Alabama Track and Field Set to Host Crimson Tide Invitational

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The outdoor season rolls on this weekend for the Alabama track and field teams, this time, though, on their home track. The Crimson Tide Invitational will run Friday (April 21) to Saturday (April 22) at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.

The weekend will also feature alumni reunion festivities throughout the two days, as well as a Senior Day recognition for Alabama's graduating class on Saturday afternoon. Alabama track and field alumni are encouraged to register for this weekend's events on RollTide.com.

Both the men's and women's programs enter the weekend ranked in the top-15, nationally, as the men come in at No. 4 while the women enter as the 13^th-ranked squad.

Earlier this week, standout sprinter Tarsis Orogot was named National Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as well as Men's Runner of the Week by the Southeastern Conference following his blistering 19.60 (+2.9) 200-meter time en route to the Tom Jones event title. Not only was his performance the third-fastest, all-conditions mark in collegiate history for the event, it was also the fastest, all-conditions time by any African in history.

The Meet

Samantha Kunza and Bobby Colantonio Jr. will kickstart Alabama's home meet in the hammer throw on Friday, with the first wave scheduled to begin at noon CT
The Tide will have 26 women and 39 men competing at the familiar facility
Alabama will be joined by Southeastern Conference foes Auburn and Mississippi State, as well as Alabama A&M, Hinds Community College, Indiana State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi Valley, Meridian Community College, North Alabama, Samford, Shorter, South Alabama, Southern Miss, TAMU – Kingsville, Troy, UAB and West Alabama

Last Time Out

During its second multi-meet weekend of the season, the Crimson Tide amassed 26 top-10 finishes, 11 UA all-time top-10 jumps, three school records and four edits to NCAA lists across meets in California (Bryan Clay Invitational) and Florida (Tom Jones Memorial)
Mercy Chelangat broke her own school record (31:55.80) in the women's 10,000-meter run at the Bryan Clay Invitational, while teammate Hilda Olemomoi also surpassed the original record (32:05.83) to finish first and second, respectively, in the event. It was the outdoor season debut for both Chelangat and Olemomoi.
In Gainesville, Fla., Tarsis Orogot clocked a sub-20-second time in the 200-meter event (19.60 (+2.9)). The historic performance is now the third-fastest, 200-meter all-conditons time in collegiate history.
For the second time in three weeks, Alabama's 400-meter hurdle school record was broken by Chris Robinson (48.66), also at the Tom Jones Memorial
- It was the third-straight outing where Robinson lowered his time in the event, having previously clocked a then-PR on March 31 in the event's preliminary heat before clinching the victory – and initial school record at the prestigious Texas Relays
On the third and final day of the weekend, Samantha Kunza got in on the action and broke the school record in the women's hammer throw (65.33m | 214-4) on only her second throw of the event

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