tide’s Caren Kiplagat claimed the women’s 3,000-meter title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Alabama track and field kickstarted the two-day PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational with its distance events headlining Friday's competition. Freshman Caren Kiplagat ran a 9:04.96 to win the women's 3,000-meter race, a time that's the fifth-fastest all-time at UA and No. 17 in the NCAA this season, while the women's distance medley relay team took first behind an 11:19.99 performance, a time that's the fourth-fastest in the NCAA this season and No. 7 all-time at UA.

Before the day was done, six UA student-athletes finished in the top 10 of the men's 3,000m as Dismus Lokira (7:55.80) and Ezekiel Pitireng (7:57.14) took second and third, respectively. Nelson Pariken (fifth, 7:58.74), Dennis Kipruto (sixth, 7:59.12), Hamdani Benahmed (seventh, 7:59.13) and Bismack Kipchirchir (10^th, 8:03.04) rounded out the top 10.

Crimson Tide multi-athlete John Landers concluded the first day of the men's heptathlon which featured PR performances in both the long jump (6.89m | 22-7.25 | 788 points) and the high jump (1.88m | 6-2 | 696 points) to place him in eighth place with a running total of 2,916 points.

Day Two Schedule

Landers will return to the track with the remaining heptathlon events resuming at 9 a.m. (60m hurdles, pole vault, 1000m)
UA track events will begin at 9:10 a.m.
- Men's 60m – Patrick Daves
UA field events will start at 11:20 a.m.
- Men's high jump – Daves

Day One Top Results

Heptathlon Day 1
- 60m
  - 8^th: John Landers | 7:14 – 833 points
- Long Jump
  - 6^th: Landers | 6.89m (22-7.25), PR – 788 points
- Shot Put
  - 9^th: Landers | 11.88m (38-11.75) – 599 points
- High Jump
  - 6^th: Landers | 1.88m (6-2), PR – 696 points
- Running Point Total
  - 8^th: Landers | 2,916 points
Distance Medley Relay
- 1^st: Milicent Wafula, Macauley Flanagan, Gabriella Hernandez, Cynthia Jemutai | women's | 11:19.99 | No. 4 NCAA this season, No. 7 all-time UA
800m
- 4^th: Jo'Lissa Coe | women's | 2:12.30
- 7^th: Colvin Bussey | men's | 1:52.49
- 10^th: John O'Donnell | men's | 1:52.92
3,000m
- 1^st: Caren Kiplagat | women's | 9:04.96 | No. 17 NCAA this season, No. 5 all-time UA
- 2^nd: Dismus Lokira | men's | 7:55.80
- 5^th: Nelson Pariken | men's | 7:58.74
- 6^th: Dennis Kipruto | men's | 7:59.12
- 7^th: Hamdani Benahmed | men's | 7:59.13, PR
- 10^th: Bismack Kipchirchir | men's | 8:03.04