Alabama’s Taylor Gorum Breaks School Record, Bobby Colantonio Jr. Claims Event Title in Final Home Competition of Career

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On the opening day of the Crimson Tide Invitational, Alabama track and field’s Taylor Gorum broke the school record in the women’s hammer throw, while Bobby Colantonio Jr. won the men’s hammer invite in his final home competition of his standout career.

The Crimson Tide began its home meet with the women’s hammer invite as Taylor Gorum (third | 65.84m | 216-0), Samantha Kunza (fourth | 64.90m | 212-11) and Chelsea Igberaese (fifth | 64.26m | 210-10) each placed among the top five, collegiately. The event was highlighted by Gorum’s school-record-breaking performance.

It is now the second time in six days, and the second consecutive meet, that the record has fallen, as Kunza originally set the new standard last Saturday, April 15.

The men’s hammer throw events would round out the first day in Tuscaloosa. For the final time of his career competing at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium, Colantonio Jr. took home Alabama’s first event win of the day. The reigning SEC individual champion needed only his second throw to seal the victory after launching a 69.26-meter (227-3) mark.

Following Gorum’s performance Friday afternoon, it is now the seventh time this outdoor season alone that an Alabama school record has fallen.

Sixty-three Alabama student-athletes will compete during the final day of the home meet. Gorum and Igberaese will kickstart the action for Alabama in the women’s discus throw, starting at 11 a.m. CT.

Crimson Tide Top Finishes

• Bobby Colantonio Jr. needed only his second attempt, in his final home competition of his career, to claim the eventual first-place crown in the men’s hammer throw (69.26m | 227-3)
• Taylor Gorum broke the school record in the women’s hammer throw en route to her third-place, collegiate finish (65.84m | 216-0)
  

Up Next

• Alabama returns to action Saturday for the final day of the Crimson Tide Invitational. The Tide will begin at 11 a.m. CT in the women’s discus.
• Alabama will hold its Senior Class recognition at 2 p.m., before the beginning of the track events

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– UA –