Conteh Signs With The University of Alabama


Margaret Conteh is bound for Tuscaloosa in the fall. The state champion sprinter from Girard College announced Friday via Instagram that she will attend the University of Alabama.

She joins a Crimson Tide women's team that just placed fourth as a team at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Conteh, who specializes in the 200 meters and 400 meters, will help bolster an already talented sprint program at Alabama.

Conteh is the third Girard College sprinter in as many years to sign with a NCAA Division I school. Two years ago, Thelma Davies signed with LSU, and last year Donovan Sanders went to Penn State. Like Davies, Conteh will be headed to the SEC.

Conteh capped off her PIAA career in impressive fashion last month at the state meet in Shippensburg. She won both the AA 400 and 200 meters. She went 54.27 to win the 400 meters, breaking the AA meet record, and came back to run a PR of 24.58 in the 200. A week earlier, she ran a time of 53.88 to win the PIAA District 1 title in the 400 -- also a meet record. That time is currently the 17th fastest time in the country.

Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, Conteh surely would have had a shot at PIAA state titles in 2020 in both the 200 and 400, which she won this spring. But coming off her lost junior outdoor season, Conteh had a strong senior indoor season this past winter. She clocked bests of 54.72 for 400, 39.32 for 300, and 24.80 for 200. She placed second in the 400 meters at adidas Indoor Nationals.

Watch an interview with Conteh after her double state title-winning performance at the PIAA State Championships below.