Alabama Claims Three Medals on Opening Day of NCAA Track and Field Indoor Championships

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Alabama track and field teams kicked off the first day of the NCAA Indoor Championships by claiming three podium finishes across two events.

Hilda Olemomoi and Mercy Chelangat finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s 5,000-meter final, as the two first team All-Americans claimed the Crimson Tide’s first medals of the weekend. Bobby Colantonio Jr. followed suit in the men’s weight throw (23.40m | 76-9.25), securing Alabama’s third medal of the opening night.

Flomena Asekol opened the national championship meet in the women’s mile prelim. Her 4:39.63 third-place finish solidified her spot in Saturday’s final. Tarsis Orogot also advanced to Saturday’s 200-meter final after breaking his own school record (20.17).

Gallery: (3-10-2023) MWTR NCAA Division I Championships

Crimson Tide Top Finishes

• Asekol advanced to Saturday’s final of the mile via a third-place preliminary finish at 4:39.63
• Olemomoi (16:11.08) and Chelangat (16:11.63) claimed silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s 5,000-meter final to claim first team All-American status
• Chelsea Igberaese (21.49m | 70-6.25) and Taylor Gorum (20.37m | 66-10) finished 10^th and 15^th, respectively, in the women’s weight throw to earn second team All-American honors
• Chris Robinson finished three spots shy of the last 400-meter qualifying time for Saturday’s final, crossing the line at 46.00
• Colantonio Jr. won silver in the men’s weight throw after launching a 23.40-meter (76-9.25) throw to secure his first team All-American status
• Orogot advanced to Saturday’s final of the 200m after clocking 20.17 to effectively break his own school record set earlier this year

Up Next

• Alabama returns to the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday for track event finals, the women’s 3,000-meter race and the men’s triple jump

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