Bama Softball Rained Out On Friday
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SEC Tournament To Continue Today
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – Both of the Friday games in the 2017 Southeastern Conference Softball Tournament had to be postponed due to inclement weather. Both games have been rescheduled for today, with the University of Alabama facing the Ole Miss Rebels in the first semifinal game. Start time is scheduled 10 a.m. CT. The second contest between Auburn and LSU is slated for a 1 p.m. CT start. The Tide-Rebel game can be seen on the SEC Network, while the Auburn-LSU contest can be viewed on ESPN2. The SEC Tournament championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT tonight and will be broadcast by ESPN.
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Quanesha Burks Wins 3rd-Consecutive Long Jump Title
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Men's Team Continues To Lead SEC Championships
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| Quanesha Burks Captures 3rd-Consecutive Long Jump Title Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
Hartselle, Alabama native Quanesha Burks has captured her third-consecutive women's long jump title, and joins Iris Gronfeldt (Javelin- 1983-84-85-86), Pauline Davis (100 meters- 1986-87-88) and Beth Mallory (Discus- 2004-05-06) as the only UA female student-athletes to win three or more SEC outdoor championships in a single event.
Inclement weather threatened and shut down competition for about 30 minutes on Friday evening, but then Burks "took the stage" with an opening jump of 22-4 ½ (6.82m). On her sixth and final turn she hit the same mark, the fourth-best in Crimson Tide Track & Field history.
Following her win, Burks commented, "This one is special because it's my senior year and I really wanted to go out with a bang at the last SEC meet of my life. The best way to do that is as an SEC champion. It's great to finish with a win. Coming in as a freshman I never thought of doing anything like this. This is just amazing."
Burks showed her determination and ability when, the delay and further threat of inclement weather later in the evening, caused the meet to move up the competition, and the Bama phenom was forced to run in the preliminaries of the 100 meters following her second attempt in the long jump. Despite the sudden change in events, Burks was able to qualify for today's final with her time of 11.21, her second-fastest of the season.
Alabama track and field head coach Dan Waters said follow the Friday competition, "I couldn't be more proud of Quanesha's efforts today. Keeping focus between qualifying in the 100 and trying to win the long jump just shows what a true competitor she is. She's in very elite company as a three-time event champion at Alabama."
Tide junior Haley Teel put in a second-place finish in the women's shot put with a toss of 54-6 ½ (16.62m), the fourth-best in school history. It was senior Lakan Taylor capturing fourth place in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-8 ¼ (4.17m). Senior Hannah Waggoner finished seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:28.70 in the only track final for the Bama women.
Turning to the women's preliminaries, Alabama was able to advance in the 1,500 meters and 400 meters in addition to Burks qualifying in the 100 meters. Advancing in the 1,500 meters, sophomore Nicole Gardner recorded a personal-best time of 4:24.26, while freshman Takyera Roberson (52.51) and senior Domonique Williams (53.05) were both able to qualify for the 400 meters final.
The Crimson Tide women have moved into second place with 30 points through seven events heading into today's final day of competition. Arkansas is first with 73 points, followed by Bama with 30, then Ole Miss comes in at third place with 27.5 points. Georgia and Kentucky are tied for fourth with 27 points.
Turning to the Alabama men, it was men's discus getting things started strong with a second, third and fifth place finish. Joe Williams took second place with a throw of 195-3 (59.53m), his second-best effort of the season. Sophomore Kord Ferguson came in fourth place at 187-5 (57.13m) and sophomore Daniel Haugh finished fifth at 187-3 (57.08m). In Friday's only other men's final involving the Tide, senior Antibahs Kosgei finished second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:54.94 in his first outing in the event since competing in last season's SEC Outdoor Championships.
In men's preliminary action on Friday, Alabama junior Ruebin Walters reached the final in the hurdles with a time of 13.69. Senior Robbie Farnham-Rose advanced in the 1,500 meters in 3:47.76 while senior Steven Gayle was able to qualify in the 400 meters in a time of 46.08.
Alabama continues to lead in the men's team competition with 54 points through eight events. Texas A&M is currently second with 38 points Georgia is third with 35 and then Ole Miss and Arkansas come in tied for fourth with 31 points.
Waters again commented last evening, "We competed hard on the men's side tonight and did what we needed to do to get to the final session [Saturday]. We advanced three more to finals [Saturday] so we'll be all over the track [today]. I'm very proud of the way Antibahs ran tonight after what he did in the 10,000 meters on Thursday. I was also impressed with the way our discus group battled to get us started. That was big for us."
Day 3 of the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin today at 10 a.m. CT with the women's javelin competition. Running events are slated to start at 2:15 p.m. CT with the men's 4x100-meter relay.
Here's a look at yesterday's events:
Men's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 2
Prelims
110-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters finished fifth in the prelims of the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.69 to advance to Saturday's final. Fellow junior Angelo Goss finished 10th in 14.21 and did not advance.
1,500 Meters – Senior Robbie Farnham-Rose finished seventh in the prelims of the men's 1,500 meters in 3:47.76 to advance to Saturday's final. Senior Payton Ballard finished 17th in 3:51.46 and did not advance.
400 Meters – Senior Steven Gayle finished ninth in the prelims of the men's 400 meters in 46.08 to advance to Saturday's final.
100 Meters – Junior Tony Brown (10.37) and freshman Alize Ford (10.60) finished 11th and 21st in the prelims of the men's 100 meters and did not advance to Saturday's final. The outing was the first for Brown this season.
Finals
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Senior Antibahs Kosgei finished second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:54.94 in his first outing in the event since last season's SEC Outdoor Championships.
Discus – Senior Joe Williams finished second in the men's discus with a throw of 195-3 (59.53m), his second-best throw of the season. Sophomore Kord Ferguson finished fourth at 187-5 (57.13m). Sophomore Daniel Haugh finished fifth at 187-3 (57.08m). Senior Hayden Reed finished 11th with a mark of 175-9 (53.58m).
Women's Event Summaries – SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships- Day 2
Prelims
1,500 Meters – Sophomore Nicole Gardner finished ninth in the prelims of the women's 1,500 meters in a personal-best 4:24.26 to advance to Saturday's final. Freshman Rebecca Buteau finished 20th in 4:38.16 and did not advance.
400 Meters – Freshman Takyera Roberson (52.51) and senior Domonique Williams (53.05) finished third and seventh, respectively, in the prelims of the women's 400 meters to advance to Saturday's final. Roberson's time is a personal-best.
100 Meters – Senior Quanesha Burks finished fourth in the prelims of the women's 100 meters in 11.21 to advance to Saturday's final. Burks' time is her second-fastest this season.
Finals
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Senior Hannah Waggoner finished seventh in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:28.70.
Pole Vault – Senior Lakan Taylor finished fourth in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-8 ¼ (4.17m).
Alabama Series
Taylor – 12-8 ¼ (3.87m) (Pass); 13-2 ¼ (4.02m) (xxo); 13-8 ¼ (4.17m) (o); 14-0 (4.27m) (xxx)
Long Jump – Senior Quanesha Burks captured her third consecutive SEC outdoor long jump title with a leap of 22-4 ½ (6.82m) on her first attempt of the competition. Burks would go on to equal that jump on her final attempt of the evening. The mark is the fourth-best in school history. Junior Filippa Fotopoulou finished 11th at 20-4 ¼ (6.20m). Sophomore Kiara Williams finished 12th at 20-0 ¼ (6.10m)
Alabama Series
Burks – 22-4 ½ (6.82m); 22-1 (6.73m); Pass; 20-7 ¼ (6.28m); 22-1 (6.73m); 22-4 ½ (6.82m)
Filippa Fotopoulou – 20-3 (6.17m); Foul; 20-4 ¼ (6.20m)
Kiara Williams – 19-2 (5.84m); 20-0 ¼ (6.10m); 19-10 ¾ (6.06m)
Shot Put – Junior Haley Teel finished second in the women's shot put with a mark of 54-6 ½ (16.62m), the fourth-best mark in school history.
Alabama Results
Men
Team Scoring
1. ALABAMA- 54
2. Texas A&M- 38
3. Georgia- -35
4t. Arkansas- 31
4t. Ole Miss- 31
Women
Team Scoring
1. Arkansas- 73
2. ALABAMA- 30
3. Ole Miss- 27.5
4t. Georgia- 27
5t. Kentucky-27
*Statistics courtesy of RollTide.com
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
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Florida Squeezes Out Win Over Alabama Baseball
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Amelia Barton |
UA men's baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "That's what a Friday night game is supposed to look like; you just wish you can come out on the other end. Jake (Walters) threw really well tonight. His command was good, and he was really sinking his fastball. He was tremendous for us, and that's the best I've seen him look all year."
Bama starting pitcher Jake Walters tossed 7.0 innings of one-run baseball while striking out a season-high tying eight batters, allowing only two hits as well as issuing two walks last evening. Garrett Suchey (2-7) came on in relief, allowing the go-ahead run on one hit and a walk with two strikeouts to be credited for the loss.
Concerning the Florida starting pitcher, Goff said, "(Alex) Faedo was really good, too. We just didn't get the big hit when we needed to. We had guys in scoring position, but we just didn't get the big hit."
Kyle Kaufman and Cobie Vance were one-for-three on the night. Kaufman is credited with one run while Vance picked up one RBI. Both Chandler Taylor and Alex Webb were one-for-four in the contest.
Alabama and Florida face off again tonight at Sewell-Thomas Stadium at 6 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide will start sophomore left-hander Dylan Duarte, while the Gators will send sophomore righty Brady Singer to the mound.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Amelia Barton |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Amelia Barton |
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Alabama Rowing Competes In Big 12 Championships Today
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
There will be six Crimson Tide crews competing in six races in the championships, beginning with the First Varsity 8+ at 1 p.m. CT and continuing with the Second Varsity 8+ (1:30 p.m. CT), First Varsity 4+ (2 p.m. CT), Second Varsity 4+ (2:30 p.m. CT), Third Varsity 8+ (3 p.m. CT) and a Third Varsity 4+ exhibition race (3:30 p.m. CT). Grand and Petite-level finals in the five championship events are slated for an 8 a.m. CT start on Sunday.
Alabama's 1V4+, 2V4+ and 3V8+ are a third seed, the 1V8+ are seeded fifth and the 2V8+ sixth. Four teams will compete in the 3V4+ exhibition race, with the Tide a second seed.
UA won medals in the First Varsity 4+ and the Third Varsity 8+ last season, its first-ever medals at the conference championships. In total, the Tide sent three boats to grand finals and two to petite finals, placing in the top three in four of the five.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
