Alabama
Florida Relays
Alabama Track & Field’s Dunning Smashes School Hurdles Mark on Florida Relays Opening Day
4/2/2021 8:13:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The senior became just the second Crimson Tide hurdler under 50 seconds at 400 meters, bettering Terry Menefee’s 1983 mark by nearly two-tenths of a second with a 49.70
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alabama track and field's Robert Dunning broke a nearly 40-year-old school record on day one of the Florida Relays, being held in Gainesville, Fla., this weekend.
The senior smashed the school 400-meter hurdles record with a 49.70, nearly two-tenths of a second better than Terry Menefee's 49.88 from 1983. Dunning Menefee are the only two UA men under 50 seconds in school history. Dunning's mark in Gainesville also ranks second in the nation this season.
Tamara Clark ran an outdoor PR of 22.50 to win the 200 meters. It is the best time in the nation this season and ranks her third all-time at UA behind Olympic medalists Lillie Leatherwood (22.38) and Pauline Davis (22.49). Overall, Clark now holds seven of UA's all-time top-10 outdoor 200-meter marks.
Eliud Kipsang also had a big day, running away from the field in the men's 1,500 meters with a career-best 3:40.35, more than three seconds ahead of his closest competitor. His time ranks him second all-time at UA behind the legendary David Kimani's 3:38.74 school record from 2001. The rookie now ranks third nationally in the 1,500 this season.
More Top-Five Finishes for Alabama
- Ryan Lipe took top honors in the men's pole vault after clearing 17-02.75 (5.25m), tying the 10th-best mark in school history
- Bobby Colantonio Jr. (223-06/68.12m) finished second and Kieran McKeag (219-07/66.93m) took fourth in the men's hammer throw
- Esther Gitahi took bronze in the women's 1,500 meters with a career-best time of 4:16.50, which gives her fourth-fastest time in UA history, the fastest since 1987 and the fourth fastest in the nation this season
- Isaac Odugbesan took third in the men's shot put with a toss of 62-07.25 (19.08m)
- Samantha Zelden took 4th in the women's javelin with a throw of 167-03 (50.97m), the 10th-best throw in school history
- Megan Patton is 5th in the women's 5,000 meters after cross the line at 16:48.74
Up Next
- Alabama closes out the Florida Relays on Saturday
- The field events start at 9 a.m. CT with the men's discus
- Events on the track get underway at 11 a.m. CT with the women's 100-meter hurdles
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