Feb. 10, 2012
AUBURN - Three Auburn track and field athletes set new PRs on Friday as the Tigers got this weekend's action started in two locations.
"It was a light day for us here in Ohio," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "We only two had three guys compete. We wanted to get one of our freshmen some work in the heptathlon and he's in fourth or fifth after the first day. Saturday will be big as all the jumps and field competitions will be tomorrow. We also have all our sprinters and distance guys that will compete."
Senior Ashley Cruder set a new PR in the 60m prelims on Friday at the Tyson Invitational hosted by Arkansas as she posted the fourth-best preliminary time of 7.37. Cruder was in the same heat as the owner of the nation's fastest time, Octavious Freeman from UCF, who ran a 7.22.
Cruder's time ranks as the ninth fastest 60m time in Auburn program history.
The senior was joined in the semifinals by teammate Kai Selvon who coasted through the prelims with a 7.45. The duo both squeaked into the finals, Selvon with a run of 7.40 seconds and Cruder with a time of 7.42 seconds to reach the final sprint race of the night.
In the final, Selvon placed sixth and Cruder finished seventh with times of 7.40 and 7.43, respectively.
V'alonee Robinson set a new personal best mark in the long jump by clearing 5.98m (19 feet, 7.5 inches) on her second jump of the day. Her mark placed her fourth in the event. Robinson's top jump of the day introduced the sophomore to the Auburn all-time top 10 list at 10th.
"Cruder ran really well in the early rounds and had a seasonal best. That moves her up pretty well in the SEC rankings. Selvon already has her times that will probably get her nationals in the 60 and 200. She got three rounds in and that's a good simulation to conference. Both of them being able to get those rounds in is great. I'm pretty pleased with how we've performed.
"Robinson got it done on Friday too. If she can get it done like that in two weeks, then she will be able to score us some points at the conference meet."
Meanwhile in Ohio, while competing in the heptathlon for the first time in 2012, freshman Parker Shearer stands in fifth place after three events. He will have a chance to make his move to the top in the final three events on Saturday.
Also at the SPIRE Invitational, senior Joby Peake set a new personal best time of 15:09.61 in the 5000m.
Action continues for Auburn at the SPIRE Invitational on Saturday, while several other Tigers will compete at the Vulcan Invitational in Birmingham.