BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Auburn junior Presley Weems finished second in the women's 1500m and Joyce Kimeli set the school record in the 5000m run en route to a third-place finish during the third and final day of the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at E.B. Cushing Stadium Saturday. Senior Malik Metivier led the men's efforts with a bronze in the men's 400m Hurdles.
Weems ran the third fastest time in school history in 1500m in a time of 4:15.72 for the silver medal. Weems and Arkansas' Carina Viljoen set the pace for the first 1200m before a sprint to the finish ensued over the final 300m. Florida's Gabrielle Wilkinson held off a valiant effort by Weems down the homestretch to win by 44 hundredths of a second. Weems' silver was the best finish at SECs in the event since 1996 when Janet Trujillo was the SEC champion.
Kimeli broke her third outdoor school record this season as she crushed the previous school mark by nearly 15 seconds in a time of 15:48.78. The junior was clustered with Alabama's Mercy Chelangat and Arkansas' Katie Izzo the majority of the race, as the trio separated themselves from the rest of the field with 1600m remaining. Kimeli took the lead but ultimately was overtaken by Chelangat and Izzo over the last 300m. It was Kimeli's second podium performance as she was second in the 3000m Steeplechase on Friday.
Racing in his first SEC championships, Metivier ran a lifetime-best 49.58, finishing third in the men's 400m Hurdles. Coming off a PR 50.04 in prelims, Metivier got out to a fast start and held off Alabama's Robert Dunning for the bronze medal. Metivier's podium performance was the best by a Tiger in the event at SECs since Reuben McCoy was third in 2008.
Freshman Maura Huwalt had a strong performance in the women's discus throw, finishing fourth with a mark of 52.01m/170-7. It was the best finish at SEC Outdoors in the event by an Auburn freshman since Katalin Mate was fourth in 2006.
Vaulter James Courson, the SEC Indoor silver medalist in the pole vault had a strong outing Saturday clearing 5.25m/17-2.75 to finish fourth. Courson's performance was the best by a Tiger at the conference meet since 2000 when Clark Humphreys was second.
Senior Eric Brown was sixth in the men's 800m in 1:48.83, Auburn's best showing at SECs since Sherridan Kirk was third in 2005.
The quartet of Zatoria Thompson, Niya Benton-Andrews, Tylar Colbert and Destiny Charles ran a season-best 44.84 in the 4x100m relay to take sixth place.
Junior Caroline Lawrence scored at her second consecutive SEC championship in the high jump. Lawrence, who tied for eighth at SEC Indoors in February, cleared 1.75m/5-8.75 to finish eighth.
The Auburn women finished seventh with 59 points while the men were tenth with 30 points. It was the women's highest place at SEC Outdoors in nine years and highest point total for the women at SEC Outdoors in a decade. Arkansas swept the men's and women's team titles.
Auburn's next meet will be the NCAA East Preliminaries, May 25-29, in Jacksonville, Fla., on the University of North Florida campus. The top 48 participants in individual events and top 24 relays in the East will qualify.
2021 SEC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
E.B. CUSHING STADIUM
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
MAY 13-15, 2021
DAY 3 RESULTS
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Discus Throw
4. Maura Huwalt, 52.01m/170-7
10. Jocelynn Budwig, 48.63m/159-6
4x100m Relay
6. Auburn, 44.84 (SB)
Zatoria Thompson, Benton-Andrews, Colbert, Charles
1500m
2. Presley Weems, 4:15.72
High Jump
8. Caroline Lawrence, 1.75m/5-8.75
T-10. Zatoria Thompson, 1.70m/5-7
T-13. Kamiya Dendy, 1.70m/5-7
Natasha Jordan, NH
5000m
3. Joyce Kimeli, 15:48.78 (PR, SR)
23. Faith Bett, 17:10.75
MEN'S RESULTS
Discus
21. Kyle Moison, 46.65m/153-0
Pole Vault
4. James Courson, 5.25m/17-2.75
Matthew Asplund, NH
800m
6. Eric Brown, 1:48.83
400m Hurdles
3. Malik Metivier, 49.58 (PR)
5000m
22. Tommy McDonough, 14:53.51
Weems takes silver, Kimeli sets school mark at final day of SEC Outdoors
