COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Auburn sophomore Joyce Kimeli finished second in the women's 3000m and sophomore Christopher Grant won bronze in the men's 60m dash to lead the Tigers during the last day of competition at the 2020 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Kimeli, who was the SEC runner up in the event as a freshman, out-battled Georgia's Jessica Drop and Alabama's Mercy Chelangat over the last 600m to grab silver and finish in 9:15.63. The Eldoret, Kenya, native's time was the second fastest in school history, just behind her school record of 9:14.07 set earlier this season.
Grant, who crossed in 6.70 seconds, is the third Auburn sprinter in the last four years to make the awards stand in the event. Odean Skeen was the silver medalist in 2017 and Raheem Chambers was third in 2018.
All-American Madi Malone was fourth in the women's weight throw, missing the medal stand by three-fourths of an inch. Malone, who was the only competitor with five throws of 20 meters or further, finished with a mark of 20.96m/68-9.25. The SEC runner up a year ago as a freshman, Malone is the first Tiger since Valentina Srsa in 2008-09 to score in the event at conference in back-to-back seasons.
Sophomore Dontavious Hill tied for eighth in the men's high jump after clearing 2.06m/6-9, marking the second consecutive year he's scored at SEC Indoors. As a freshman in 2019, Hill was eighth.
Freshman Kyle Brown had a big day with a fifth-place finish in the men's weight throw, surpassing his PR by nearly three feet, with a best mark of 19.85m/65-1.5. Teammate Erik Ebel also scored for the Tigers, taking home seventh after a toss of 18.81m/61-8.5. Brown and Ebel became the first Auburn throws duo to score at the same conference indoor meet since 2007 when Cory Martin and Jacob Dunkleberger were first and second.
Junior Tommy McDonough and senior Jack Rogers had big PRs in the men's 3000m shaving off nine and five seconds respectively in the event. McDonough was second in section 1 with a time of 8:17.34 to finish 12th overall, while Rogers crossed in 8:24.50 for 20th.
In the women's 3k, junior Abbey Zane knocked off 20 seconds off her lifetime best, finishing 18th in 9:42.88. Faith Bett was the fourth Tiger distance runner to PR in the event, dropping two seconds with a time of 10:03.31.
Freshman David Edmondson posted four PRs on Day 2 of the men's pentathlon to finish in 10th place with 4906 points. Edmondson posted lifetime bests in five of the seven events over the two-day competition.
Auburn athletes combined to record 16 personal bests during the championships.
The Auburn women finished 11th in the team standings with 19 points, while the men scored 12.5 points, good for 12th place.
2019 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium – College Station, Texas
Day 2 Results – February 29, 2020
Men's Heptathlon—60m Hurdles
12. David Edmondson, 8.72 (PR)
Men's Heptathlon—Pole Vault
12. David Edmondson, 3.45m/11-3.75 (PR)
Men's Heptathlon—1000m
5. David Edmondson, 2:48.18 (PR)
Men's Heptathlon
10. David Edmondson, 4906 pts (PR)
Men's High Jump
t-8. Dontavious Hill, 2.06m/6-9
Women's High Jump
--. Caroline Lawrence, NH
Men's Weight Throw
5. Kyle Brown, 19.85m/65-1.5 (PR)
7. Erik Ebel, 18.81m/61-8.5
Women's Triple Jump
--. Imani Jones, Foul
Men's 60m Finals
3. Christopher Grant, 6.70
Women's Weight Throw
4. Madi Malone, 20.96m/68-9.25
17. Jocelynn Budwig, 16.34m/53-7.5
Men's 3000m
12. Tommy McDonough, 8:17.34 (PR)
20. Jack Rogers, 8:24.50 (PR)
Women's 3000m
2. Joyce Kimeli, 9:15.63
18. Abbey Zane, 9:42.88 (PR)
46. Faith Bett, 10:03.31 (PR)
48. Hannah Tarwater, 10:09.09
50. Brenda Kigen, 10:18.09