Clemson, S.C. – The women of Auburn track and field had a strong showing on the second day of the Clemson Invite, led by senior Maura Huwalt who won the women's shot put with the nation's fourth best mark of the young season. Along with Huwalt's win, 22 personal bests and a pair of Auburn top 10 performances in the women's high jump and long jump were established Saturday at the Clemson University Indoor Track Complex.
"Today didn't go quite as well as I hoped," Auburn head coach Leroy Burrell said. "It was a bit of a mixed bag as far as our performance is concerned. The highlight of the day was the women's shot where Maura Huwalt set a personal best which we dedicated our post meet cheer to her."
A native of South Park, Pennsylvania, Huwalt had her best shot put effort of her Auburn career as four of her six markes surpassed her previous PR of 16.41m with heaves of 16.45m, 16.69m, 17.25m and 17.29m. Huwalt led the event through all six rounds with her winning throw of 17.29m/56-8.75 on her sixth and final throw of the day. The SEC outdoor champion in the discus, Huwalt's winning mark on Saturday is the nation's fourth best this season and the second-best in Auburn history.
"I'm very excited for Maura as she's starting to see her hard work and attention to details in the throwing events really paying off," said Tigers throws coach Pat Ebel. "Her school record performance today in the shot put is a direct result of that work."
Making her Auburn debut in the women's triple jump, senior Amy Warren became the No. 8 performer in Auburn history with a jump of 12.98m/42-07.00 to finish fourth overall. Close behind was teammate Janaya Jones (12.61m / 41-04.50) who finished seventh as both achieved new personal best marks in their season opener.
In the women's high jump, senior Sanna Barnes cleared 1.78m/5-10.00 become the No. 8 perfomer in Auburn history.
Other solid performances on the women's side came by way of sophomore Chante Clinkscale in the 200m dash with a new personal best time of 23.97, while veteran Hannah Tarwater grabbed third place in the 3,000m with a time of 9:50.51 for a new PR.
On the men's side, Favour Ashe and Ian Myers finished fifth and sixth in the men's 200m dash in 21.34 and 21.37, respectfully. In the 300m dash, newcomer LeBron Bessick ran a solid race crossing the line in 33.44, good for seventh overall.
The distance trio of Ryan Kinnane (8:11.26), Cooper Atkins (8:14.26) and Louis O'Loughlin (8:16.99) stuck together to take three of the top five spots in the men's 3,000m. Atkins and O'Loughlin raced to new personal best times in their first 3K of the year.
"All in all to leave a meet of this quality with 5 wins and feel dissatisfied with our performance speaks to the level of expectation of the staff," Burrell said. "We'll get back to work on Monday and fix the problems and see where we are next week at Vandy."
Up Next
The men and women of Auburn track & field venture to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the Vanderbilt Invite on January 20-21.
CLEMSON INVITE
Clemson Indoor Track Facility
Clemson, SC
January 14, 2023
MEN'S RESULTS
200m
5. Favour Ashe 21.34*
6. Ian Myers 21.37*
11. Charlie Sexton 21.69*
300m
7. LeBron Bessick 33.44*
17. John Stephens 34.55*
3000m
2. Ryan Kinnnane 8:11.26
3. Cooper Atkins 8:14.58*
5. Louis O'Loughlin 8:16.99*
High Jump
3. Dontavious Hill 2.10m / 6-10.75
4. Justin Stuckey 2.05m / 6-08.75
6. TJ Funches 2.05m / 6-08.75
NH. Matthew Cless
Pole Vault
6. Micheal May 4.55m / 14-11.00*
8. John Murray 4.10m / 13-05.25
NH. James Courson
Shot Put
4. Matthew Reuff 17.15m / 56-03.25*
8. Ethan Richter 16.32m / 53-10.50
9. Grant Griffin 16.15m / 53-00.00*
13. Alex Spyridonidis 13.42m / 44-00.50
WOMEN'S RESULTS
200m
6. Chante Clinkscale 23.97*
14. Niya Benton-Andrews 24.68
300m
11. Ariel Sharpe 41.23*
3,000m
3. Hannah Tarwater 9:50.51*
High Jump
3. Sanna Barnes 1.78m / 5-10.00
6. Paula Grauvogel 1.69m / 5-06.50*
11. Elise Heddens 1.59m / 5-02.50*
Triple Jump
4. Amy Warren 12.98m / 42-07.00*
7. Janaya Jones 12.61m / 41-04.50*
FOUL. Essence Thomas
Shot Put
1. Maura Huwalt 17.29m / 56-08.75*
5. Megan Hague 13.88m / 45-06.50*
9. Trinity Love 12.74m / 41-09.75*
*- Personal Best
