Feb. 24, 2017 2017 SEC Indoor Championships
AUBURN, Ala. -- Akeem Bloomfield ran a 45.49 in the prelims to break the Auburn record in the 400 meter at the 2017 Southeastern Conference Championships on Friday in Nashville, Tenn. Five total athletes advanced past Friday's prelims to the finals tomorrow.
"Overall, I thought we had a great day," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "We have some people that have a great chance to score some points for us tomorrow and we are just going to have to come out ready for a battle."
"I am proud of Akeem with his school record. He looked really good in only his second 400m of the season. I look forward to watching him compete in the finals tomorrow."
Jamaica native, Bloomfield finished with the second overall time in the prelims of the men's 400m. The freshman broke the Auburn record in the event, set by Avard Moncur in 2001.
Senior Veronica Eder continued her strong senior season, running a 9:21.53 in the 3000m to win bronze and earn Second Team All-SEC honors.
"Veronica went out and got six huge points for the team today in a tough 3000m race," Spry said. "I think she has a good chance come out tomorrow and score again in the 5000m."
The Tigers had two athletes advance to the finals of the men's 60 meter. Junior Odean Skeen ran an Auburn best 6.61 in the second heat, which currently stands as the seventh best time in the nation. Freshman Raheem Chambers finished eighth overall in the prelims with a mark of 6.70.
Senior Wellington Zaza was the second overall qualifier in the 60 meter hurdles, winning the second heat with a personal best 7.72. Zaza's mark currently ranks sixth in the nation.
After finishing 12th in the men's 60m, senior Teray Smith ran a 20.92 to advance to the finals of the 200m, which was eighth overall in prelims.
Junior Wesley Curles won his section in the men's mile with a time of 4:10.03. Curles time was sixth overall in the prelims.
"Wes Curles has just missed out on scoring the past two years in the mile," Spry said. "I think he has a good chance of going out there and getting some points for us tomorrow."
Jonielle Smith tied a career high in the 60m, finishing ninth and just missing the finals with a time of 7.31.
Sophomore Chris Stone finished the first four events in tenth place overall with 2927 points. Stone posted a personal best in the shot put with a 41-0/12.51m.
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| Place | Name | Time/Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 60m - Heptathlon | ||
| 9th | Chris Stone | 7.11 |
| Long Jump - Heptathlon | ||
| 11th | Chris Stone | 21-8.25/6.61m |
| Shot Put - Heptathlon | ||
| 12th | Chris Stone | 41-0.5/12.51m |
| High Jump - Heptathlon | ||
| 8th | Chris Stone | 6-3.25/1.91m |
| High Jump - M | ||
| T-12th | Jaron Brooks | 6-8.25/2.04m |
| 60mH - M (Prelims) | ||
| --- | Wellington Zaza | 7.72 |
| 9th | Xavier Coakley | 7.95 |
| 60m - W (Prelims) | ||
| 9th | Jonielle Smith | 7.31 |
| 34th | Tyra Massey | 7.79 |
| 60m - M | ||
| --- | Odean Skeen | 6.61 |
| --- | Raheem Chambers | 6.70 |
| 12th | Teray Smith | 6.75 |
| Long Jump - W | ||
| 19th | Dominique Bullock | 18-10.5 |
| 22nd | Micaela Creighton | 18-9.25 |
| Long Jump - M | ||
| 13th | Mark Rubalcaba | 24-1.75 |
| Mile - W | ||
| 11th | Emily Stevens | 4:49.80 |
| Mile - M | ||
| --- | Wesley Curles | 4:10.03 |
| 20th | Silas Kipngetich | 4:20.54 |
| 23rd | Jay Spieler | 4:29.22 |
| Shot Put - W | ||
| 13th | Ivana Muzaric | 45-8.5/13.88m |
| 400 - W | ||
| 18th | Sashel Brown | 54.70 |
| 400m - M | ||
| --- | Akeem Bloomfield | 45.49 |
| 11th | Randall Ceneus | 46.56 |
| 800m - M | ||
| 15th | Erik Armes | 1:52.59 |
| 200m - W | ||
| 10th | Jenae Ambrose | 23.71 |
| 32nd | Tyra Massey | 24.84 |
| 200m - M | ||
| --- | Teray Smith | 20.92 |
| 14th | Kahlil Henderson | 21.24 |
| 3000m - W | ||
| 3rd | Veronica Eder | 9:21.53 |
| 3000m - M | ||
| 15th | Coleman Churitch | 8:28.61 |