AUBURN, Ala.—The Auburn track and field program has added four student-athletes to its program, announced second-year head coach Leroy Burrell. The signees include three transfers and one high schooler that will join the program this fall.
"My coaching staff and I are excited to announce the addition of three outstanding student-athletes to the Tiger Track and Field Program," Burrell said. "Transfers Simone Johnson, Dario Matau, Aaron Davis and high school addition Kayden Slay are pivotal to helping us to build the program to a championship standard."
Johnson was a two-time All American at San Diego State for three years as she finished 11th in the triple jump (13.42m/44-0.5) at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and 14th in the event indoors this past season. A native of Fresno, California, Johnson earned six All-Mountain West team honors and was a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. She won gold at the Mountain West outdoor championships as a sophomore in the triple jump.
"Simone and Dario lead the class in terms of experience and accomplishments having both earned All-American honors at their previous stops," Burrell said. "Simone brings instant improvement to the women's jumps group along with leadership our team needs."
Matau was the NCAA Division II Outdoor silver medalist at 200m (20.48w) and eighth place at 100m (10.12w) this past spring as a sophomore at Lenoir-Rhyne. A native of Sandton, South Africa, Matau was the Division II indoor runner up at 60m (6.66) and 200m (20.75) in 2023. He also won a conference indoor title this past season at 200m and earned five conference medals at Lenoir-Rhyne.
"Dario comes in as a Division II All-American honoree. He has performed at a level at his previous stop that indicates he can make serious contribution to the already deep group of male sprinters already here on campus," Burrell said. "Lookout for Dario to be a contributing factor in our relays next year."
Davis II spent his freshman season at Houston where he was a American Athletic Conference scorer outdoors in both the long jump (fourth) and 110m hurdles (eighth), while finishing fifth indoors in the long jump at the AAC meet. A state champion in high school while at Summer Creek High School in Houston, Davis II was a five-time All American as a prepster.
"Aaron comes to us with lofty accolades, as well. Aaron was a high school All-American who had a little bit of a difficult transition early last year but rebounded to place third at the USATF U-20 championship last month in the long jump. Aaron has tremendous upside in both the long jump and 110 hurdles."
A local product from Tallassee, Slay won the AHSAA Class 5A state champion in the high jump with a 5A state record leap of 7-0 breaking the previous mark of 6-11.5 set in 1986. Slay, who didn't compete in track and field until his senior year, he was state qualifier in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and 110m hurdles.
"Kayden is a local kid that once again brings tremendous upside in the high jump," Burrell said. "I'm especially excited with the pure athleticism demonstrated this year after having just learned up the high jump this Spring. Coach Newman and I believe that Kayden has yet to scratch the surface of his abilities."
FULL BIOGRAPHIES
Simone Johnson, Jumps, Senior, Fresno, California, Central HS/San Diego State
Two-time All American while competing at San Diego State for three years … NCAA Outdoor 11th place finisher in the triple jump (13.42m/44-0.5) at the 2023 championships … Mountain West Conference silver medalist in the triple jump (13.18m/43-3) … Earned All-America honors indoors as a junior finishing 14th in the triple jump (13.33m/43-9) … Personal-best 13.43m/44-0.75 to take second at Mountain West indoor championships … Brought home a gold medal from the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in the triple jump (42-04.75) and a bronze medal in the long jump (19-06.75) in 2022 … As a sophomore was silver medalist indoors in the triple jump with a then-PR (12.88m/42-3.25) … Collegiate-best marks of 6.09m/19-11.75 in the long jump came in a winning effort at the 2022 Aztec Invitational … Third in the triple jump at the MW Outdoors as a freshman … Five wins and 16 medal performance in her collegiate career … Four-time outdoor and two-time indoor All-Mountain West Team … USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 2022 … Two-time Mountain West All-Academic Team recipient … Native of Fresno, California where she earned four varsity letters in track and field at Central High School.
Aaron Davis II, Hurdles/Jumps, Sophomore, Houston, Texas, Summer Creek HS/Houston
Spent freshman season at Houston where he was the American Athletic Conference fourth-place finisher in the long jump with a personal-best mark of 7.33m/24-0.75 … Eight at the AAC in 110m hurdles with a PR 14.53 … Silver medal in long jump (7.20m/23-7.5) at Kirk Baptiste Spring Break Invite … Fifth indoors at AAC meet in the long jump (7.17m/23-6.25) … Competed in eight meets outdoors and four indoors as a rookie … Texas 6A High School State Champion in the long jump (7.71m/25-3.75) as a senior while helping Summer Creek to its second-consecutive state team title … Five-time high school All-American.
Dario Matau, Sprints, Junior, Sandton, South Africa, Lenoir-Rhyne
NCAA Division II Outdoor silver medalist at 200m (20.48w) and eighth place at 100m (10.12w) in 2023 … Had fastest preliminaries time at NCAA DII Outdoors with a personal-best time of 10.19 … Outdoor PR of 20.64 in 200m and 46.87 in 400m … South Atlantic Conference outdoor silver medalist at 200m (20.59) and bronze medalist at 100m (10.43) … NCAA Division II Indoor runner up at 60m (6.66) and 200m (20.75) as a sophomore … SAC Indoor champion at 200m (21.45) while finishing second at 60m (6.74) … Member of 4x400m winning team as a freshman at SAC Outdoors while finishing seventh at 100m … Birthday is February 19.
Kayden Slay, Jumps, Freshman, Tallassee, Alabama
AHSAA Class 5A state champion in the high jump with a 5A state record leap of 7-0 breaking the previous mark of 6-11.5 set in 1986 … State qualifier in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and 110m hurdles … Only second Alabama high schooler to clear 7-0 at the state meet … Also played basketball in high school … Began competing in track and field as a senior in high school … 2023 Alabama 5A long jump runner up and finished sixth in the triple jump … Personal-best of 22-0.25 in the long jump and 43-4.5 in the triple jump … Also played basketball in high school.