Alabama’s track and field team began the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, with strong performances in the distance events on Friday. Freshman Caren Kiplagat won the women’s 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:04.96, which ranks as the fifth-fastest ever at Alabama and is currently 17th in the NCAA for this season.
The women’s distance medley relay team also secured first place with a time of 11:19.99. This result is the fourth-fastest in the NCAA this season and seventh-best all-time at Alabama.
In the men’s 3,000-meter race, six Alabama athletes finished among the top ten. Dismus Lokira placed second (7:55.80) and Ezekiel Pitireng took third (7:57.14). Nelson Pariken was fifth (7:58.74), Dennis Kipruto sixth (7:59.12), Hamdani Benahmed seventh (7:59.13), and Bismack Kipchirchir tenth (8:03.04).
John Landers represented Alabama in the men’s heptathlon, finishing day one in eighth place with a total of 2,916 points after personal bests in both the long jump and high jump.
The invitational continues Saturday with Landers returning for more heptathlon events starting at 9 a.m., followed by additional track and field competitions later in the morning.
