Fayetteville, Ark.—Auburn redshirt freshman Joyce Kimeli finished second in the women's 5000m breaking the school freshman indoor record in the process to lead the Tigers during Day 1 of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships Friday.
Kimeli, who also set the AU freshman 3000m record earlier this season ran a strong race, as she and two other broke away from the pack at the 3k mark before her and event winner Taylor Werner of Arkansas distanced themselves at 4k. Kimeli crossed in 16:28.67 to break Angela Homan's previous school-freshman indoor best of 16:43.69 set in 2003.
"I think the race was very good and I got out to a good start," Kimeli said. "I relaxed for a while and after 10 minutes (the pace) was constant, so I tried to maintain and told myself to be patient. I told myself I could do it and I just relaxed. I sped up at the end and finished strong. Finishing second means I have the potential to do well and gives me confidence for the outdoor season."
Junior Natosha Jordan had a very strong performance in the women's pentathlon finishing sixth. Jordan established three PR and one collegiate best in the five-event completion to tally a personal-best 3810 points. The 3810 points are the fourth most by an Auburn female in the event since 1998.
Auburn freshman Dontavious Hill equaled a men's school freshman mark when he cleared 2.16m/7-1 in the high jump to finish eighth in the event. Hill cleared 2.16 on his first attempt before missing on all three tries at 2.19m.
Junior Presley Weems advanced to Saturday's final of the women's mile after automatically qualifying finishing third in her heat with a time of 4:49.70. Weems' time was sixth overall after prelims.
Senior Chris Stone is in fifth place after four events of the men's heptathlon with 2743 points. The Oreland, Pa., native tied a season's best clearing 1.98m in the high jump. Stone will look to better his fifth-place finish from a year at SEC Indoors during Saturday's final day of the heptathlon when the competition closes out with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m.
Both of Auburn's distance medley relay teams scored for the Tigers as the women's quartet of Brenda Kigen, Cameron Hinton, Frances Patrick and Abby Zane crossed in 11:41.67. The men's foursome of Silas Kipngetich, Chiason Tenkiang, Jack Rogers and Tommy McDonough finished eighth in the event (10:04.32).
Saturday's final day of the SEC Championships begins at 10:45 a.m. CT. Live results can be found at https://auburntige.rs/SECInResults.
After five of 17 events the Auburn women are in sixth place, while the men are 13th after 6 of 17 events.
Live coverage of the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships will air on SECN+ at 2:55 p.m. CT on Saturday. The broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Jill Montgomery and John Anderson. A tape-delayed broadcast of the Championship will air on the SEC Network Sunday at 7 p.m. CT.
Day 1 Auburn Results
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Fayetteville, Ark. * Randal Tyson Indoor Track
Pentathlon
6. Natosha Jordan, 3810 pts
60m Hurdles, 8.68
High Jump, 1.73m/5-8
Shot Put, 10.67m/35-0.25
Long Jump, 5.60m/18-4.5
800m, 2:34.37
Heptathlon (4 events)
5. Chris Stone, 2743 pts
Long Jump, 6.18m/20-3.5
Shot Put, 12.05m/39-6.5
High Jump, 1.98m/6-6
Mile
6. Presley Weems, 4:49.70 (Finals Qualifier)
Men's 60m
25. Joshua Burks, 6.94
27. Jason Reese, 6.96
Women's 400m
31. Cameron Hinton, 55.41
32. Myra Mack, 56.21
Men's 400m
33. Chiason Tenkiang, 49.13
Women's 200m
29. Tylar Colbert, 24.62
Men's 200m
24. Shaun Shivers, 21.73
25. Joshua Burks, 21.79
27. Jason Reese, 21.88
Women's 5000m
2. Joyce Kimeli, 16.28.67
** Auburn freshman indoor record
Women's DM Relay
6. Brenda Kigen, Cameron Hinton, Frances Patrick, Abbey Zane, 11:41.67
Men's DM Relay
8. Silas Kipngetich, Chiason Tenkiang, Jack Rogers, Tommy McDonough, 10:04.32
Men's Pole Vault
James Courson, NH
Men's Long Jump
10. Noah Igbinoghene, 7.58m/24-10.5
11. Marrel Parker, 7.38m/24-2.5
14. Mark Rubalcaba, 7.13m/24-4.75
Men's High Jump
8. Dontavious Hill, 2.16m/7-1
** Ties Auburn freshman indoor record
Women's Shot Put
12. Tori McKinley, 15.21m/49-11