FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—Auburn junior thrower Madi Malone earned her third consecutive All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the women's weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the University of Arkansas campus Thursday.
Malone posted a best throw of 22.16m/72-8.5 on her fourth attempt to become the highest placing Auburn woman in school history in the event at NCAA Indoors. The Wichita, Kan., native was one of just three finalist in the meet to record six clean throws and posted the highest average throw of any competitor with four or more recorded marks.
She became the first Auburn woman since hurdler Samantha Scarlett (2014-16) to earn indoor All-America honors in three consecutive seasons. A first team All-American as a freshman after finishing eighth, Malone received All-America honors last season after the championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Junior Alex Spyridonidis had a strong first day in men's heptathlon with a Day 1 personal best score of 3241 points and is in sixth place with three events remaining on Friday. The Hannover, Germany native notched PRs in the 60m dash (7.10) and shot put (13.74m/44-2.5) with solid performances in the long jump (7.45m/24-5.5) and high jump (1.97m/6-5.5). A bronze medalist two weeks ago at the SEC Indoor Championships, Spyridonidis will look to be Auburn's first scorer at NCAAs in the even since 2005 when Maurice Smith was the national champion.
Day two action will be Auburn's busiest as Spyridonidis will finish in the heptathlon starting at 10 a.m. CT with the 60m hurdles followed by the pole vault and 1000m. Junior high jumper Dontavious Hill will make his first NCAA Indoor appearance at 11:30 p.m. and junior sprinter Dante Brown will race in the men's 60m dash at 2:45 p.m. All-American Joyce Kimeli will race in the women's 5000m at 8:05 p.m.
Live championship coverage will be streamed on ESPN3 with additional details to be forthcoming. A re-air of the championship will take place at 8 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 14 on ESPNU.
2021 NCAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
RANDAL TYSON TRACK CENTER
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
MEN'S HEPTATHLON
6. Alex Spyridonidis 3241 pts
60m 7.10
Long Jump 7.45m/24-5.5
Shot Put 13.47m/44-2.5
High Jump 1.97m/6-5.5
WOMEN'S WEIGHT THROW
5. Madi Malone 22.16m/72-8.5
