COLUMBIA, S.C.—The 2021 Auburn indoor season started off with a strong performance by several Tigers, including four events wins and a school record, at the Carolina Challenge Saturday. The meet was also the debut for 13 athletes competing in an Auburn uniform for the first time.
Junior All-American Madi Malone bested her own school record in the women's weight throw with a heave of 22.20m/72-10, breaking the South Carolina Indoor facility record and posting the NCAA's top mark this season. Malone's school-record mark came on her sixth and final throw, in a series that included five marks of over 21.50m. Malone's won by nearly 12 feet over the event runner up.
"I'm pleased with our efforts across the board and how we competed with four victories, including Madi Malone's school record and nation's longest throw in the weight throw," head coach Ralph Spry said. "We had a lot of new faces. I like the way we lined up."
The other Tiger win on the women's side came from junior Presley Weems, who won the women's mile with a personal-best time of 4:45.97. She outdistanced the second-place finisher by nearly three seconds, while establishing herself as the school's seventh fastest runner in the event all-time.
On the men's side, junior Dontavious Hill grabbed his first collegiate victory, claiming the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.15m/7-0.5, a half inch shy of equaling his indoor PR. Hill's 2.15m is tied for fourth nationally.
Sophomore Kyle Brown joined Hill in winning his first college meet, winning the men's weight throw with a toss of 20.23m/66-4.5, a new personal-best. Brown's best mark came on his fifth throw, surpassing Alabama senior Kieran McKeag for the win.
"Presley Weems hadn't competed indoors in nearly two years, so it was huge for her to come back with a two second PR," Spry said. "Dontatious had a really good fall training and did well in getting his first collegiate win. He's got a lot in the tank and will jump higher. Kyle had a huge PR and stepped up with a big mark coming off scoring indoors as a freshman last year."
Other medalists from Auburn included Jack Rogers in the men's 3000m with a PR time of 8:19.99, junior James Courson in the men's pole vault with a career-best clearance of 5.26m/17-3, and freshman Kamiya Dendy in the women's high jump with a mark of 1.71m/5-7.25.
Overall, 21 new personal or collegiate bests were established by Auburn athletes.
"I think we're off to a good start, now we've got to keep things moving," Spry said. "Hopefully we'll get some good weather and continue to get good work in as we prepare for Clemson in two weeks."
Auburn will return to action January 29-30 when it competes at the Bob Pollock Meet in Clemson, S.C.
CAROLINA CHALLENGE RESULTS
SOUTH CAROLINA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX
COLUMBIA, SC
JANUARY 23, 2021
WOMEN'S RESULTS
60m Hurdles
8. Keira McCarrell 9.28
60m
5. Zatoria Thompson 7.67
10. Hope Igbinoghene 7.95
11. Patrice Moody 7.96
200m
10. Destiny Charles 24.53
13. Niya Benton-Andrews 24.85
16. Tylar Colbert 25.18
25. Myra Mack 26.61
27. Sarah Little 27.05
28. Imani Jones 27.77
800m
14. Jen Dietrich 2:18.20
16. Samantha Rogers 2:18.80
18. Faith Bett 2:20.81
Mile
1. Presley Weems 4:45.97
4x400m Relay
5. Auburn 3:57.91
Benton-Andrews, Dietrich, Moody, Colbert
Shot Put
5. Maura Huwalt 15.45m/50-8.25
6. Jocelynn Budwig 15.38m/50-5.5
Pole Vault
8. Lexie Leinneweber 3.78m/12-4.75
Long Jump
9. Imani Jones 5.31m/17-5.25
12. Sarah Little 5.13m/16-10
-- Janaya Jones FOUL
Weight Throw
1. Madi Malone 22.20m/72-10
** SCHOOL RECORD/FACILITY RECORD **
5. Jocelynn Budwig 17.32m/56-10
6. Maura Huwalt 17.13m/56-2.5
8. Danielle Gregory 15.62m/51-3
High Jump
3. Kamiya Dendy 1.71m/5-7.25
5. Caroline Lawrence 1.66m/5-5.25
T7. Allison Tanner 1.61m/5-3.25
9. Zatoria Thomason 1.61m/5-3.25
T11. Keira McCarrell 1.56m/5-1.25
MEN'S RESULTS
60m Hurdles
12. David Edmondson 8.80
13. Alex Spyridonidis 8.86
60m
7. Jason Reese 6.89
8. Jevony Murray 6.89
15. Brandon Smiley 7.14
400m
16. Brandon Smiley 50.55
Mile
17. Evan Rogers 4:22.70
3000m
2. Jack Rogers 8:19.99
3. Tommy McDonough 8:20.09
7. Ryan Kinnane 8:34.53
-- Evan Rogers DNF
Weight Throw
1. Kyle Brown 20.23m/66-4.5
4. Kyle Moison 17.98m/59-0
5. Erik Ebel 17.59m/57-8.5
Long Jump
11. David Edmondson 6.46m/21-2.5
Shot Put
5. Kyle Moison 15.44m/50-8
Pole Vault
2. James Courson 5.26m/17-3
6. Matthew Asplund 4.86m/15-11.25
8. Alex Spyridonidis 4.71m/15-5.5
High Jump
1. Dontavious Hill 2.15m/7-0.5
5. TJ Funches 2.00m/6-6.75
Four event wins, school record highlight Auburn T&F opener
