Alabama
Bryan Clay Invitational
Track and Field Collects Seven Top-Five Finishes on Final Day of Bryan Clay, Tom Jones Memorial Invitational
4/14/2024 2:32:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide posted 11 top-10 finishes to conclude the weekend meets
GAINESVILLE, Fl. – On the final day of the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, Alabama Track and Field grabbed six top-five finishes to conclude the weekend meet.
Nathan Cooper highlighted the final day of action, recording a personal-best 17.08-meter (56-0.50) throw en route to a third-place finish in the men's shot put.
Before the day was over, Barry Evans (fifth | discus throw), Ruben Banks (fourth | hammer throw), Khaleb McRae (fifth | 400-meter), Tarsis Orogot (fifth | 100-meter) and the squad of Jekovan Rhetta, Orogot, Josh Thomas and Matthew Weaver (fourth | 4x100-meter relay) all recorded top-five finishes in their respective events.
On the west coast at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Joel Gardner posted a second-place finish in the men's 5,000-meter, clocking a personal-best 14:23.28.
In total, Alabama would claim three event titles and 16 top-10 finishes while in Gainesville, Fl., in addition to two event titles and four top-10 finishes while in Azusa, Ca. Seven different athletes also adjusted UA's all-time top-10 lists in the weekend competitions.
HEAD COACH DAN WATERS
"Great weekend of racing. Multiple records set – school records, national records, and NCAA-leading times. We had several standout moments: Hilda (Olemomoi) running the second-fastest 5K in collegiate history, Taris (Orogot) setting the Ugandan and East African record in the 200m, and Chris (Robinson) improving his sixth-fastest collegiate record in the 400m hurdles, along with a plethora of PRs. As we get closer to postseason, still room for improvement, but great weekend overall."
CRIMSON TIDE TOP FINISHES – TOM JONES MEMORIAL
- Amani Heaven finished sixth in the women's discus with a 49.05m (160-11) throw
- Barry Evans (fifth | 50.12m | 164-5) and DeMarco Lemons (ninth | 48.08m | 157-9) returned a pair of top-10 finishes in the men's discus throw
- With his final throw, Ruben Banks claimed fourth in the men's hammer throw invite with a 64.77-meter (212-6) throw
- Chandler Hayden finished sixth in the women's hammer throw invite with a 62.30-meter (204-5) mark
- Nathan Cooper grabbed a third-place finish in the men's shot put with a personal-best 17.08-meter (56-0.50) throw
- The men's 4x100-meter relay squad of Jekovan Rhetta, Tarsis Orogot, Josh Thomas and Matthew Weaver placed fourth after clocking a 39.09
- That's the tenth-fastest time in school history
- Khaleb McRae (fifth | 45.25) and Samuel Ogazi (sixth | 45.29) added a pair of top-10 finishes in the men's 400-meter invite
- Ogazi's time is a PR as well as the fifth-fastest time in school history
- Tarsis Orogot claimed fifth in the men's 100-meter after clocking a 10.23
CRIMSON TIDE TOP FINISHES – BRYAN CLAY
- Joel Gardner grabbed second in the men's 5,000-meter open C with a personal-best 14:23.28
UP NEXT
- Alabama will return to the track Saturday, April 20, competing in the Tiger Track Classic, in Auburn, Ala.
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Players Mentioned
