Jacksonville, Fla.—The Auburn track and field team qualified six entries for the NCAA Outdoor Championships during the NCAA East Preliminaries meet at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus, May 23-25. Sophomore distance runner Joyce Kimeli led the Tigers qualifying in the women's 3000m steeplechase and 5000m run, becoming the first Auburn women's distance runner to advance to nationals in multiple distance events since Rachel Sauder in 1995.
Also qualifying include women Kylee Carter (javelin), Skyler Daniel (high jump) and Madi Malone (hammer), and men's thrower Cade Antonucci (javelin).
The 2019 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held June 5-8, at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.
Kimeli pulled the difficult double by winning the 3000m steeplechase on Friday in a school-record time of 9:52.48 before turning around Saturday to run a 16:14.31 in 5000m to automatically advance after taking third in her heat.
Carter qualified for her second consecutive NCAA Outdoor meet after finishing third in the javelin on Day 1 of competition with a toss of 53.24m/174-8. Daniel cleared her first three bars without a miss, including tying her personal-best 1.75m/5-8.75, to finish tied for eighth. The NCAA berth is the first for the senior.
Also on Day 1 of the East Prelims, Malone punched her ticket to Austin by finishing fourth in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 64.03m/210-1. The mark, which came on her second of three tosses, was the No. 5 throw in AU history.
Antonucci, who competed as NCAA Outdoors as a freshman in 2018, guaranteed his second-consecutive trip to nationals after a toss of 66.22m/217-3 on Day 2. 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.
Freshman Shaun Shivers had a strong meet, posting two of his three fastest times ever in the men's 200m dash. Shivers ran a personal-best 20.99 in the quarterfinals to finish 22nd after running a 21.04 in the first round.
AUBURN RESULTS—NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES
SATURDAY, MAY 25
Men's High Jump
T23. Dontavious Hill, 2.11m/6-11
Women's Shot Put
15. Tori McKinley, 16.11m/52-10.25
Men's 4x100m Relay
16. Marrel Parker, Shaun Shivers, Jason Reese, Noah Igbinoghene, 39.79
Men's 200m
22. Shaun Shivers, 20.99 (PR)
Women's 500m
7. Joyce Kimeli, 16:14.31 (NCAA Qualifer)
--. Brenda Kigen, DNF
FRIDAY, MAY 24
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
THURSDAY, MAY 23
Women's Javelin Throw
3. Kylee Carter, 53.24m/174-8 (NCAA Qualifier)
22. Ashley Carter, 47.16m/154-8
23. Peyton Montgomery, 46.78m/153-6
Women's High Jump
T8. Skyler Daniel, 1.75m/5-8.75 (NCAA Qualifier)
T13. Natosha Jordan, 1.75m/5-8.75
T38. Caroline Lawrence, 1.70m/5-7
Men's Long Jump
32. Noah Igbinoghene, 7.10m/23-3.5
Women's Hammer Throw
4. Madi Malone, 64.03m/210-1 (NCAA Qualifier)
24. Erin Perkins, 59.48m/195-2
Women's 10,000m
40. Brenda Kigen, 36:25.27