MT starts outdoor slate at Alabama Relays

Friday, March 21

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Middle Tennessee

Alabama Relays

Photo by: MT Athletic Communications

3/20/2014 3:40:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee track & field teams travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to start the 2014 outdoor season at the Alabama Relays Friday and Saturday.

Four Middle Tennessee athletes completed the indoor season March 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M., at the NCAA Championships, while the remaining Blue Raiders concluded the season at the Conference USA Championships Feb. 28-March 1.

Among the athletes that competed at the NCAA Championships, Cordairo Golden earned his second career First Team All-America honor in the triple jump. Golden placed eighth with his second-best distance of the indoor season (15.80-meters), while India Hammond finished 10th in the women's triple jump with a distance of 12.70-meters for second team honors.

Current Middle Tennessee record holder in the 800-meter indoor and outdoor, Eliud Rutto, finished 12th overall in the field of 16 and fourth in his heat (1:51.98) at the NCAA. Emmanuel Tugumisirize captured the ninth-best time and his second fastest of the season in the 400-meter (46.80). Both Rutto and Tugumisirize earned Second Team All-America honors

Eight Middle Tennessee athletes finished in the top three at the conference meet in Birmingham, Ala. Rutto and Tugumisirize each won the 800-meter and 400-meter titles, respectively. Rutto also added a third-place finish in the mile (4:07.93). Junior Cadet set a new personal-best time in the 60-meter hurdles (8.02) for second, while freshman Tahir Walsh notched a personal-best time in the 200-meter (21.48) for third. Golden also set a new career-best distance in the triple jump for second (16.02m).

For the women's squad, Hammond tallied a third place finish in the long jump (5.76m), while Lucy Kapkiai added a third place finish in the 5,000-meter run (16:49.17).

The Blue Raiders open the outdoor season in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and results will be posted following the completion of the events on each scheduled day.