KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Alabama’s Vincent Kiprop, Alfred Chelanga and Gilbert Kigen swept the top three spots in the men’s 10,000 meters to give the Crimson Tide the lead in the team standings after Day 1 of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Tenn. The finishes by Kiprop, Chelanga, Kigen and Daniel Haugh put Alabama in first place in the team standings with 30 points.
Kiprop crossed the finish line first in 29:16.64 with 2017 SEC champion Chelanaga finishing second in 29:17.30 and Kigen third in 29:19.20.
Haugh earned All-SEC honors for the fourth time in his career with a third place finish in the men’s hammer throw at 237-11.
The Crimson Tide women are in third place after one day with 11 points, Trailing Ole Miss and Missouri who are tied at first with 15 points. Alabama freshman McKenzie Yanek finished second in the women’s 10,000 meters in 35:03.33 to earn All-SEC honors. In the only other women’s final on Friday, senior Danielle McConnell finished sixth in the hammer throw with a mark of 190-2.
In women’s preliminaries, freshman Tamara Clark advanced to the final of the 200 meters with a heat-winning time of 22.80. Senior Kaitlin Walker finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.54 to advance to Sunday’s final.
In the lone men’s preliminary for Alabama on Friday, junior Keitavious Walter won his heat in the 200 meters (20.56) to advance to Sunday’s final. Sophomore Alize Ford finished 15th in 20.94 and did not advance.
