PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Senior Madi Malone broke her own school record in the hammer throw and fellow thrower Kyle Brown and hurdler Asia Jinks each established new personal bests during Auburn's first day at the Penn Relays at historic Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus, Thursday.
Malone's fifth throw of 69.66m/228-6 was good for second place, missing out first place by just four inches. It was the third time during the 2022 outdoor season that Malone has broke her own school mark. Closing in on the 70-meter mark, Malone established the new school mark on her fifth of six throws.
Competing in her third Penn Relays as a collegiate, Jinks ran a strong 57.77 in the 400-meter hurdles to win her heat and finish third overall. The performance was impressive despite cooler temperatures and strong headwinds in the backstretch, as the senior from Uniondale, N.Y. became the No. 8 performer in AU history in the event.
In the men's hammer throw championship, Brown unleashed a throw of 68.56m/224-11 on his last attempt to surpass his previous best established four attempts earlier when he put down a mark of 68.21m/223-9. Brown finished third overall, while teammate Erik Ebel was fifth (67.18m/220-5).
Senior Joyce Kimeli, making her Franklin Field debut, finished fourth in the women's 5000 meters, crossing in 15:58.36. Kimeli ran with the lead pack for a majority of the race, before falling back over the last 600 meters to post the fourth fastest time in school history.
Friday will be the Tigers' busiest day at the Penn Relays with 13 athletes in action over eight events starting with Ethan Richter and Quinten Wynn in the men's shot put at 12 p.m. ET. Action for Auburn will continue until 3:25 p.m. when the women's 4x400 relay will race.
Auburn will also have athletes competing in the 15-team Torrin Lawrence Memorial Invitational in Athens, Ga.
Live results for Penn Relays can be found here, while Lawrence Invitational results can be found here.
PENN RELAYS
FRANKLIN FIELD
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Day 1 Results
Women's Hammer Throw
4. Dani Gregory 56.20m/184-4
Women's Hammer Throw Championship
2. Madi Malone 69.66m/228-6 (SR/PR)
Men's Hammer Throw Championship
3. Kyle Brown 68.56m/224-11 (PR)
5. Erik Ebel 67.18m/220-5
10. Kyle Moison 59.50m/195-2
Women's 400m Hurdles
3. Asia Jinks 57.77 (PR)
9. Tyler Colbert 59.76
Women's 5000m Championship
4. Joyce Kimeli 15:58.36
