Alabama
Commodore Invitational
Alabama Track & Field Teams Open 2017 Indoor Season at Vanderbilt
1/12/2017 2:32:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama track and field teams open the 2017 season on Friday, Jan. 13, at the Commodore Invitational on the campus of Vanderbilt University. This will be Alabama's third straight year competing at the Commodore Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday with field events starting at 4 p.m. CT and running events at 7 p.m. CT. Saturday's action is set for a start time of 11 a.m. CT for the field events and 1 p.m. CT for the running events.
The Crimson Tide returns one NCAA champion from the 2016 season in long jumper Quanesha Burks, who claimed the women's indoor long jump crown along with both the indoor and outdoor Southeastern Conference titles in the event. Burks begins the 2017 season as one of 10 athletes on the women's preseason watch list for The Bowerman Trophy, awarded annually to college track & field's top athlete. Burks was a semifinalist for The Bowerman in 2015, becoming just the second Crimson Tide female athlete to earn that distinction. Burks and men's senior Jeremiah Green (triple jump) are the returning indoor All-Americans for the Tide in 2017. A total of 25 athletes (12 men, 13 women) who scored at the 2016 SEC indoor meet return for this season.
Burks Named to Bowerman Watch List
Alabama senior long jumper Quanesha Burks has earned a spot on the Preseason Women's Bowerman Award Watch List, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Jan. 3. The Bowerman Trophy is collegiate track and field's highest individual honor. The Watch List honor is the third for Burks. She previously appeared in 2015 and 2016.
In the Rankings
The Crimson Tide men are ranked 17th and the women 22nd in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Indoor National Team Rankings to begin the 2017 season.
Head Coach Dan Waters' Outlook
"We're excited for the start of the indoor season after putting in a lot of hard work this offseason. Both teams are highly motivated heading into the opening weekend, and I like where we stand overall. There are no sure things, and the only way to truly find out where you are is to compete against others, so that's what we are looking forward to most about this meet. We've got a balanced mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, so I really like the depth of the program this season."
Up Next
The Tide takes to the road for the Auburn Invitational, which will be held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 21.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.Â
Players Mentioned
