Jan. 19, 2007
CLEMSON, S.C. - The Auburn track and field teams kicked off the 2007 indoor season by earning three national qualifying marks Friday at the Clemson Invitational. Cory Martin and Jacob Dunkleberger earned qualifying marks in the weight throw, and Shamar Sands did the same in the 60 meter hurdles for the men's team.
"I felt today was pretty good for a first effort," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "I was just looking for us to be competitive and to get the ball rolling. We had some standout performances, and we only competed in a few events."
Martin registered a mark of 23.12m (75-10) in the weight throw, which was good enough to win the event, break his own Auburn indoor record and set a new Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex record. The mark is also an automatic NCAA qualifier that currently stands as the best throw in the nation thus far this season.
Dunkleberger provisionally qualified in the weight throw with a 20.82m (68-3) throw, which earned him a third-place finish. Sands provisionally qualified in the 60m hurdles prelims with a time of 7.81, while Ty Akins was .03 seconds from a provisional mark as well, turning in a time of 7.94 in the same event.
In other men's action, Gregory Rogers and Kiwanee Mitchell both qualified for the finals in the 60m dash with times of 6.97 and 7.09 seconds, respectively. Jhak Keegan also qualified for the 60m hurdles final with a time of 8.57 seconds.
Five women also qualified for Saturday's finals in running events. Tracy Ann Rowe turned in the day's best performance in the 60m dash with a time of 7.49 seconds, and Shaquela Williamson qualified in the same event with a time of 7.73.
Danielle Gilchrist registered a time of 8.57 seconds in the 60m hurdles to qualify for the finals with fellow Tigers Jasmine Johnson (8.90) and Amelia Anderson (8.94).
Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m. CT with the men's 60m hurdle finals and four field events.