AUBURN, Alabama—The Auburn track and field team posted three event wins and broke a two-decade old freshman school record during the Tom Jones Invitational meet on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville over the weekend.
Freshman phenom Keyshawn Strachan continued his winning ways, claiming the men's javelin throw with a best mark of 76.97m/252-6. Strachan, who won the event by 20 feet, also had a throw of 76.96m. The national leader in the event, Strachan's marks were the second and third best in school history behind his school record of 84.27m set two weeks ago at the Texas Relays.
Senior All-American Madi Malone remained undefeated this outdoor season as she won her fourth consecutive hammer throw event claiming the invitational section with a throw of 68.15m/223-7. Four of Malone's six tosses were better than the second-place finisher.
Abasiono Akpan, a freshman from Nigeria broke Auburn's 20-year-old freshman school mark in the 400m hurdles, posting a time of 56.93, surpassing the previous record of 57.81 held by Josanne Lucas (2003).
The quartet of Akpan, junior Ashantae Harvey and freshmen Arianna Sharpe and Amirah Sharpe ran the fastest Auburn women's 4x400m relay in 12 years, crossing in 3:32.00 to finish sixth in a very competitive field. Previously ranked 22nd nationally in the event, the time moved the Tigers into the top 20 in the country.
Sophomore Chante Clinkscale ran an 11.26 in the women's 100m dash entering Auburn's all-time performance list at No. 10 while posting the school's fastest time in the event in five years.
Junior Ryan Kinnane won a tightly contested men's 1500m race, crossing in 3:43.42 to outdistance North Florida's Timothy Doyle and Florida State's David Mullarkey, who finished in 3:43.51 and 3:43.56, respectively. Three other Tigers, Hayden Judge (3:50.23), Dustyn Lewis (3:51.24) and Benson Atkins (3:56.46) posted personal bests in the race.
Senior Sanaa Barnes, who is eighth nationally in the high jump, finished second in the women's invitational, clearing 1.81m/5-11.25.
In the men's hammer throw, senior Erik Ebel took silver with a mark of 67.40m/221-1, while teammate Kyle Moison was fourth (66.54m/218-3).
Senior Maura Huwalt, the No. 4 performer all-time at AU in the shot put finished sixth in the invitational section with a new personal-best of 16.43m/53-11.
At the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, junior John Murray notched a new career-best in the decathlon with 7138 points to finish 10th among the 29 competitors that completed the grueling 10-event competition. Murray had two personal bests during the two-day meet and his point total moved him into the No. 10 spot on Auburn's all-time performance list.
Up Next
The Tigers will compete at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, April 22. A smaller group of distance runners will toe the line at the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Virginia, April 20-22.
Tom Jones Invite
Gainesville, Florida
Friday, April 14
Women's Results
200m
30. Niya Benton-Andrews 23.37*
1500m
19. Hallie Porterfield 4:30.30
28. Hannah Tarwater 4:34.57*
35. Hailey Marston 4:36.95*
400m Hurdles
12. Abasiono Akpan 56.93*
** Auburn Freshman Outdoor Record **
Long Jump
7. Amy Warren 5.79m/19-0
Shot Put Invitational
6. Maura Huwalt 16.43m/53-11*
Javelin Throw
6. Shaniya Holley 46.01m/150-11
High Jump Invitational
2. Sanaa Barnes 1.81m/5-11.25
Discus Throw Invitational
5. Maura Huwalt 55.39m/181-8
Men's Results
200m
57. Ian Myers 21.58
1500m
1. Ryan Kinnane 3:43.42
20. Hayden Judge 3:50.23*
25. Dustyn Lewis 3:51.24*
42. Benson Atkins 3:56.46*
400m Hurdles
7. Mo Mpoke 49.61
Long Jump
14. Jeremy Zammit 6.97m/22-10.5*
Javelin Throw
1. Keyshawn Strachan 76.97m/252-6
High Jump Invitational
10. TJ Funches 2.09m/6-10.25
Tom Jones Invite
Gainesville, Florida
Saturday, April 15
Women's Results
100m
12. Chante Clinkscale 11.26
400m
19. Ashante Harvey 52.67*
28. Amirah Sharpe 53.84
36. Arianna Sharpe 54.54
4x400m Relay
6. Auburn 3:32.00
Abasiono Akpan, Ashantae Harvey, Arianna Sharpe, Amirah Sharpe
Triple Jump
13. Chantoba Bright 12.26m/40-2.75
Amy Warren FOUL
High Jump Invitational
2. Sanaa Barnes 1.81m/5-11.25
Discus Throw Invitational
5. Maura Huwalt 55.39m/181-8
Hammer Throw Invitational
1. Madi Malone 68.15m/223-7
Men's Results
100m
39. Ian Myers 10.58*
Favour Ashe DNF
400m
23. Mo Mpoke 46.51
800m
10. Louis O'Loughlin 1:48.79*
32. Rex Green 1:50.66*
55. Davis Plowden 1:53.97
110m Hurdles
27. Tray Reynolds 14.28*
Hammer Throw Invitational
2. Erik Ebel 67.40m/221-1
4. Kyle Moison 66.54m/218-3
7. Kyle Brown 65.04m/213-4*
Bryan Clay Invitational
Azusa, California
Thursday, April 13
Men's Decathlon—Day 1
2. John Murray 3854 pts
3. Alex Spyridonidis 3800 pts
8. Michael May 3588 pts
Decathlon, 100m
4. John Murray 10.87*
8. Alex Spyridonidis 11.18
9. Michael May 11.22*
Decathlon, Long Jump
2. Alex Spyridonidis 7.16m/23-6
5. Michael May 6.94m/22-9.25
7. John Murray 6.81m/22-4.25*
Decathlon, Shot Put
1. John Murray 14.36m/47-1.5
2. Alex Spyridonidis 13.36m/43-10
10. Michael May 11.28m/37-0.25*
Decathlon, High Jump
3. John Murray 1.86m/6-1.25
6. Alex Spyridonidis 1.83m/6-0
6. Michael May 1.83m/6-0*
Decathlon, 400m
5. Alex Spyridonidis 50.65
7. John Murray 51.06
9. Michael May 51.19*
Bryan Clay Invitational
Azusa, California
Friday, April 14
Men's Decathlon
4. John Murray 7138 pts*
Alex Spyridonidis DNF
Michael May DNF
Decathlon, 110m Hurdles
10. John Murray 15.63
5. Alex Spyridonidis 14.95
2. Michael May 14.67*
Decathlon, Discus Throw
1. Alex Spyridonidis 42.67m/140-0
2. John Murray 41.19m/135-1
11. Michael May 31.42m/103-1*
Decathlon, Pole Vault
9. John Murray 4.10m/13-5.25
Alex Spyridonidis DNS
Michael May DNS
Decathlon, Javelin Throw
1. John Murray 59.39m/194-10
2. Alex Spyridonidis 54.35m/178-3
Michael May DNS
Decathlon, 1500m
7. John Murray 5:20.69
Alex Spyridonidis DNS
Michael May DNS
* Personal Best
