April 12, 2008
Complete Results | Results from LSU
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Auburn track and field teams continued to excel during the outdoor season as the Tigers recorded impressive performances at a pair of meets on Saturday, including a new school record in the men's hammer throw for Cory Martin. Most of the team competed at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz., while Martin and a few other throwers competed at the Tiger Invitational in Baton Rouge, La.
In all, the Tigers won eight events at the two meets, had six new regionally qualifying marks and improved on eight more.
"I'm really pleased with our effort today," said head coach Ralph Spry. "The weather was good and it gave us an opportunity to line up and compete. Things are really starting to come together. We've only got a few more meets until the SEC Championships and I'm really pleased with where we are. Things are clicking just like they should, and we continue to just get better as the season goes on. I'm really excited about where we are and look forward to next week."
Early in the day at the Tiger Invitational, Cory Martin passed teammate Jacob Dunkleberger for the national lead in the hammer throw and reclaimed his school record in the event with a mark of 73.07m (239-9). His mark surpassed his previous career best of 71.42m (234-4) and Dunkleberger's school-record mark of 71.87m (235-9). Dunkleberger was second with a mark of 68.70m (225-5).
Eric Werskey was the winner in the men's shot put with a career-best mark of 18.99 (62-3.75), which ranks him third in Auburn history, while Martin was right behind in second with a throw of 18.75m (61-6.25).
In the men's discus, Werskey (54.83m, 179-11) was second, Edis Elkasevic (54.28m, 178-1) third and Zach Clayton (52.15m, 171-1) fifth. Werskey and Elkasevic improved their regional qualifying marks, while Clayton was just off his season best.
The Auburn women also had two winners at LSU. Valentina Srsa regionally qualified for the first time this season by winning the hammer throw with a mark of 57.43m (188-5), and Katalin Mate won the women's discus with a throw of 48.48m (159-1), although she fell just shy of her previous season best. Mate was also fifth in the javelin with a throw of 38.41m (126-0).
Meanwhile in Tempe, Ty Akins started the day by winning the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.64, which was a little off his season-best time of 13.47, but still good enough to beat out former teammate Shamar Sands, who was second in 13.77.
Reuben McCoy was also an individual champion, winning the title in the men's 400m hurdles with a regional qualifying time of 50.44 in his first 400m hurdles race of the year.
The women's 4x100m relay team raced to a winning time of 44.43, edging the host Sun Devils for first place. The team of Shaquela Williams, Joanna Atkins, Cache Armbrister and Amelia Anderson improved on their previous regional qualifying mark of 44.68.
Raevan Harris was the final champion for Auburn, winning the women's high jump with a leap of 1.83m (6-0), marking the second straight week she has jumped six feet.
Danielle Gilchrist joined McCoy as new regional qualifiers in the 400m hurdles, finishing first among collegiate runners and sixth overall in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 59.62. Anderson was ninth overall and fourth among collegians in 59.91.
In the women's 400m Invitational, Joanna Atkins finished third with a time of 52.94 that is the fourth-best mark in Auburn history. Her time broke the Auburn freshman record of 53.24 set by Stephanie Bonner in 1982, and gives her freshman records in the 100m, 200m and 400m this year.
Armbrister posted a time of 23.38 in the 200m that ranked second among all collegiate competitors and fourth overall. Her time ranks her 10th in Auburn history, giving the Tigers two freshmen who have cracked the top 10 in the 200m this year, as Atkins ran 23.30 last week.
Felix Kiboiywo was invited to compete in a loaded 1500m Invitational field, and although he finished 12th overall, his time of 3:43.36 was a new PR and moved him up to sixth in school history. Jean-Pierre Weerts ran in one of the earlier heats and raced to a personal-best time of 3:44.80, improving his regional qualifying time as well.
Scott Novack improved his regional mark in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing third with a personal-best time of 9:04.01.
The women capped the meet with a strong second-place finish in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:33.36 that ranks fifth in school history, despite fielding a team with two freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. The team of Gilchrist, Armbrister, Anderson and Atkins smashed their previous season best of 3:40.04.
Auburn will return to action at the LSU Alumni Gold meet next Saturday, April 19.