Jan. 16, 2010
AUBURN - The Auburn track and field teams posted five NCAA provisional qualifying marks while winning two events Saturday at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington.
Many of the Tigers' best performances came in the sprints, including both victories. Junior Sheniqua Ferguson won the 60 meters and sophomore Nivea Smith took the 200-meter title, both with provisional qualifying marks.
"All in all I'm really pleased with how we started the season," said head coach Ralph Spry. "The women in particular and also the men had a strong showing in the sprints. I'm happy with the effort we gave, particularly because it was such a short week. This meet was really a good indication that we'll be in good shape for our next competition."
Ferguson, in her first NCAA meet after transferring from Southwest Mississippi Junior College, excelled in the 60 meters, racing to a time of 7.35 seconds in the prelims before clocking a time of 7.28 seconds in the finals. Her winning time, which missed an NCAA qualifying mark by just .02 seconds, ranks tied for fifth best in Auburn history.
The Tigers had the top two finishers in the women's 200 meters, with both Smith and junior Joanna Atkins posting provisional qualifying times. Smith won the events with a time of 23.79 seconds, while Atkins was second in 23.84. Both runners were less than a tenth of a second off their personal bests.
Two other women posted provisional qualifying times in the 60-meter hurdles, as juniors Krystal Bodie and Danielle Gilchrist made the cut with times of 8.42 seconds in the prelims. In the finals, Bodie was ninth with a time of 8.49 seconds, with Gilchrist one place behind with a time of 8.49.
Pacing the men was sophomore Harry Adams, who finished third in the 60 meters with a time of 6.73 seconds that ranks fifth in school history. Junior Michael DeHaven was seventh in 6.83 seconds - a time that ranks eighth best in Auburn history.
Sophomore CeCe Williams took fifth in the women's 400 meters with a time of 54.82 seconds, while freshman Maya Pressley tied for fifth in the women's high jump in her first collegiate meet, posting a mark of 1.73 meters (5-8).
In the men's mile, junior Ben Cheruiyot took seventh with a time of 4:13.88, while senior Scott Novack was ninth in 4:15.21. Senior Stephanie Barnes was eighth in the women's mile in 4:57.26.
The men wrapped up the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The team of sophomore Neil Danville, sophomore Nick Green, sophomore Marcus Rowland and DeHaven clocked a time of 3:12.73.
The Tigers will take next weekend off before competing at the Clemson Games Jan. 29-30.