OXFORD, Miss.—Auburn struck gold, not once, but twice during the first day of the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday as senior Madi Malone and Ashley Carter each brought home individual titles. Malone kicked off the meet with a win in the women's hammer throw and Carter claimed gold eight hours later in the women's javelin throw.
A three-time SEC silver medalist, Malone dominated the hammer throw, posting four of the top five marks of all competitors. The Wichita, Kansas, native's winning throw of 69.39m/227-8 came on her second of six throws and recorded four throws of 67.64m or better.
After an hour and 45-minute weather delay early in the evening, the women's javelin throw got underway. Carter wasted little time as she threw a personal-best 54.90m/180-1 on her first throw. The senior from Auburn, Alabama, won the Tigers' second title in the event in the last four years, joining Kylee Carter who won in 2019.
Carter's Auburn career saw her progress from 10th and 12th in the event as freshman and sophomore to a bronze last year, to SEC Champion in her final conference meet.
The pair of titles marked the first time since 2011 that the Auburn women claimed two individual titles at the same championship.
Seniors Presley Weems and Asia Jinks each advanced to Saturday's finals in their respective events. Weems was eighth in 800m prelims crossing in 2:05.28 marking while Jinks, competing in her first SEC Outdoor Championship, was seventh in the 400m hurdles in a personal-best time of 57.11.
In the men's hammer throw, the Tigers had three scorers in the event for the first time since 2005. Senior Erik Ebel was sixth (67.02m/219-10), junior Kyle Brown was seventh (65.99m/216-6) and freshman Kyle Moison was eighth (64.01m/210-0)
After Day One of the men's decathlon, junior David Edmondson is in fifth place with 3972 points with sophomore John Murray in seventh with 3907 points.
With three of 21 events completed, the Auburn women are in first place with 23 points, while the men are in eighth with six points.
Friday's second day will begin at 1:45 p.m. CT with the men's 110m hurdles of the decathlon. Action on the track will start at 6 p.m. with women's 100m hurdles.
SEC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
OLE MISS TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
Thursday, May 12
Women's Hammer Throw
1. Madi Malone 69.39m/227-8
10. Dani Gregory 59.83m/189-0 (PR)
15. Jocelynn Budwig 55.28m/181-4
Men's Hammer Throw
6. Erik Ebel 67.02m/219-10
7. Kyle Brown 65.99m/216-6
8. Kyle Moison 64.01m/210-0
Women's Javelin Throw
1. Ashley Carter 54.90m/180-1
6. Keira McCarrell 50.35m/165-2
11. Shaniya Holley 46.81m/153-7
Women's 800m Prelims
8. Presley Weems, Q 2:05.28
Women's 200m Prelims
11. Aalliyah Francis 23.43 (PR)
Men's 200m Prelims
19. Brandon Smiley 20.97
Women's 400m Hurdles Prelims
7. Asia Jinks, Q 57.11 (PR)
11. Tylar Colbert 1:00.43
14. Jen Dietrich 1:03.54
Men's 400m Hurdles Prelims
17. Caden Ciul 55.13
Women's 10,000m
16. Sara Pacer 36:59.46 (PR)
Men's 10,000m
11. Carson Bedics 30:59.32 (PR)
Men's Decathlon-Day 1
5. David Edmondson 3972 pts
100m 10.77 (PR)
Long Jump 6.89m/22-7.25
Shot Put 12.16m/39-10.75 (PR)
High Jump 2.00m/6-6.75
400m 49.17
7. John Murray 3907 pts
100m 10.93 (PR)
Long Jump 6.63m/21-9
Shot Put 14.36m/47-1.50
High Jump 1.94m/6-4.25
400m 50.20
