Jacksonville, Fla.—Auburn sophomore Joyce Kimeli broke her own school record and won the women's 3000m steeplechase and Cade Antonucci finished 11th in the men's javelin throw as both qualified for NCAA Outdoors Championships in two weeks during Day 2 of the NCAA East Preliminaries Friday.
Kimeli, who set the school record two weeks prior at the SEC Championships ran a strong race from start to finish, breaking her previous school mark by eight seconds with a time of 9:52.48 to capture the race. The Eldoret, Kenya native's time is the seventh fastest nationally this season. Kimeli is the first Auburn woman in school history to qualify for NCAA Outdoors in the steeplechase.
Antonucci, who competed as NCAA Outdoors as a freshman in 2018, fouled on his first attempt before posting a 66.22m/217-3 to guarantee his second-consecutive trip to nationals. The Mays Landing, N.J., native is the first Tiger in school history to qualify for in the NCAA meet in the javelin throw in consecutive years.
Auburn now has five NCAA Championship qualifiers with six more opportunities coming on Saturday. On Thursday's first day, Junior Kylee Carter (javelin), senior Skyler Daniel (high jump) and freshman Madi Malone (hammer throw) all qualified for outdoor nationals.
Freshman sprinter Shaun Shivers was third in his heat of the men's 200m to automatically qualify for Saturday's quarterfinals. Shivers ran a 21.04, four one-hundredths behind his personal best of 21.00. Shivers, who's time was 24th among those moving on, must finish in the top 12 Saturday to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Senior Ivana Muzaric finished 39th in the women's discus throw with a mark of 46.49m/152-10, while sophomore Tori McKinley was one place behind Muzaric after throwing 45.75m/150-1.
Senior John Putnam, competing in his last competition wearing an Auburn uniform, was 21st in the men's javelin throw with a best toss of 63.71m/209-0. Junior Silas Kipngetich was 28th in the men's 3000m steeplechase, crossing in 9:05.39.
Saturday's action for Auburn will begin at 3 p.m. CT with freshman Dontavious Hill in the men's high jump. Tori McKinley will compete in the women's shot put at 4:15 p.m. The men's 4x100m relay will start things on the track for Auburn at 5:15 p.m. followed by Shivers in the 200m at 6:50 p.m. Brenda Kigen and Kimeli will represent Auburn's last competitors in the women's 5000m at 7:05 p.m.
FloTrack will televise the meet at www.flotrack.org, while live results will be available at https://auburntige.rs/19T-FEastPrelims.
FRIDAY AUBURN RESULTS
Women's Discus Throw
39. Ivana Muzaric, 46.49m/152-10
40. Tori McKinley, 45.75m/150-1
Men's Javelin Throw
11. Cade Antonucci, 66.22m/217-3 (NCAA Qualifier)
21. John Putnam, 63.71m/209-0
Men's 200m, First Round
--. Shaun Shivers, 21.04, Advance to Quarterfinals
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
1. Joyce Kimeli, 9:52.48 (NCAA Qualifier, School Record)
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
28. Silas Kipngetich, 9:05.39
Saturday, May 25—AUBURN EVENTS (ALL TIMES ET)
4 p.m., Men's High Jump (Dontavious Hill)
5:15 p.m., Women's Shot Put (Tori McKinley)
6:15 p.m., Men's 4x100m Relay (Auburn)
7:50 p.m., Men's 200m Finals (Shaun Shivers)
8:05 p.m., Women's 5000m (Brenda Kigen, Joyce Kimeli)