OXFORD, Miss.—The Auburn women won its most individual titles at a Southeastern Conference Championship in over a decade, claiming four, including gold from junior Maura Huwalt in the discus throw on Saturday's third and final day of competition.
Huwalt joined fellow throwers Madi Malone (Hammer Throw) and Ashley Carter (Javelin Throw) to win an SEC crown, the first for each. It is the first time in conference history, men or women, that a school has swept the long throws events in one conference meet. Along with Joyce Kimeli's steeplechase title on Friday night, it was the most for the Tiger women in 12 years.
On her second attempt in the discus throw, Huwalt took an early lead with a personal-best mark of 54.35m/178-3 and held that lead until the second to last throw of the competition when Ole Miss' Tedreauna Britt stepped into the ring. Britt's sixth and final mark surpassed Huwalt by a mere one centimeter (54.36m/178-4) giving her the lead momentarily.
Unfazed, a focused Huwalt unleashed the best throw in Auburn history, with a heave of 56.21m/184-5, almost two meters further than Britt, to win her first SEC Championship. Huwalt's winning throw broke Olympian Rachel Dincoff's school record of 183-1 set in 2015.
On the men's side, day three was highlighted by a pair of silver medals. High jumper Dontavious Hill finished second in the men's high jump, clearing 2.21m/7-3. It was the Mobile, Alabama, native's third runner up finish at SECs as he was second at the 2021 and 2022 indoor meet. The senior's performance marked the first time in eight years that an Auburn high jumper took silver at the conference outdoor meet.
Senior James Courson won silver in the men's pole vault after clearing a personal-best height of 5.45m/17-10.5. The second-place finish equaled the best finish ever by an Auburn male at the conference meet in the event, equaling Clark Humphreys' second in 2000. A SEC indoor runner up in 2021, Courson cleared 5.45m on his second attempt after successfully clearing his three bars on the first try.
Senior Presley Weems broke her own school record at 800m as she clocked a 2:03.50 to finish sixth. Weems, who ran a 2:05.28 in prelims now owns seven of the 10 fastest half mile times ever at Auburn.
Less than 24 hours after winning an SEC title in the 3000m Steeplechase, Joyce Kimeli turned around and ran the fifth fastest time in AU history in the 5k, crossing in 15:59.19 to claim sixth place. Competing in her first SEC meet, Asia Jinks snagged eighth in the 400m hurdles in 58.25.
The women's quartet of Tylar Colbert, Aalliyah Francis, Zatoria Thompson and Niya Benton-Andrews finished seventh in the 4x100m relay in 45.58. Colbert and Francis teamed with Jink and Jen Dietrich in the 4x400m relay, taking home eighth place in 3:37.11.
Sophomore Ryan Kinnane ran the fifth fastest 1500m time in school history, clocking a 3:42.14 to finish sixth. His time was the fastest ever ran by an Auburn distance runner at 1500m at SECs.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, senior Dante Brown was sixth in the men's 100m dash, clocking a 10.20.
The women finished the meet seventh with 58 points, while the men were 10th with 33 points. The 91 combined points were the most by Auburn since 2012. Florida won the women's team title, while Arkansas was victorious for the women.
SEC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
OLE MISS TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
Saturday, May 14—Day 3
Women's Discus
1. Maura Huwalt 56.21m/184-5 (SR, PR)
8. Joceyln Budwig 51.29m/168-3 (PR)
Men's Pole Vault
2. James Courson 5.45m/17-10.5
T-11. Matthew Asplund 4.85m/15-11
Women's Triple Jump
14. Essence Thomas 12.23m/40-1.5
Men's Discus Throw
18. Ethan Richter 47.08m/154-5
20. Alex Spyridonidis 45.24m/148-5
Quinten Wynn FOUL
Men's High Jump
2.Dontavious Hill 2.21m/7-3
13. T.J. Funches 2.02m/6-7.5
T-14. David Edmondson 2.02m/6-7.5
Women's 4x100m Relay
7. Auburn 45.58
Tylar Colbert, Aalliyah Francis, Zatoria Thompson, Niya Benton-Andrews
Women's Pole Vault
12. Lexie Leinneweber 3.90m/12-9.5
Rhiannon Held NH
Men's 1500m
6. Ryan Kinnane 3:42.14
Men's 100m
6. Dante Brown 10.20
Women's 800m
6. Presley Weems 2:03.50 (SR, PR)
Women's 400m Hurdles
8. Asia Jinks 58.25
Women's 5000m
6. Joyce Kimeli 15:59.19
25. Sara Pacer 17:45.87
27. Hallie Porterfield 18:28.88
Men's 5000m
12. Tommy McDonough 14:14.98 (PR)
18. Cooper Atkins 14:35.99 (PR)
19. Carson Bedics 14:36.88
Ryan Kinnane DNF
Women's 4x400m Relay
8. Auburn 3:37.11
Asia Jinks, Tylar Colbert, Jen Dietrich, Aalliyah Francis
