BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Senior heptathlete Alex Spyridonidis and senior high jumper Dontavious Hill each won silver during the final day of the 2022 SEC Indoor Championships at Gilliam Indoor Stadium Saturday to highlight the Tigers' performances.
Hill cruised over the first five heights, clearing each on his first attempt, before missing at 2.23m and 2.26m. His silver medal height of 2.20m/7-2.5 was his best performance at SEC Indoors over his four-year career as he became the first Tiger since Ryan Fleck in 2009 and 2010 to claim second place in consecutive years at the meet. Hill finished his SEC Indoor career with four consecutive scoring performances.
Spyridonidis posted PRs in the 60m hurdles and 1000m on Saturday to move from fifth place after day one, to the podium on Saturday. The Hanover, Germany native also cleared a season-best 5.05m/16-6.75 in the pole vault. His second-place finish was the best by a Tiger athlete since Maurice Smith won SEC titles in 2004 and 2005.
Teammate John Murray had a career weekend, finishing sixth place with a PR 5,465 points, becoming the No. 4 performer in Auburn history in the event. Murray notched personal bests in five of the seven events.
Senior Presley Weems finished fourth in the women's 800m, crossing in 2:04.37, marking the highest finish ever by an Auburn woman at the event at the conference indoor meet.
All-American Joyce Kimeli, the bronze medalist on Friday at 5000m, came back Saturday to finish sixth at 3000m, crossing in 9:04.74. It was the third fastest time in school history. Kimeli concluded her Auburn indoor conference career with 57 points, the most in Auburn history. Over her four-year indoor career, Kimeli won two SEC championships, had three silver medals and one bronze.
Thrower Maura Huwalt, coming off an eighth-place performance Friday in the weight throw, equaled that effort in the shot put, throwing 15.83m/51-11.25 to score for the second event in as many days.
Day 1 of the championships saw Kimeli, James Courson and junior Kyle Brown all win bronze in their respective events. 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 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. Courson became the first Tiger vaulter to medal in consecutive SEC Indoor Championships since Clark Humphreys in 1996-97.
Making his first appearance on a SEC podium, Brown threw for 21.52m/70-7.25 on his fifth attempt to lock in bronze become the first Auburn man to medal in the event since Jacob Dunkleberger won gold in 2008.
In the team standings, the women finished 10th with 20 points while the men tied for 10th with 33 points. Arkansas swept both team titles.
The Tigers will now await NCAA bids which go to the top 16 individuals and relays nationally. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held March 11-12 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham.
SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Day 2
Gilliam Indoor Stadium
Bryan-College Station, TX
February 26, 2022
WOMEN'S RESULTS
800m
4. Presley Weems 2:04.37
3000m
6. Joyce Kimeli 9:04.74
24. Hallie Porterfield 9:33.92
High Jump
Kamiya Dendy NH
Grayson Scott NH
Triple Jump
Janaya Jones FOUL
Pole Vault
Lexie Leinneweber NH
Rhiannon Held NH
Shot Put
8. Maura Huwalt 15.83m/51-11.25
16. Jocelynn Budwig 14.99m/49-2.25
MEN'S RESULTS
Hept 60m Hurdles
4. Alex Spyridonidis 8.22*
5. John Murray 8.32
12. David Edmondson 9.35
Hept Pole Vault
2. Alex Spyridonidis 5.05m/16-6.75
8. John Murray 4.35m/14-3.25*
11. David Edmondson 3.95m/12-11.5*
Hept 1000m
3. Alex Spyridonidis 2:42.88*
7. David Edmondson 2:45.71*
11. John Murray 2:58.09*
Heptathlon Overall
2. Alex Spyridonidis 5,786 pts
6. John Murray 5,465 pts*
11. David Edmondson 5,031 pts
3000m
11. Tommy McDonough 8:07.96*
19. Ryan Kinnane 8:16.98
23. Carson Bedics 8:17.75*
29. Cooper Atkins 8:23.96
High Jump
2. Dontavious Hill 2.20m/7-2.5
12. TJ Funches 2.01m/6-7
X. Zach Marinko NH
Shot Put
18. Ethan Richter 15.89m/52-1.75
19. Quinten Wynn 15.61m/51-2.75
*^ Personal Best
Spyridonidis, Hill claim silver on final day of SEC Indoors
