May 14, 2008

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama men's track and field team will head across the state this weekend to compete in the 2008 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Auburn, Ala. on the Hutsell-Rosen Track. The decathlon competition will begin on Thursday starting at 3:00 p.m. and the meet will continue on through Sunday.

Alabama will compete in Auburn with over half of the conference being ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 25 including No. 3 Florida, No. 4 LSU, No. 8 Auburn, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 15 Arkansas, No. 17 Kentucky, and No. 24 Georgia.

The Crimson Tide placed ninth last season on its home oval at the SEC Championships. Alabama won the meet in 1950, 1952, and 1980 and finished in second place eight times with the latest coming in 1985.

Alabama looks to improve on its ninth place finish last year by returning most of the team as well as a few new additions including the school record holder in the 10,000m Tyson David. Last year's outdoor meet produced three top three finishes for the Tide. Augustus Maiyo placed second in the 3,000m steeplechase and Emmanuel Bor placed third in the 1,500m and 5,000m. Both runners return this year.

David, the 5,000m SEC Indoor champion will look to add the outdoor title to his accolades. Maiyo comes into the meet with the fastest steeplechase time in the SEC of 8:35.36 with the closest competitor over 12 seconds back. Bor has the fastest 5,000m time in the SEC by almost seven seconds of 13:45.84 as well the second fastest 1,500m time of 3:42.02, only .15 behind the leader.

Senior All-American Michael Cooley will attempt to add an All-SEC accolade to his name as he holds the No. 4 spot on Alabama's All-Time list in the 200m with a 20.54.

Tim Grier will be looking to become the SEC long jump champion, a feat not accomplished by an Alabama jumper during the outdoor season since 1995.

Top 5 in SEC
1500 -		2nd	Emmanuel Bor		3:42.02
5000 -		1st	Emmanuel Bor		13:45.84
                  5th	Tyson David		13:53.67
10000 -		3rd	Tyson David		28:47.54
                  4th	Augustus Maiyo		28:49.92
                  5th	Andrew Kirwa		29:19.58
Steeplechase -	1st	Augustus Maiyo		8:35.36
High Jump - 	5th	Tyler Boswell		6-08.75
Long Jump -	3rd	Tim Grier		         25-04.00