The Alabama women’s track and field team had a successful meet last weekend at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
“The team did fairly well,” said head coach Sandy Fowler. “There were a whole bunch of personal bests across the board.”
Runners who had personal bests or season bests at the meet were Kim Laing in the 60-meter hurdles, Chealsea Taylor in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, Heather Matherson in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, Kelsey Johnson in the 3000-meter, Katlyn Will in the mile, Leigh Gilmore in the mile, Elsbeth Denton in the mile, Katherine Strickland in the pole vault and the 4×400-meter relay team consisting of Talaya Owens, Taylor, Laing and Matherson.
Laing’s time of 8.35 seconds won the individual title in the 60-meter hurdles and is tied for the conference lead. The time also qualified her for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Johnson’s time in the 3000-meter run was just 0.81 seconds off the mark for an NCAA provisional qualifying time.
Fowler said the weekend gave her a good idea of who was doing well as they’re getting close to the conference championship. She also said the team has been in a rotation of who is doing well.
“Last week it was the jumpers and throwers, and now everyone is starting to get hot,” Fowler said. “I’m extremely proud of my team, and they have done very well. It has been a very good indication as to where they could be at the SEC Championship.”
Fowler said she also believes her team could be a top team at the NCAA Indoor Championship later this season.
Amethyst Holmes, a sophomore from Huntsville, said she thought everyone was consistent.
“Everybody did pretty well, and we’re excited about next weekend,” she said.
Holmes recorded a throw of 51 feet in the 20-pound weight throw last weekend and said that was near her personal best.
Taylor, a senior from Denver, said she saw progress last weekend in her performance, but that she remains unsatisfied.
“I ran faster, but it was definitely not satisfactory,” Taylor said. “I know I have faster times in me, and I’m not down about it because it’s still early in the season and if anything, I’m encouraged by it.”
Taylor competed in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4×400-meter relay and the long jump this past weekend, and also competes in the multi-event pentathlon and heptathlon.
Up next for the Crimson Tide is the Texas A&M Challenge in College Station, Texas, next weekend. The meet is different in that it is a scored meet and has three teams each from the Big 12, SEC and Conference-USA.
“We’re very excited about it, and the team is looking forward to it,” Fowler said. “It is great to have before the SEC Championship to see who is stepping up.”
