Clemson, SC. – Two Auburn freshman records, four event wins and 28 personal bests highlighted Day 1 of the Clemson Invite for the Tigers track and field program Friday at the Clemson indoor track complex.
"What an awesome day, the kids performed great," said first year head coach Leroy Burrell. "It's not often that you leave a meet with such high caliber teams and leave with four winning and two second place finishes and it's only the first day."
Freshman Alyssa Quinones-Mixon vaulted to the top of the school record books with her mark of 4.05m/13-03.50 in the women's pole vault. The Texas native became the number two performer in AU history while also capturing the freshman record in the event. The previous mark of 4.00m/13-1.5 was set back in 2013 by Jessie Johnson.
Another freshman to leap to the top was Jeremey Zammit in the men's long jump. Zammit broke the 36-year-old freshman record in the event on his final jump of 7.84m/25-08.75. The previous record of 24-9.50 was set in 1986 by Boris Goins.
A pair of Tiger freshmen swept the men's and women's 400m dash in style as LeBron Bessick claimed gold for the men in 47.17, while Arianna Sharpe took the top spot for the women crossing in 53.01. Sharpe's time was just .06 seconds off the Auburn freshman record in the event, while her sister, Amirah, was fifth in the event in 55.26.
In his indoor season debut, All-American transfer Favour Ashe secured the fastest automatic qualifying spot in the 60m dash with a time of 6.59. The Nigerian native came back later in the afternoon to finished second in the finals, crossing in 6.57. His time made him the fifth-fastest performer all-time at AU as it was the fastest 60 time by a Tiger sprinter in five years.
The Auburn throws continue to impress as veteran All-American Madi Malone won the women's weight throw with a mark of 21.53m/70-07.75 while teammate Maura Huwalt (20.23m/66-04.50) finished third. On the men's side, Kyle Brown claimed the silver with a mark of 20.48m/67-02.25 while senior Erik Ebel (20.10m/65-11.50) finished took fourth place.
"I told the athletes in my post meet briefing that we're not who we used to be, we are in the process of building a culture that will make us the type of program we want to be," Burrell said. "I'm really looking forward to tomorrow to see the 2023 debut of the senior jumps group continue the momentum."
Day 2 of the Clemson Invite kicks off Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET with the women's high jump and on the track at 12 p.m. with the women's 300m dash. The meet will be streamed live on ESPN.com with live results located at https://results.adkinstrak.com/meets/19420.
CLEMSON INVITE
Clemson Indoor Track Facility
Clemson, SC
January 13, 2022
MEN'S RESULTS
60m Prelim
1. Favour Ashe 6.59 Q
9. Ian Myers 6.72*
18. Charlie Sexton 6.86*
29. David Edmondson 7.03*
30. Matthew Cless 7.07*
60m Final
2. Favour Ashe 6.57
60m Hurdles Prelims
14. Micheal May 8.35*
15. Alex Spyridonidis 8.39
16. John Murray 8.44
400m
1. LeBron Bessick 47.17*
11. John Stephens 49.87*
DNS. Matthew Rainer
DNS. Zachary Ross
600m
10. Davis Plowden 1:20.74*
1,000m
5. Rex Green 2:25.04*
8. Evan Rogers 2:27.34*
Long Jump
2. Jeremy Zammit 7.84m/25-08.75*
8. David Edmondson 7.27m/23-10.25*
10. John Murray 7.13m/23-04.75*
12. Alex Spyridonidis 7.02m/23-00.50
15. Micheal May 6.97m/22-10.50*
Weight Throw
2. Kyle Brown 20.48m/67-02.25
4. Erik Ebel 20.10m/65-11.50*
6. Kyle Moison 19.50m/63-11.75
7. Matthew Rueff 16.27m/53-04.50*
8. John Leonard 15.34m/50-04.00*
WOMEN'S RESULTS
60m Prelim
10. Chante Clinkscale 7.39
60m Hurdles Prelims
10. Paula Grauvogel 8.53*
15. Niya Benton-Andrews 8.75
12. Elise Heddens 9.08
25. Ester Diza-Mbelolo 9.41*
400m
1. Arianna Sharpe 53.01*
5. Amirah Sharpe 55.26*
17. Lalah Hasbrouck 59.50*
Pole Vault
1. Alyssa Quinones-Mixon 4.05m/13-03.50*
Long Jump
5. Janaya Jones 6.07m/19-11.00
7. Essence Thomas 6.01m/19-08.75*
8. Paula Grauvogel 5.85m/19-02.50*
14. Elise Heddens 5.52m/18-01.50*
Weight Throw
1. Madi Malone 21.53m/70-07.75
3. Maura Huwalt 20.23m/66-04.50
7. Danielle Gregory 18.19m/59-08.25*
11. Megan Hague 12.83m/42-01.25*
*- Personal Best