March 29, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - Freshman Jessie Johnson and sophomore Valentina Muzaric both set Auburn records and senior sprinter Harry Adams tied for his best opening 100 meters on Friday in action at the 86th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Freshman Daina Levy also established a new Auburn freshman record in action at Georgia Tech.
"Today was a good start to the outdoor season," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "What you are looking for is a spring board into outdoors and I think we are on our way there. I was really proud of guys like Sam Mueller and Harry Adams. Jessie Johnson and Valentina Muzaric had great days and set school records. I'm excited to see how we perform tomorrow in more warm weather."
Johnson set a new Auburn record in the women's pole vault in her first career outdoor meet. The native Texan cleared 12-8 to post the mark by an Auburn vaulter since Katie Martin went over at 12-6 in 2005.
Fellow freshman Larisa Debich placed 14th with clearance at 12-2 in her first collegiate outdoor meet.
Muzaric placed second in the women's shot put with her mark of 54-1 (16.48m). The mark broke Stacy Martin's standard of 53-9.25 set in 2004.
Adams opened his senior season by tying his fastest season opening 100m run at the Texas Relays. Adams posted the second-fastest overall time of 10.17 seconds to equal his opener from 2010, a 10.17 at Georgia Tech.
Adams was just behind a 10.13 from Anaso Jobodwana (Jackson State) for the overall lead. Additionally, sophomore Joseph Fisher set an all conditions personal best with a heat win in 10.57 seconds. Senior Jeremy Hardy also ran 10.57 in his section.
Levy won the women's hammer throw in Atlanta with a top mark of 194-1 (59.16m). That erased the previous Auburn freshman record of 180-4 set by Ronda Gullatte in 2003. Sophomore Tori Nwadiogbu also PRed in the event with a throw of 161-1 (49.10m).
At the San Francisco State Relay Carnival in San Francisco, Calif., Mueller shaved more than 90 seconds off his previous PR in the 10,000 meters with a third-place performance in 29:49.88 on Friday morning.
The mark by the junior is the fastest 10k by an Auburn runner since 2011.
Stephen Saenz placed fifth in the men's shot put with a long throw of 61-7.75 (18.79m), while teammate Marcus Popenfoose (56-11.25/17.35m) was 10th.
The men's 4x100m relay debuted minus senior All-American Marcus Rowland. Running with the combination of Keenan Brock to Adams to Hardy to Fisher for the first time, the Tigers finished 16th overall in 41.24 seconds and did not make the finals.
Tyler Kennedy opened his senior season with a long throw of 206 feet in the men's javelin `B' section. The mark is just six inches shy of his career-best throw of 206-7 from 2011.
In Atlanta, Jason Miller (15:12.95) and Andrew Scott (15:21.98) both set new personal bests in the men's 5000 meters.
Action wraps up on Saturday in Austin for Auburn with the men's and women's high jump competitions as well as the men's discus and the men's 100m final.
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