Feb. 24, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Donald Thomas got the Auburn men's track team off to a solid start at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday by capturing the high jump title in a dominating performance. Thomas was the Tigers' only winner on the day, but six athletes qualified for Sunday finals in four events.
The Auburn men are in fifth place with 19 points, and the women are 12th with three points.
"Today is about putting yourself in a position to be a factor tomorrow," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "We got our key athletes qualified, but Donald Thomas was the highlight of the day. He was over for the SEC meet record, but clipped the bar with his heel."
Thomas entered the high jump at 2.05m (6-9) and did not foul until he attempted to break the SEC indoor meet record at 2.33m (7-7.75). Thomas captured the title after clearing 2.24m (7-1.75). Florida's Michael Morrison withdrew after clearing 2.18m (7-1.75).
"I prefer to compete when I have strong competition," Thomas said. "It is just more fun for me. My competitor had to drop out after 2.18, and it kind of took the fun out of it. I wasn't as hungry as I should have been for the 2.33 jump."
Three Tigers turned in top-10 finishes in the shot put led by Cory Martin placing fifth with a mark of 18.50m (60-8.5). Edis Elkasevic came in seventh with a throw of 17.92m (58-9.5), while Jacob Dunkleberger placed ninth with a season-best 17.20m (56-5.25) throw. Elkasevic is a thrower Spry is counting on for nationals, but his marks to date will not qualify him.
Shamar Sands and Ty Akins both qualified for Sunday's finals in the 60m hurdles prelims with times of 7.77 and 7.85, respectively. Sands' time was the second-fastest qualifying time, and Akins' was third.
Freshman Felix Kiboiywo impressed in his mile prelim, clocking the fastest time of the day at 4:05.57. Kiboiywo still needs to improve his time tomorrow or next week to have a chance at qualifying for nationals.
Jager Livingston continued to improve in the heptathlon, opening the day with a personal-best 8.72 in the 60m hurdles before pole vaulting 3.95m (12-11.5). He finished the day with a personal-best 2:40.05 in the 1,000m to win the event and sneak into sixth place overall, earning three points for the team.
In other men's action, Reuben McCoy ran for the first time this season in the 400m prelims and posted a time of 48.49, while Scott Novack clocked in at 1:56.22 in the 800m prelims. Simon Nyang posted a time of 8:56.53 in the 3,000m final to finish 20th.
Gregory Rogers and Hailey Foster ran in the 60m prelims and posted times of 6.98 and 6.95, respectively. Foster's time was a personal best and tied Rogers' effort from the Indiana Relays as the fastest time on the Auburn team this season.
The two competed again in the 200m and each finished with his best time of the season. Rogers crossed the finish line in 22.13 and Foster in 22.48. Neither Rogers nor Foster qualified for the finals.
Kerron Stewart performed to expectations for the women in the 60m, posting a time of 7.22, which tied her personal best in the event and qualified her for the finals on Sunday. Tracy Ann Rowe clocked in at 7.47, falling short of qualifying for the finals by .03 seconds. Freshman Shaquela Williams tied her personal best with a 7.70.
All three competed in the 200m and Stewart again was the fastest. She clocked in with the best time in the nation to date this season at 22.78. Rowe finished in a time of 23.47 to qualify for the finals. Williams slightly improved her season best to 24.96, but did not qualify for the finals.
Michelle Vaughn improved on her 13th-place SEC finish a year ago by placing sixth with a season-best mark of 6.09m (19-11.75) in the long jump.
Danielle Gilchrist was also highlight for the women, clocking a time of 8.38 in the 60m hurdles prelims to qualify provisionally for nationals and for Sunday's SEC final. Her time was a personal best by .09 seconds.
Amy Shaffer, Jessica Smith and Sabrina Fischer took to the track in the women's 800m prelims, but each failed to qualify for the finals. Smith finished the fastest with a season-best time of 2:15.46. She was followed by Fischer at 2:21.86 and Shaffer at 2:22.96.
Freshman distance runner Laurel Pritchard gave the 3,000m a try for the women and finished 20th with a time of 10:01.61. Tiffany Spy kicked off the day for Auburn in the weight throw with a mark of 13.92m (45-8) to place 16th.
Competition will continue Sunday at 9 a.m. CT with the men's weight throw. Live results will be posted after each event at www.ukathletics.com and a full recap of the Tigers' performances will be posted at www.auburntigers.com at the conclusion of the day.