BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — The Auburn track and field team had a trio of familiar faces with medal-winning performances during Day 1 of the 2022 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships as seniors Joyce Kimeli, James Courson and junior Kyle Brown all took third place in their respective events to lead the Tigers' efforts.
Kimeli, the 2021 SEC Indoor Champion at 3000 and 5000m took bronze in the 5000m crossing in 15:53.95, her sixth medal at the meet during her storied Auburn career. The Eldoret, Kenya, native led for a majority of the race before falling back over the last 800m while clocking the sixth-fastest time in Auburn history. She will look for another medal at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday in the women's 3000m final.
The 2021 silver medalist in the men's pole vault, Courson cleared 5.26m/17-3 on his second attempt at the height to finish third. The junior from Hoover, Alabama equaled the same height as winner Zach Davis of Texas A&M and Matthew Peare of Kentucky, who both went over the bar on their first attempts. Courson became the first Tiger vaulter to medal in consecutive SEC Indoor Championships since Clark Humphreys in 1996-97.
Making his first appearance on an SEC Podium, Brown threw for 21.52m/70-7.25 on his fifth attempt to lock in the third bronze medal of the night for the Tigers. The Cumming, Georgia native becomes the first Auburn man to medal in the event since Jacob Dunkleberger won gold in 2008.
Competing in his first SEC Championship, sophomore John Murray is in second place of the men's heptathlon after one day of competition with 3163 points. All-American Alex Spyridonidis, who was third in the event a year ago, is fifth (3091 points) with three events remaining on Saturday. Murray's impressive first day saw him post personal bests in three events: 60m (7.05), shot put (14.76m/48-5.25), and high jump (1.99m/6-6.25).
Senior Presley Weems qualified for Saturday's finals in the women's 800m after running an automatic qualifying time of 2:05.13 during the preliminary heats. Her time was the second fastest in Auburn history, just over a second of her personal-best and school record time of 2:04.05 set earlier this season. Weems is the first Auburn woman to final in the event at SEC Indoors since Kareen Gayle and will vie for the first podium performance in the event in school history.
In the women's weight throw, senior Madi Malone and Maura Huwalt both scored for the Tigers, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively. Malone's mark of 22.16m/72-8.5 came on her first throw of the day, while Huwalt's best toss of 20.29m/66-7 was her second.
Senior Tommy McDonough was eighth in the men's 5000m, crossing in 14:21.19, while sophomore Carson Bedics was a few seconds behind, finishing ninth in 14:23.84.
Freshman Hallie Porterfield ran a personal best 4:48.53 in the women's mile to finish 12th, while on the men's side freshman Cooper Atkins (4:04.68) and sophomore Ryan Kinnane (4:05.42) also notched PRs to finish 13th and 14th, respectively, in the mile.
After five events, the men are in eighth place with 14 points, while the Tiger women are ninth with 11 points. Day 2 action will start Saturday at 1:15 p.m. CT with the women's high jump. Action on the track will start at 4:10 p.m. with the women's mile final.
SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gilliam Indoor Stadium
Bryan-College Station, TX
February 25, 2022
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Pent 60m Hurdles
14. Elise Heddens 8.97*
15. Keira McCarrell 9.06*
Pent High Jump
11. Keira McCarrell 1.64m/5-4.5
16. Elise Heddens 1.55m/5-1
Pent Shot Put
3. Keira McCarrell 12.83m/42-1.25
16. Elise Heddens 9.93m/32-7
Pent Long Jump
15. Keira McCarrell 5.21m/17-1.25*
17. Elise Heddens 5.09m/16-8.5
Pent 800m
12. Keira McCarrell 2:30.24*
13. Elise Heddens 2:30.58*
Pentathlon Overall
12. Keira McCarrell 3,703 pts*
15. Elise Heddens 3,389 pts
400m
26. Asia Jinks 55.84
800m (Prelim)
5. Presley Weems 2:05.13 (Q)
Mile (Prelim)
12. Hallie Porterfield 4:48.53*
5000m
3. Joyce Kimeli 15:53.95
Weight Throw
5. Madi Malone 22.16m/72-8.5
8. Maura Huwalt 20.29m/66-7
14. Dani Gregory 18.12m/59-5.5*
Long Jump
13. Janaya Jones 5.85m/19-2.5*
15. Imani Jones 5.56m/18-3
MEN'S RESULTS
Hept 60m
6. John Murray 7.05*
9. David Edmondson 7.11*
10. Alex Spyridonidis 7.13
Hept Long Jump
4. Alex Spyridonidis 7.03m/23-0.75
9. John Murray 6.64m/21-9.5
10. David Edmondson 6.62m/21-8.75
Hept Shot Put
4. John Murray 14.76m/48-5.25*
5. Alex Spyridonidis 13.84m/45-5
12. David Edmondson 11.15m/36-7
Hept High Jump
2. David Edmondson 2.02m/6-7.5
3. John Murray 1.99m/6-6.25*
8. Alex Spyridonidis 1.90m/6-2.75
Hept Overall (Through Day One)
2. John Murray 3,163 pts
5. Alex Spyridonidis 3,091 pts
9. David Edmondson 2,946 pts
60m (Prelim)
14. Dante Brown 6.79
200m
16. Brandon Smiley 21.25
X. Dante Brown DQ
Mile (Prelim)
13. Cooper Atkins 4:04.68*
14. Ryan Kinnane 4:05.42*
5000m
8. Tommy McDonough 14:21.19*
9. Carson Bedics 14:23.84*
Pole Vault
3. James Courson 5.26m/17-3
13. Matthew Asplund 4.85m/5-11
Weight Throw
3. Kyle Brown 21.52m/70-7.25
8. Erik Ebel 20.41m/66-11.5
9. Kyle Moison 19.58m/64-3*
