EUGENE, Ore.—Auburn junior Joyce Kimeli ran the second fastest 3000m Steeplechase time ever at NCAA Outdoors in what was the closest finish ever at the championships in the event as she claimed silver in a time of 9:31.84 at Hayward Field. Her time made her the seventh fastest collegiate runner ever in the event.
The 2021 NCAA Indoor 5000m champion, Kimeli led the entire race in what was a tightly packed lead group that included BYU's Courtney Wayment, Washington's Katie Rainsberger and Mahala Norris of Air Force. After the final water jump with 150m remaining, Kimeli and Rainsberger and Norris separated themselves, but Norris came from behind on the outside to nip Kimeli at the tape by just five one hundredths of a second in 9:31.79.
The silver medal was the third NCAA medal performance for Kimeli in 2021. Besides winning the indoor national title at 5k, she was third at 3000m. It was also the highest finish at outdoor nationals by an Auburn women's distance runner since 1995 when Rachel Sauder took silver at 10k.
With less than 90 minutes of recovery time, Kimeli returned to the oval following the Steeplechase and finished 13th in the 5000m, crossing in 15:54.11, the second fastest time in Auburn history, just six seconds off her school record time set at SECs last month.
Auburn's women finished tied for 26th with 11 points. The men, who concluded on Friday, finished tied for 18th in the team standings with 15 points, good for the Tigers' third Top 20 finish in the last four NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Senior Natosha Jordan withdrew from the heptathlon competition after the sixth of seven events with a nagging injury that had been bother her the entire competition. Jordan entered Saturday in 15th place and posted a 5.68m/18-7.75 in the long jump and a toss of 28.11/92-2 on her first throw of the javelin throw. On her second throw she reaggravated the injury and was forced to resign. She ends her Auburn career as an NCAA qualifier, SEC scorer and the No. 2 heptathlete performer in school history.
Auburn concluded the meet with three school records and 13 personal bests among the 11 athletes over the four-day meet.
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
HAYWARD FIELD – EUGENE, OR
DAY 4 RESULTS
Saturday, June 12
Heptathlon
Natosha Jordan, DNF
100m Hurdles, 14.16
High Jump, 1.69m/5-5.25
Shot Put, 11.38m/37-4
200m, 25.27
Long Jump, 5.68m/18-7.75
Javelin Throw, 28.11/92-2
800m, DNF
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
2. Joyce Kimeli, 9:31.84
Women's 5000m
12. Joyce Kimeli, 15:54.11
School Records
Cade Antonucci, Men's Javelin Throw, 76.14m/249-10
Joyce Kimeli, Women's 3000m Steeplechase, 9:31.84
Joyce Kimeli, Women's 3000m Steeplechase, 9:35.57 (Semifinals)
Men's Scorers (15 points)
3rd—Cade Antonucci, Javelin Throw (76.14m/249-10)
5th—Alex Spyridonidis, Decathlon (7665 pts)
5th—Malik Metivier, 400m Hurdles (49.26)
8th—Eric Brown, 800m (1:46.76)
Women's Scorers (11 points)
2nd—Joyce Kimeli, 3000m Steeplechase (9:31.84)
6th—Kylee Carter, Javelin Throw (55.00m/180-5)