Alabama
Raleigh Relays
Crimson Tide Opens Outdoor Campaign with Four Edits to Program’s Top-10 Lists
3/26/2026 10:55:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Three Alabama distance runners and one thrower used all-time program best performances to earn top-five finishes in their respective events
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Alabama track and field opened its outdoor campaign in a pair of meets, as four Crimson Tide athletes recorded all-time top-10 performances Thursday.
In her UA debut, Catalina Rodriguez recorded a 61.83-meter (202-10), second-place finish in the women's hammer throw on the opening day of the Bulldog Relays. The performance placed her No. 8 all-time at UA, while teammate Noelle Igberaese also logged a top-five finish in the event (fifth, 53.64m | 176-0).
Over in Raleigh, N.C., a trio of men's distance runners clocked top-five finishes across the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m. Ezekiel Pitireng's PR-setting, third-place finish of 8:29.64 in the steeplechase moved him to No. 3 all-time at UA, before teammate Bismack Kipchirchir's fifth-place run of 8:34.71 placed him at No. 5 in Crimson Tide history. Dennis Kipruto took fourth in the 5,000-meter run (13:37.75) behind a PR-setting performance that moved him to No. 6 all-time in program history.
The Crimson Tide will return to the track Friday for the second day of both the Bulldog Relays and the Raleigh Relays.
Day One Top Results – Bulldog Relays
- Hammer Throw
- 2nd: Catalina Rodriguez | women's | 61.83m (202-10) | No. 8 all-time UA
- 5th: Noelle Igberaese | women's | 53.64m (176-0)
Day One Top Results – Raleigh Relays
- 3,000m Steeplechase
- 3rd: Ezekiel Pitireng | men's | 8:29.64 | PR, No. 3 all-time at UA
- 5th: Bismack Kipchirchir | men's | 8:34.71 | No. 5 all-time at UA
- 5,000m
- 4th: Dennis Kipruto | men's | 13:37.75 | PR, No. 6 all-time at UA
Players Mentioned
