EUGENE, Ore. – The Alabama men’s team wrapped up individual competition at the NCAA Track & Field Championships with three All-America performances on a cold, wet, windy Friday evening at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
Junior Ruebin Walters finished second in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 13.54, posting the best finish for Alabama in the events since Ron Bramlett won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. It also gives the Crimson Tide All-Americans in the event in back-to-back seasons. Tony Brown finished sixth at the 2016 championships.
Junior Jereem Richards finished third in the 200 meters in 20.55. The finish is the best for Alabama in the 200 since Calvin Smith finished second in 1982 and 1983. The finish caps a stellar individual outdoor season for Richards, one where he posted four of the 10-fastest times in school history and break Smith’s 24-year-old school record of 19.99 with a time of 19.97 at the NCAA East Regional on May 27. The two are the only men to run under 20 seconds in the 200 meters at Alabama. Richards was also slated to run for Alabama in the final of the 4×400-meter relay later on Friday.
Senior Steven Gayle finished seventh in the 400 meters in 45.59 to earn first-team All-America honors in the event for the second time in his career at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Gayle finished fifth in the event at the 2015 NCAA Championships. He is the first double All-American in the 400 meters for Alabama since Olympic champion Kirani James won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
