Alabama track and field athlete Doris Lemngole set a new facility record at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, with a time of 9:13.12 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the NCAA East First Rounds. This performance marks the second-fastest time in NCAA history for the event. Lemngole, who is the reigning national champion in the steeplechase, now holds three of the fastest times ever recorded in NCAA competition.
Miracle Ailes also qualified for the National Championships by achieving a season-best mark of 1.82 meters (5-11.50) in the high jump. Precious Nzeakor advanced as well, posting a time of 23.03 seconds in the 200-meter race.
In total, Alabama will send 21 student-athletes to compete in 14 events at the National Championships scheduled for June 11-14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Head coach Dan Waters commented on his team’s performance: “Our team showed incredible grit and focus this week – advancing the number of student-athletes we did is a testament to their hard work, and we’re excited to carry this momentum to the National Championships in two weeks. I couldn’t be prouder of how everyone competed throughout this meet – they supported each other, they rose to every challenge and represented the University of Alabama with excellence. This was a total team effort, and they’ve truly earned their shot on the national stage.”
Lemngole’s early lead and strong finish helped her secure first place in her heat and add another top collegiate time to her record. The performances by Ailes and Nzeakor also contributed to Alabama’s strong showing at the regional meet.
The qualifiers from Saturday include Miracle Ailes (women’s high jump), Doris Lemngole (women’s 3,000m steeplechase), and Precious Nzeakor (women’s 200m).
