Alabama
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Alabama Men Post Fifth-Consecutive Top-15 Finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships
6/11/2022 12:26:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide closed strong, getting top-five finishes in the 200 meters and 4x400-meter relay, to finish 11th with 21 points
EUGENE, Ore. – The Alabama track and field men's team finished strong on Friday to take 11th place at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus. The Crimson Tide scored 21 points over two days of men's competition, finish just one point out of a tie for ninth place.
This year's finish marked the Alabama men's fifth-consecutive top-15 finish and 18th in program history at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Tide closed the meet with Leander Forbes, Demetrius Jackson, Corde Long and Khaleb McRae using their second school-record run in a row to take third place in the final of the 4x400-meter relay with a 3:00.17, earning First Team All-America recognition. It was Alabama's best finish in the 4x400-meter relay since taking second in 1985.
After coming into the championships as the No. 12 seed, and into the championship finals as the ninth seed, Tarsis Orogot blasted a 20.48 in the 200-meter finals to take fifth place and earn First Team All-America honors. Orogot's times was just off his career-best of 20.32, which he set in the semifinals round on Wednesday, while his finish was the Tide's best at the outdoor national championships since Jereem Richards was third in 2017.
With the men's meet in the books, the Crimson Tide women look to close out their championship run strong on Saturday.
Alabama Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"I'm really proud of the way we made the most of our opportunities tonight. Tarsis came in as the No. 12 seed in the 200 meters, made it into the finals after finishing ninth in the semfinals and then raced hard and moved up to fifth tonight. It was the same with Leander, Demetrius, Corde and Khaleb in the 4x400, coming in with the 14th best time and using back-to-back school records to finish third, our best finish since the mid-80s. We're also super proud of Bobby (Colantion Jr.) and Isaac (Odugbesan) for scoring points on the first day, and of everyone who made it to this meet. We have just an amazing roster built for next year. To not accomplish some of the goals we had was a little tough, but knowing we have a great roster next year energizes the whole program. I think sometimes you have to come away from a meet like this a little disappointed, so that you can come back the next year with the right amount of energy, focus and determination to win the big trophies next year."
Scoring for the Alabama Men
- In addition to Tarsis Orogot taking fifth in the 200 meters and the 4x400-meter relay finishing third, the Crimson Tide men had a pair of throwers earn team points on Wednesday
- Isaac Odugbesan posted his highest individual finish at the NCAA Championships, taking third in the shot put with a throw of 20.48 meters
- In addition to being a personal best for Odugbesan, it was also Alabama's best finish in the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Hreinn Halldorsson also took third in 1980
- With his finish, Odugbesan has now earned First Team Indoor and Outdoor All-America honors in the shot put in 2022
- Bobby Colantonio Jr. got the men started with a First Team All-America performance in the hammer throw, taking fourth with a toss of 71.97 meters
- It was the best finish of his career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and came on the heels of his NCAA title and All-America performance in the weight throw at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships
Final Day for the Tide Women (Saturday)
- After winning the NCAA 10,000 meters title on Thursday, Mercy Chelangat returns to action Saturday night in the 5,000 meters
- Amaris Tyynismaa will also run the 5,000 meters on Saturday following a strong showing at the NCAA East Preliminary
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Players Mentioned
