COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Alabama Crimson Tide men stormed to their first conference title since 1972 on the final day of the 2018 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Track & Field Stadium in College Station, Texas. In second place after Saturday’s events, the Tide roared to the front of the pack behind a 21-point performance in the 5,000 meters and four additional top-three finishes on Sunday to clinch the crown.
“This was a total team championship,” head coach Dan Waters said following the meet. “Everyone contributed. One of the most impressive things about this championship was where the points came from. Our freshman triple jumper, Christian Edwards, finishing second. Kord Ferguson finishing second in the shot put with an amazing mark. Shelby McEwen winning the high jump for our only individual title. Our distance runners scoring 31 points in the 3,000 and 5,000. It was a total team effort and that’s how we built this program. Everyone chipped in one way or another.”
Alabama won the title with 91 points, three points ahead of runner-up Arkansas (88). Florida (83.5), Texas A&M (75.5) and Georgia (71) round out the top five.
The conference crown is the sixth indoor championship in school history. The men previously won the SEC in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1972.
Alabama entered the day trailing Saturday leader Florida, 30.5-28 following junior Shelby McEwen’s win in the high jump, a second place finish by senior Daniel Haugh in the weight throw and third- and fifth-place finishes by Vincent Kiprop and Gilbert Kigen, respectively, in the 3,000 meters. The Gators extended the lead with multiple scorers in Sunday’s first-five events but senior Ruebin Walters and junior Keitavious Walter kept the Tide within striking distance with second- and seventh-place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles and 60 meters, respectively.
However, it was the longest race of the day that catapulted the Crimson Tide into championship contention as juniors Kigen, Kiprop and seniors Alfred Chelanga and Conner Thompson finished 2-3-5-6 in the men’s 5,000 meters for 21 points to push Alabama into a lead it would not relinquish.
Alabama continued to pile up the points as senior Will Herrscher and freshman Jake Spotswood finished 3-4 in the pole vault. Freshman Christian Edwards and junior Kord Ferguson added second-place finishes in the triple jump and shot put, respectively, and Walter finished sixth in the 200 meters. Alabama clinched the championship with an eighth-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay, the final event of the evening.
“I’m just so proud of everyone,” Waters added. “From our student-athletes to our assistant coaches, support staff and our administration. It’s been a seven-year process to get here so it’s extremely rewarding to win this championship. We’ve built a complete program and it took every part of it – sprinters, hurdlers, distance, jumpers, vaulters, throwers – coming through to win this title. To do something like this takes a lot of hard work and dedication. If you buy in to that, you’ll see the fruits of your labor. That’s what we saw tonight.”
Leading the way for the Alabama women on Sunday were freshman Daija Lampkin and junior Stacey Destin. Lampkin finished fifth in the 200 meters in 23.16, which ranks as the fifth-fastest time in school history, and, along with sophomores Takyera Roberson and Symone Darius and freshman Tamar Clark, turned in the fourth-fastest time in UA history in the 4×400-meter relay. The quartet finished fourth in 3:34.50.
Other scorers for the Crimson Tide included junior Tamara Moncrieffe, who finished sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 42-7 ½ (12.99m); junior Kristyn Williams (2:08.33) and senior Kaitlin Walker (2:09.37), who were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 800 meters and sophomore Elisabeth Danis, who ran a personal-best 16:47.92 for an eighth-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
The Tide women finished eighth at this year’s SEC championships with 37 points. Arkansas claimed the women’s title for the fourth year in a row with 108 points.
Alabama will return to College Station in two weeks to compete in the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 9-10. Qualifiers for the NCAA meet will be announced this week.
Men’s Event Summaries – SEC Championships Day 2
Pole Vault – Senior Will Herrscher and freshman Jake Spotswood finished 3-4 in the pole vault, both clearing 17-0 ¾ (5.20m). The clearance for Spotswood equals his personal best. Freshman Ryan Lipe finished 11th at 16-2 ¾ (4.95m)
Alabama Series
Herrscher – 15-9 (4.80m) (ppp); 16-2 ¾ (4.95m) (ppp); 16-8 ¾ (5.10m) (o); 17-0 ¾ (5.20m) (xxo); 17-3 ¾ (5.28m) (xxx)
Spotswood – 15-9 (4.80m) (ppp); 16-2 ¾ (4.95m) (xo); 16-8 ¾ (5.10m) (o); 17-0 ¾ (5.20m) (xxo); 17-3 ¾ (5.28m) (xxx)
Lipe – 15-9 (4.80m) (ppp); 16-2 ¾ (4.95m) (xxo); 16-8 ¾ (5.10m) (xxx)
Triple Jump – Freshman Christian Edwards jumped a personal-best 52-3 ¼ (15.93m) on his final attempt of the competition to finish second in the triple jump. Sophomore Michael Wiggins finished ninth at 49-9 ¾ (15.18m).
Alabama Series
Edwards – Foul; 49-1 (14.96m); 50-10 ¼ (15.50m); 50-3 ¼ (15.32m); Foul; 52-3 ¼ (15.93m)
Wiggins – 49-9 ¾ (15.18m); Foul; 49-4 ½ (15.50m); Foul; Foul; 49-3 ½ (15.02m)
Shot Put – Junior Kord Ferguson finished second in the shot put with a mark of 65-9 ¾ (20.06m) on his fifth throw of the competition. The mark ranks No 2 all-time at Alabama. Ferguson has now recorded four of the top eight efforts all-time at Alabama this season.
Alabama Series
Ferguson – 64-6 ¾ (19.68m); 62-5 ¼ (19.03m); 62-9 ¼ (19.13m); Foul; 65-9 ¾ (20.06m); Foul
60-Meter Hurdles – Ruebin Walters finished second in the 60-meter hurdles in 7.69, the seventh-fastest time in school history. The finish is the best for Alabama at the SEC Championships since Ron Bramlett won the event in 2001 and 2002.
60 Meters – Junior Keitavious Walter finished seventh in the 60 meters in 6.71.
5,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen (13:49.76), Vincent Kiprop (13:50.31), Alfred Chelanga (14:07.80) and Conner Thompson (14:27.36) finished 2-3-5-6 in the M 5,000 meters. The times for Kigen and Kiprop rank No. 9 and 10 all-time at Alabama.
200 Meters – Junior Keitavious Walter finished sixth in the 200 meters in a personal-best 20.8.
Distance Medley Relay – The quartet of freshman Drew Williams, senior Ruebin Walters, junior Conner Ferrentino and senior Alfred Chelanga finished 10th in the distance medley relay in 10:09.71.
4×400-Meter Relay – Alabama’s 4×400-meter relay of seniors Okeen Williams and Keitavious Walter, freshman Champion Allison and junior Skyler Bowden finished eighth in 3:09.52
Women’s Event Summaries – SEC Championships Day 2
Triple Jump – Junior Tamara Moncrieffe finished sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 42-7 ½ (12.99m) on her final attempt. Freshman Jaimie Robinson finished 11th at 41-4 (12.60m).
Alabama Series
Moncrieffe – Foul; 41-10 ¾ (12.77m); 41-8 (12.70m); 41-10 ¾ (12.77m); Foul; 42-7 ½ (12.99m)
Robinson – 41-4 (12.60m); 41-1 ¾ (12.54m); 40-11 (12.47m)
High Jump – Junior Stacey Destin finished third in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10 ¾ (1.80m), equaling her second-best mark of the season.
Alabama Series
Destin – 5-7 (1.70m) (o); 5-8 ¾ (1.75m) (o); 5-10 ¾ (1.80m) (o); 6-0 ¾ (1.85m) (xxx)
Mile – Junior Nicole Gardner finished ninth in the mile in a time of 4:55.05
800 Meters – Junior Kristyn Williams finished fifth in the 800 meters in a season-best 2:08.33. Senior Kaitlyn Walker finished sixth in a personal-best 2:09.37.
200 Meters – Freshman Daija Lampkin finished fifth in the 200 meters in 23.16, the second-fastest of her debut season and fifth-fastest in school history.
5,000 Meters – Sophomore Elisabeth Danis (16:47.92) and freshman McKenzie Yanek (16:50.23) finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 5,000 meters. Danis’ time is a personal- and UA season-best.
Distance Medley Relay – The Crimson Tide distance medley relay of junior Nicole Gardner, sophomore Hope Mazi and seniors Kaitlin Walker and Caroline Barlow finished 10th in 11:49.28.
4×400-Meter Relay – Alabama’s 4×400-meter relay quartet of freshman Daija Lampkin, sophomores Takyera Roberson and Symone Darius and freshman Tamara Clark finished sixth in 3:34.50, the fourth-fastest time in school history.
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Saturday, February 24, 2018
College Station, Texas (Texas A&M University)
Men
Team Scoring
1. ALABAMA – 91
2. Arkansas – 88
3. Florida – 83.5
4. Texas A&M – 75.5
5. Georgia – 71
Finals
Prelims
60 Meters – 7. Keitavious Walter, 6.71
200 Meters – 6. Keitavious Walter, 20.86 (PB)
5,000 Meters – 2. Gilbert Kigen, 13:49.76; 3. Vincent Kiprop, 13:50.31; 5. Alfred Chelanga, 14:07.80; 6. Conner Thompson, 14:27.36
60-Meter Hurdles – 2. Ruebin Walters, 7.69
Distance Medley Relay – 10. Alabama (Drew Williams, Ruebin Walters, Conner Ferrentino, Alfred Chelanga), 10:09.71
4×400-Meter Relay – 8. Alabama (Okeen Williams, Keitavious Walter, Champion Allison, Skyler Bowden), 3:09.52
Pole Vault – 3. Will Herrscher, 17-0 ¾ (5.20m); 4. Jake Spotswood, 17-0 ¾ (5.20m) (PB); 11. Ryan Lipe, 16-2 ¾ (4.95m)
Triple Jump – 2. Christian Edwards, 52-3 ¼ (15.93m) (PB); 9. Michael Wiggins, 49-9 ¾ (15.18m)
Shot Put – 2. Kord Ferguson, 65-9 ¾ (20.06m) (PB)
Women
Team Scoring
1. Arkansas – 108
2. Georgia – 84.5
3. Kentucky – 74
4. LSU – 63
5. Texas A&M – 62
6. Florida – 61
7. Ole Miss – 42
8. ALABAMA – 37
Finals
200 Meters – 5. Daija Lampkin, 23.16
800 Meters – 5. Kristyn Williams, 2:08.33 (SB); 6. Kaitlin Walker, 2:09.37 (PB)
Mile – 9. Nicole Gardner, 4:55.05
5,000 Meters – 8. Elisabeth Danis, 16:47.92; 9. McKenzie Yanek, 16:50.23
Distance Medley Relay – 10. Alabama (Nicole Gardner, Hope Mazi, Kaitlin Walker, Caroline Barlow), 11:49.28 (SB)
4×400-Meter Relay – 6. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Takyera Roberson, Symone Darius, Tamara Clark), 3:34.50
High Jump – 3. Stacey Destin, 5-10 ¾ (1.80m)
Triple Jump – 6. Tamara Moncrieffe, 42-7 ½ (12.99m); 11. Jaimie Robinson, 41-4 ¼ (12.60m)
Alabama Superlatives
School Records
Women
Shot Put – Portious Warren, 56-3 ¼ (17.15m) (SR)
School Top-10 Performances
Men
Weight Throw – 2. Daniel Haugh, 74-10 (22.81m)
Weight Throw – 7. Daniel Haugh, 73-8 ¾ (22.47m)
60-Meter Hurdles – T-8. Ruebin Walters, 7.71
3,000 Meters – 4. Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
3,000 Meters – 7. Gilbert Kigen, 7:59.04
High Jump – T-2. Shelby McEwen, 7-4 ¼ (2.24m)
High Jump – T-5. Shelby McEwen, 7-3 (2.21m)
60-Meter Hurdles – 7. Ruebin Walters, 7.69
Shot Put – 2. Kord Ferguson, 65-9 ¾ (20.06m)
Shot Put – 3. Kord Ferguson, 64-6 ¾ (19.68m)
Shot Put – 7. Kord Ferguson, 62-9 ¼ (19.13m)
Shot Put – 8. Kord Ferguson, 62-5 ¼ (19.03m)
Pole Vault – T-9. Will Herrscher, 17-0 ¾ (5.20m)
Pole Vault – Jake Spotswood, 17-0 ¾ (5.20m)
5,000 Meters – 9. Gilbert Kigen, 13:49.76
5,000 Meters – 10. Vincent Kiprop, 13:50.31
Women
200 Meters – 2. Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Shot Put – 1. Portious Warren, 56-3 ¼ (17.15m)
Shot Put – 2. Portious Warren, 55-11 ¾ (17.06m)
Shot Put – T-9. Portious Warren, 54-7 ½ (16.65m)
200 Meters – 5. Daija Lampkin, 23.16
4×400-Meter Relay – 4. Alabama (Daija Lampkin, Takyera Roberson, Symone Darius, Tamara Clark), 3:34.50
Personal Bests
Men
400 Meters – Okeen Williams, 46.84
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter, 20.89
3,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
3,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen, 7:59.04
Shot Put – Kord Ferguson, 65-9 ¾ (20.06m)
Pole Vault – Jake Spotswood, 17-0 ¾ (5.20m)
Triple Jump – Christian Edwards, 52-3 ¼ (15.93m)
Women
60 Meters – Tamara Clark, 7.29
60 Meters – Daija Lampkin, 7.36
Mile – Nicole Gardner, 4:50.87
400 Meters – Takyera Roberson, 53.91
400 Meters – Mauricia Prieto, 54.02
400 Meters – Hope Mazi, 55.23
800 Meters – Kaitlin Walker, 2:07.61
200 Meters – Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Team Season Bests
Men
200 Meters – Keitavious Walter, 20.89
3,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop, 7:55.79
Women
60 Meters – Tamara Clark, 7.29
400 Meters – Takyera Roberson, 53.91
Weight Throw – Daniel Haugh, 74-10 (22.81m)
800 Meters –Kaitlin Walker, 2:07.61
Long Jump – Filippa Fotopoulou, 20-6 ¼ (6.25m)
200 Meters – 5. Daija Lampkin, 23.03
Individual Season Bests
Men
High Jump – Shelby McEwen, 7-5 ¼ (2.24m) (tie)
Women
Long Jump – Stacey Destin, 19-1 ¼ (5.82m)
800 Meters – Kristyn Williams, 2:08.50 (PSB);
PB – Personal Best
PSB – Personal Season Best
TSB – Team Season Best
SR – School Record
MR – Meet Record
NM – No mark
NH – No height
DNF – Did not finish
DNS – Did not start
Q – Qualified for final with heat finish
q – Qualified for final with heat time
