CLEMSON, South Carolina/NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Auburn freshman Camila Gomes, a mid-year enrollee from Portugal, broke Auburn's school freshman record in the women's mile to highlight Auburn's first day of action at the Music City Challenge in Nashville and Tiger Paw Invite in Clemson, South Carolina.
Racing for the first time in an Auburn uniform, Gomes ran a strong race, finishing second in her heat and second overall, crossing in 4:38.18, to break the previous freshman mark set last year by Gene Coetzee. The time was the second fastest ever by an Auburn woman indoors only behind Presley Weems' school record of 4:37.41 two years ago.
At Clemson, freshman Kanyinola Ajayi, also competing for the first time at Auburn, finished fifth in the men's 60m dash in 6.63. The Nigerian native was first out of 71 competitors in the preliminary round, crossing in 6.64 before running a 6.63 in the semifinal round to finish fourth and automatically advance to finals. Sophomore Azeem Fahmi ran 6.65 in the prelims good for second overall before posting a 6.65 in the semifinals and was a healthy scratch in the finals.
In the women's pole vault sophomore Rhiannon Held and senior Lexie Leinneweber established new personal bests heights, as both cleared 3.95m/12-11.5. Held was fourth overall, while Leinneweber took home sixth place.
Senior Kyle Moison established a new lifetime best for the third time in the last four meets dating back to last year in the men's weight throw. Moison was fourth overall with a toss of 20.87m/68-5.75 to surpass his previous PR of 20.86m set two weeks ago at the Razorback Invite. Teammate John Leonard also posted a new PR with a mark of 19.37m/63-6.75.
Senior transfer Adrienne Adams crushed her previous best in the women's weight throw set four years ago at UCF with a toss of 18.67m/61-3 good for sixth place.
Action on Saturday begins at 8 a.m. CT in Clemson with the women's shot put, while in Nashville the Tigers will get underway at 8:30 a.m. with the women's 3000m. After Saturday, the Tigers will travel to the SEC Indoor Championships, February 23-24 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Clemson Tiger Paw Invite – Day 1
Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex – Clemson, South Carolina
February 9, 2024
Men's Weight Throw
4. Kyle Moison 20.87m/68-5.75
9. John Leonard 19.37m/63-6.75
Men's 60m Prelims
1. Kanyinola Ajayi 6.64
2. Azeem Fahmi 6.65
22. Dario Matau 6.78
33. Makanakaishe Chara 6.82
63. Charlie Sexton 7.03
Men's 60m Semis
4. Kanyinola Ajayi 6.63
7. Azeem Fahmi 6.65
15. Dario Matau 6.70
Men's 60m Finals
5. Kanyinola Ajayi 6.63
Men's Long Jump
Aaron Davis II DNF
Women's Long Jump
32. Elise Heddens 5.66m/18-7
33. Paula Grauvogel 5.66m/18-7
Women's Pole Vault Invite
T11. Alyssa Quinones-Mixon 3.95m/12-11.5
Women's 60m Hurdles Prelims
23. Danae Nembhard 8.44
27. Paula Grauvogel 8.49
43. Ashanti Harvey 8.90
46. Elise Heddens 9.00
Women's 60m Prelims
8. Chante Clinkscale 7.31
Women's 60m Semifinals
15. Chante Clinkscale 7.31
Women's Weight Throw
6. Adrienne Adams 18.67m/61-3
Women's Pole Vault
4. Rhiannon Held 3.95m/12-11.5
6. Lexie Leinneweber 3.95m/12-11.5
7. Brooke Walden 3.80m/12-5.5
Women's 400m
12. Vimbayi Maisvorew 52.76
29. Abasiono Akpan 53.99
35. Oke Opeyemi 54.63
43. Zuriel Reed 55.14
Music City Challenge – Day 1
Vanderbilt Recreation Center – Nashville, Tennessee
February 9, 2024
Women's Mile
2. Camila Gomes 4:38.18
12. Gene Coetzee 4:47.84
89. Hailey Marston 5:08.89
Men's Mile
42. Nickson Chebii 4:10.75
Cooper Atkins DNF
