Jan. 26, 2008
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Auburn men's and women's track and field teams posted one automatic and four provisional NCAA qualifying marks during competition Saturday at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic hosted by the University of Florida. It was the second indoor meet of the year for Auburn, which sent a partial squad for the second weekend in a row.
Senior Ty Akins recorded Auburn's automatic qualifying mark Saturday, winning the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.15, which is just .01 seconds shy of the school record set by James Walker in 1978. It marked the second weekend in a row that Akins won the men's hurdles event after winning the Clemson Invitational 60m hurdles last Saturday.
Seniors Reuben McCoy and Tracy Ann Rowe, sophomore Eric Werskey and freshman Joanna Atkins all posted provisional qualifying marks for Auburn. McCoy won the men's 400m by more than half a second, clocking a time of 47.35, and also placed 12th in the 200m (21.90). Rowe, in her first individual race of the season, finished fifth overall and second among collegians in the 55m in 6.85 seconds, which ranks her seventh in school history.
One week after winning the shot put but just missing the provisional qualifying mark Clemson, Werskey finished third overall and second among collegians, but improved his mark to 17.86m (58-7.25) to qualify for the NCAA meet. Atkins was impressive in her first collegiate 400m race, finishing fourth overall and second among collegians with a time of 54.60, which ranks fifth in school history.
"It was just our second meet, but things are really picking up," said head coach Ralph Spry. "I'm really excited about a lot of our performances today against a good field. Ty Akins is on a great pace this season and beat a good field. He's got his automatic spot so he doesn't have to worry about anything else for a while.
"Reuben ran really well, and Tracy Ann overcame a slow start to end up with a really good time. Werskey is off to a great start, and I'm really impressed with Joanna Atkins. For a true freshman to come out and hit a provisional mark in her second competition shows a lot of poise and the ability to really compete at this level. I'm really proud of all of our qualifiers."
Also for Auburn, Danielle Gilchrist placed eighth in the women's 55m hurdles in 7.97 seconds after clocking a time of 7.93 in the prelims, which was just shy of the provisional time of 7.86. Sophomore Valentina Srsa was fourth in the women's weight throw with a personal-best mark of 16.64m (54-7.25), and senior Jessica Smith finished seventh in the women's 800m with a time of 2:17.15.
Sophomore Scott Novack was ninth in the mile in 4:17.48 and freshman Joby Peake was 10th overall but fourth among collegians in the 3000m with a time of 8:47.52.
The men's distance medley relay team of Peake, Johnathon Haynes, Simon Nyang and Novack finished third in 10:28.66, while the 4x400m relay team of Evander Holyfield Jr., Michael DeHaven, Brandon Johnson and McCoy was seventh in 3:19.65. The women's 4x400m relay team of Amelia Anderson, Atkins, Cache Armbrister and DeAngela McDougald finished fifth with a time of 3:45.81.
Auburn also had one competitor this weekend at the Clemson's JRF Multi-Event Challenge, where sophomore Jager Livingston finished third in the heptathlon with a score of 4813.
"I'm happy with the way we lined up and competed considering it was just our second meet of the year," said Spry. "Now we have next weekend off, but then starting with the following weekend at Notre Dame, things will pick up real fast. But I feel good about our key people and I'm satisfied with our efforts."
Auburn will compete at the Meyo Invitational hosted by Notre Dame next Saturday in South Bend, Ind.