FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas—Auburn junior Vimbayi Maisvorewa broke the school record in the women's 400m dash, while teammate Paula Grauvogel finished second in the women's pentathlon during the first day of competition at the 2024 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Tiger men's quartet of Max Hardin, LeBron Bessick, Louis O'Loughlin and Ryan Kinnane, fresh off a school record a week ago, also won a silver medal in the men's distance medley relay.
"We had a few events that we felt could possibly win but came up a little short but only because it took a great effort by our competitors," Auburn head coach Leroy Burrell said. "I'm really happy with the way the team competed. We've got a couple of big scoring opportunities tomorrow on the women's side."
Maisvorewa ran a lifetime-best 52.16 in the 400 to break the previous school record of 52.24 set by Joanna Atkins in 2011. The junior college transfer from Zimbabwe finished seventh overall in the preliminary heats to advance to Saturday's finals, marking the first AU women's finalist at SEC indoors in the event since 2012.
Graugvogel scored a lifetime best of 4,011 points, the third highest total ever by an Auburn woman as she established new PRs in four of the five events. Teammate Elise Heddens was seventh overall and had a tremendous outing over the grueling five-event competition scoring a PR of 3,651 points.
The duo's performance was highlighted by the final event of the competition, the 800m. Heddens won in a time of 2:23.28, while Grauvogel was third in 2:24.59, both bettering their best times in the 800, including a 10-second improvement from Grauvogel.
"I came here knowing I was fit and in shape," Grauvogel said. "In order to get a medal, I knew I had to run. I gave all I had and it's great to see the results. The 4,000-point barrier means a lot. I knew I had to run 2:25, but it feels incredible. It's insane."
It marked the first time since 1989 that an Auburn tandem both scored in the pentathlon at SECs with Grauvogel's second place the best ever by a Tiger at conference indoors.
"Elise did very well. She's a very confident person and to be with her all the time, it puts a lot of confidence in myself too," Grauvogel said. "I just ran after her (in the 800). We went from the beginning and the last lap we were still 1-2 so I told myself I was going to finish that last 200 no matter what."
The Tigers DMR dualled South Carolina for the top spot but were outdistanced by just under a second, closing with a 3:35.06, the third fastest time in school history. Hardin ran a strong leadoff leg handing the baton to Bessick in first place. Bessick and O'Louglin kept Auburn in the mix before Kinnane battled two-time SEC mile indoor champion Anass Essayi over the last mile of the race, as the Tiger senior turned in a sub four-minute mile on the anchor leg.
"We were hoping to come out here and get a win, but that was some really tough competition as teams stacked the DMR," Kinnane said. "Finishing second is pretty good. It was a tough tactical race. Max did a great job to get us out to a lead. Louis and LeBron held it and put me in a good spot. I wish I could have finished it off and got the win, but it was pretty good competition out there so I'm not too upset with it."
Auburn advanced four runners Friday into Saturday's finals while a total of 21 personal bests were achieved.
"I'm extremely proud of Paula and Elise (Heddens) and Vimbayi with a school record," Burrell said. "The DMR gave it a good shot after setting the school record last week. Kanyisola Ajayi, a freshman qualified in the 60 with the second fastest time and Maka advanced in the 200, so we were really happy with that. Kyle (Moison) also picked up some big points in the weight."
Freshman sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi automatically qualified for Saturday's final in the men's 60m after winning his heat with a personal-best time of 6.60, the second fastest time posted in the preliminary round. The Nigerian native's time was one-hundred shy of equaling the AU freshman record and made him the No. 7 performer in school history.
For the first time in 22 years, the Auburn women advanced two milers to the finals as freshman Camila Gomes and Gene Coetzee each qualified. Both were fourth in their respective heats to advance as Gomes crossed in 4:42.38 while Coeztee established a season-best with a 4:43.85. The times were the seventh and tenth fastest in AU history.
In the men's 200m, junior transfer Makanakaishe Charamba qualified for the finals after running a season-best 20.76, good for the eighth and final spot Saturday.
Competing in her first SEC indoors, senior transfer Adrienne Adams had a huge PR in the women's weight throw to garner sixth place overall. On her third of six throws, Adams' heave of 19.60m/64-3.75 surpassed her previous best by three feet.
In the men's weight throw, senior Kyle Moison notched his best SEC indoor finish of his career with a sixth-place finish while surpassing his personal best by two feet with a toss of 21.53m/70-7.75.
The Tiger women's pole vault unit had a strong showing with two scorers and three combined personal bests on the day. Sophomores Alyssa Quinones-Mixon and Rhiannon Held tied for sixth place, both clearing 4.12m/13-6.25. It marked the first time since a pair of AU women scored at the conference indoor meet since 1999 when Abigail Doucette and Hannah Johnson were seventh and eighth, respectively.
Senior Lexi Leinneweber and freshman Brooke Walden both established new indoor PRs, clearing 3.97m/13-0.25 to tie for 15th place. The duo joined Held, whose 4.12m was a new lifetime best and made her the third Auburn women in school history to clear 4.12m or better indoors.
Sophomore Michael May is in sixth after day one of the men's heptathlon with 2,972 points. May, who broke the AU school freshman record in the event at SECs a year ago, posted a new personal best in the shot put (12.73m/41-9.25) and equaled another in the 60m (7.15). With three events remaining on Saturday, May is 48 points behind his first day total a year ago.
The Tiger women are in eighth place in the team standings with 16 points through six of 17 events, while the men are tenth with 11 points after five events.
Saturday's final day of competition begins at 12 p.m. CT with the men's heptathlon 60m hurdles.
Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships – Day 1
Randal Tyson Track Center – Fayetteville, Arkansas
February 23, 2024
Men's Heptathlon, Day 1
6. Michael May 2972 pts
60m 7.15 SB
Long Jump 6.77m/22-2.5
Shot Put 12.73m/41-9.25 PR
High Jump 1.92m/6-3.5
Men's Mile Prelims
19. Cooper Atkins 4:11.05
Men's 60m Prelims
2. Kanyinola Ajayi (Q) 6.60 PR
11. Azeem Fahmi 6.68
15. Dario Matau 6.71
Men's Weight Throw
6. Kyle Moison 21.53m/70-7.75 PR
11. John Leonard 19.53m/64-1 PR
Men's 5000m
18. Carson Bedics 14:20.01 PR
24. Evan Hill 14:36.91 PR
Men's 200m Prelims
8. Makanakaishe Charamba (Q) 20.76 SB
14. Dario Matau 21.27
Men's Distance Medley Relay
2. Auburn 9:35.06
Max Hardin, LeBron Bessick, Louis O'Loughlin, Ryan Kinnane
Women's Pentathlon
2. Paula Grauvogel 4011 pts PR
60m Hurdles 8.42 PR
High Jump 1.65/5-5 SB
Shot Put 11.12m/36-5.75 PR
Long Jump 5.89m/19-4 PR
800m 2:24.59 PR
7. Elise Heddens 3651 PR
60m Hurdles 8.80 PR
High Jump 1.59m/5-2.5 =PR
Shot Put 10.92m/35-10 PR
Long Jump 5.17m/16-11.5
800m 2:23.28 PR
Women's Pole Vault
T6. Alyssa Quinones-Mixon 4.12m/13-6.25
T6. Rhiannon Held 4.12m/13-6.25 PR
T15. Lexie Leinneweber 3.97m/13-0.25 PR
T15. Brooke Walden 3.97m/13-0.25 PR
Women's Mile Prelims
6. Camila Gomes (Q) 4.42.38
9. Gene Coetzee (Q) 4:43.85 SB
Women's 60m Prelims
18. Chante Clinkscale 7.36
Women's Weight Throw
6. Adrienne Adams 19.60m/64-3.75 PR
Women's 400m Prelims
7. Vimbayi Maisvorewa (Q) 52.16 SR/PR
Women's Long Jump
16. Amy Warren 5.84m/19-2
Women's 60m Hurdles Prelims
10. Denae Nembhard 8.26 SB
Women's 5000m
21. Hannah Tarwater 17:15.63 PR
Women's 200m
Chante Clinkscale 24.03
Women's Distance Medley Relay
10. Auburn 11:37.20
Samatha Rogers, Deborah Oke, Cady McPhail, Gene Coetzee
Silver medals, school record highlight day one of SEC Indoors
