Track and Field set to open indoor season at Commodore Invitational

Jan. 11, 2018

Commodore Invitational

• Live Scoring

AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Auburn track and field is set to open the 2018 indoor season with a trip to Nashville, Tenn. for the Commodore Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt and held at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility. The Tigers will compete over two days of competition on Friday and Saturday.

"The good thing about this first meet is that it really doesn't change year-to-year," head coach Ralph Spry said. "We had a team meeting the other day, and I made sure that they knew and understood that, since this is their first week back to school and we really hadn't seen them but a couple days of practice before we head out, that we are just keeping it real. My main priority has always been for a first competition to go out there and compete hard. That's all I expect them to do."

Auburn is one of 14 teams set to participate, including fellow SEC teams Florida and host-Vanderbilt. Georgia Tech, Miami, Austin Peay, Belmont, Charleston Southern, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, South Alabama, Tennessee Tech, Trevecca and UTEP make up the remaining field.

The men's team returns a talented contingent of 2017 Outdoor All-Americans headlined by 2018 The Bowerman watch list member sophomore Nathon Allen, who earned two All-American nods in Eugene, Ore. last June. All-Americans sophomore Akeem Bloomfield, senior Randall Ceneus and sophomore Raheem Chambers also return and are among the 23 returning lettermen from last season.

The women return 26 letter winners from 2017 headlined by Outdoor All-Americans senior Jonielle Smith and sophomore Natalliah Whyte.

Competition begins Friday at 4 p.m. CT. Live scoring can be found at http://www.cfpitiming.com/liveresults/2018_Indoor/Vandy_Commodore_2018/.