GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After just one full day of competition at the Pepsi Florida Relays, repetitive weather delays on Saturday have forced the Tigers to return home early from Percy Beard Track.
While only having the opportunity to showcase themselves in 16 events, the Tigers made the most of it, recording nine personal bests, a top-five national outing and another crack at a school record.
"Those that got to compete before the weather turned bad performed really well," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "We have to focus on what we can control, and that's not the weather. We're going to head back and get ready to compete again next week. Conference championships will be here before we know it, and we must make the most of every opportunity before then."
Senior All-American Joyce Kimeli carried the torch for the Tiger runners with a blazing 4:15.56 in her outdoor debut in the women's 1500m. Kimeli's time is fifth best in program history and fourth best in the country thus far into the season.
Freshman Cooper Atkins also wowed for the Tiger distance crew, finishing fourth in a field of 36 in the men's 1500m behind a 3:44.06 run, less than two seconds shy of Auburn's freshman record. Thanks to teammates Ryan Kinnane and Tommy McDonough, the Tigers were the only team able to place three runners inside the event's top-10.
The Auburn throws squad also continued to deliver in their weekend outings with the javelin 1-2 punch of Ashley Carter and Keira McCarrell and the hammer-throwing All-American Madi Malone.
During Friday's competition, Carter upped her personal best from last weekend with an event-winning throw of 53.49m/175-06. The national leader in women's javelin, Keira McCarrell locked down second place with a throw of 51.80m/169-11.
With a throw of 67.30m/220-09, Malone nearly broke her own hammer record in back-to-back weeks, as the senior delivered the second-best mark in program history. The Wichita, Kansas native's throw was less than three feet shy of her week-old record.
Also piecing together strong outings and earning career-best marks for the Tigers were freshman Hallie Porterfield in the women's 1500m (4:29.42), sophomore Lexie Leinneweber (3.91m/12-10) and freshman Rhiannon Held (3.76m/12-4) in pole vault, junior Dani Gregory in the hammer throw (54.73m/179-07), both Kinnane (3:45.90) and McDonough (3:47.35) in the 1500m, and freshman Quinten Wynn in discus (45.33m/148-08).
UP NEXT
The Tigers set their sights on the Joe Walker Invitational in Oxford, Mississippi, as they are set to go to battle in yet another talented meet April 8-9.
PEPSI FLORIDA RELAYS
Percy Beard Track
Gainesville, Florida
April 1-2, 2022
WOMEN'S 200m
25. Aalliyah Francis 23.74
WOMEN'S 400m HURDLES
18. Tylar Colbert 59.24
WOMEN'S 1500m
2. Joyce Kimeli 4:15.56
18. Hallie Porterfield 4:29.42*
WOMEN'S POLE VAULT
6. Lexie Leinneweber 3.91m/12-10*
10. Rhiannon Held 3.76m/12-04*
WOMEN'S LONG JUMP
11. Essence Thomas 5.60m/18-04.50
23. Elise Heddens 4.97m/16-03.75
X. Janaya Jones FOUL
WOMEN'S HAMMER
3. Madi Malone 67.30m/220-10
25. Dani Gregory 54.73m/179-07*
27. Jocelynn Budwig 52.44m/172-00
WOMEN'S JAVELIN
1. Ashley Carter 53.49m/175-06*
2. Keira McCarrell 51.80m/1169-11
12. Shaniya Holley 44.11m/144-09
MEN'S 200m
25. Brandon Smiley 21.12
32. Jevony Murray 21.27
MEN'S 400m HURDLES
36. Caden Ciul 54.90
MEN'S 1500m
4. Cooper Atkins 3:44.06*
8. Ryan Kinnane 3:45.90*
10. Tommy McDonough 3:47.35*
MEN'S LONG JUMP
26. John Murray 6.37m/20-10.75
MEN'S HAMMER
6. Kyle Brown 67.06m/220-00
8. Erik Ebel 65.23m/214-00
9. Kyle Moison 64.38m/211-03
MEN'S JAVELIN
12. Josh Wallace 53.18m/174-06
MEN'S HIGH JUMP
X. TJ Funches NH
MEN'S POLE VAULT
9. James Courson 4.91m/16-1.25
10. Matthew Asplund 4.91m/16-1.25
MEN'S DISCUS
17. Ethan Richter 45.68m/149-10
19. Quinten Wynn 45.33m/148-08*
*- Personal Best