June 9, 2018
Eugene, Ore. - Auburn sophomore Natalliah Whyte finished second and senior Jonielle Smith was fourth in 100m dash in a cold, driving rain to help lead the Tigers to a 16th place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at historic Hayward Field Saturday.
Both runners got out to fast starts and Whyte led for the first 60 meters of the race before crossing in 11.24 to claim silver. The St. Catherine, Jamaica native became Auburn's highest finisher in the 100 since Olympian Kerron Stewart was the NCAA champion in 2007.
Smith, who finished 16th and 20th in the event as a freshman and sophomore, exceeded expectations to finish her career as a first-team All-America. Like Whyte, Smith got out to a fast start before finishing in 11.40.
Earlier in the day before heavy rains hit Hayward Field, Smith and Whyte combined with Renae Shaw and senior Dominique Bullock to finish fifth in the 4x100m relay in 43.76.
Auburn's 17 points and 16th place finish was the women's best showing at NCAA Outdoors since 2011.
The women's top 20 finish came on the heels of the men's 14th-place showing. It marked the first time in a decade that both programs were in the top 20 at outdoor nationals.
Auburn closed the meet with seven first-team All-Americans and three medalists. Friday sophomore Akeem Bloomfield was second and sophomore Nathon Allen was third in the men's 400m dash to help propel the men.