May 26, 2018
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Auburn women's 4x100m relay, the men's 4x400m relay and freshman javelin thrower Cade Antonucci each qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships during a rainy final day of competition at the NCAA East Prelims on the USF campus Saturday. The Tigers will head to Eugene, Ore., June 4-6, with nine individuals and two relays.
Individuals qualified for NCAAs on the men's side include: Nathon Allen (400m), Antonucci (javelin), Akeem Bloomfield (400m) and Raheem Chambers (100m). The six women's qualifers include: Dominique Bullock (long jump), Kylee Carter (javelin), Tori McKinley (shot put), Peyton Montgomery (javelin), Jonielle Smith (100m) and Natalliah Whyte (100m).
The quartet of Jenae Ambrose, Jonielle Smith, Dominique Bullock and Natalliah Whyte automatically qualified in the 400m relay with an Auburn season's best 43.20, the second fastest time in school history. The relay was first in their heat and third overall.
Auburn's 4x400m relay qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year after an automatic qualifying time of 3:08.30 in wet conditions to finish third in its heat and 12th overall. The group included senior Randall Ceneus, Bloomfield, Chaison Tenkiang, and Allen. Ceneus was competing for the first time this weekend after being slowed with an injury since April 7.
Cade Antonucci jumped from 16th place to eight with his second throw of 63.35m/207-10 and fouled on his third and final attempt before holding on for 10th place to qualify for NCAAs. He is the first AU athlete to qualify for nationals in the event since teammate Justin Carter did as a freshman in 2014. Also competing, Carter was 19th (61.36m/201-4) and teammate John Putnam (61.09m/200-5) was 20th.
The men's 4x100m relay of Mark Rubalcaba, Xavier Coakley, Chambers, and Tenkiang was 15th with a season-best time of 39.69. Coakley also competed in the men's 110m hurdles, but unfortunately had a false start in his heat.
In the women's triple jump, Jakayla Hand was 19th with a mark of 12.65m/41-6 while teammate Deja Hillman was 40th with a leap of 12.08m/39-7.75.
Sophomore Erin Perkins, competing in her first NCAA postseason action was 18th in the women's hammer throw with a best mark of 59.66m/195-9.
Sophomore Jaron Brooks placed 34th in the men's high jump with a leap of 2.06m/6-9.
The 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships will be June 6-9, at historic Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Ore.