TAMPA, Fla. – The Alabama track and field teams continued to excel in the throws at the NCAA East Preliminary on Friday as juniors Daniel Haugh and Kord Ferguson advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men’s discus and junior Portious Warren qualified for the national meet in the women’s discus.
The trio were joined in qualifying on Friday by senior Britainy Smith (women’s pole vault) and freshman Tamara Clark (women’s 100 meters), giving the Tide eight individual qualifiers in seven events in the first two days of competition at the University of South Florida.
Haugh and Ferguson finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in the men’s discus to earn trips to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships. Haugh, who was already headed to Eugene after qualifying in the hammer throw on Thursday, posted a mark of 182-9 on his first throw of the competition. Ferguson launched a throw of 180-6 on his second attempt to secure his spot.
Smith was the first qualifier for the Tide women on Friday, tying for third in the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 13-8 ½. The Tampa, Fla., native will be making her first NCAA Championships appearance. Clark joined Smith on the women’s qualifier list with a 10th place finish in the 100 meters in 11.21. Warren finished fifth in the discus with a personal-best throw of 176-1. The effort ranks No. 5 all-time in school history. She joins Haugh as the Tide’s second double qualifier after already securing a spot at the national championships in the women’s shot put Thursday evening.
