AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn track and field team continued its impressive outdoor campaign hosting the annual Tiger Track Classic Saturday at the Hutsell-Rosen Track.
The Tigers took gold in eight different events. Highlighting the women's squad performance was freshman long jumper Shonedra Richardson. She surpassed her previous PR of 5.42m with a mark of 6.22m to finish ahead of her competition in first. Richardson is now ranked eighth in the SEC. Graduate student Amy Warren finished just behind her with a leap of 6.20m to take home silver. Sophomore Paula Grauvogel and senior Janaya Jones finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with marks of 6.09m and 6.01m.
Competing in long jump for the first time of his collegiate career, freshman Kayden Slay took home bronze with a leap of 7.20m. He later went on to compete in high jump where he placed third with a PR mark of 2.09m.
The Auburn women also took gold and silver in the 100m hurdles. Grauvogel finished first with a time of 13.82. Senior Ashanti Harvey crossed the line in 13.84.
Junior Chanté Clinkscale earned a first-place finish in the 100m dash with a time of 11.72.
On the men's sprints side, freshman Ja'Kobe Tharp won the 110m hurdles (13.78).
Leading the sweep of the 100m dash, junior Favour Ashe tied his PR time of 9.96 to finish in first. Ashe was closely followed by teammates freshman Kanyinsola Ajayi (10.14) in second, sophomore Azeem Fahmi (10.31) in third and junior Dario Matau (10.33) in fourth to round out the sweep.
The Auburn throwers delivered solid performances for the Tigers as well. The shot put duo of sophomores Matthew Rueff and Grant Griffin took home second and third, respectively. Rueff's best mark came from his final throw of the competition at 19.69m. Grant had a season's best throw of 17.07m.
On her first throw of the javelin competition, graduate student Shaniya Holley's toss of 49.49m was good enough to earn third.
Sophomore John Leonard had a PR throw of 58.78m in the hammer throw. His mark places him at No. 11 in the SEC.
Sophomore Megan Hague earned second place in women's shot put (16.06m) and sixth in discus (47.32m).
Freshman Marley Raikiwasa finished third in both shot put and discus throw. Her best toss from shot put was 15.58m. On her fourth throw of discus, her mark of 54.44m earned bronze.
The pole-vaulting trio of graduate student James Courson, junior Rhiannon Held and sophomore Alyssa Quinones-Mixon finished in the top three on both the men's and women's sides. Courson secured gold with a mark of 5.16m. Quinones-Mixon cleared 4.08m on her first attempt to finish second overall. On her third and final attempt at 4.08m, Held got over the bar to finish third.
Auburn distance's solid outing was led by sophomore Joseph Perry, who clocked a time of 14:44.07 in the 5000m to finish first. Junior Fiji Anday finished fourth (15:02.95) and freshman Evan Hill finished fifth (15:20.09).
Graduate student Hannah Tarwater earned silver, crossing in 17:35.02 in the 5000m. Competing for the second time this outdoor season, freshman Audrey Dunn finished fifth at 17:50.50.
In the 1500m, sophomore Hailey Marston was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 4:44.12. Competing in her first collegiate 1500m, freshman Kali Holden finished fifth (4:47.56).
On the men's side for the 1500m, Hayden Judge's time of 3:52.70 was good enough for third.
The women's 4x100m relay team had a season's best performance courtesy of senior Ashanti Harvey, juniors Danae Nembhard and Chanté Clinkscale and freshman Deborah Oke (44.87).
Up Next
The Auburn track & field team will make the trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the LSU Invitational April 27 at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
Tiger Track Classic
Hutsell-Rosen Track
Saturday, April 20
Men's Results
Long Jump
3. Kayden Slay 7.20m
Hammer Throw
5. John Leonard 58.78m
High Jump
3. Kayden Slay 2.09m
Shot Put
2. Matthew Rueff 18.38m
3. Grant Griffin 17.07m
Pole Vault
1. James Courson 5.16m
Discus Throw
7. Matthew Rueff 47.74m
5000m
1. Joseph Perry 14:44.07
4. Fuji Anday 15:02.95
5. Evan Hill 15:20.09
110m Hurdles
1. Ja'Kobe Tharp 13.78
100m
1. Favour Ashe 9.96
2. Kanyinsola Ajayi 10.14
3. Azeem Fahmi 10.31
4. Dario Matau 10.33
1500m
3. Hayden Judge 3:52.70
Women's Results
Javelin Throw
3. Shaniya Holley 49.49m
8. Paula Grauvogel 41.34m
Long Jump
1. Shonedra Richardson 6.22m
2. Amy Warren 6.20m
4. Paula Grauvogel 6.09m
5. Janaya Jones 6.01m
14. Elise Heddens 5.32m
Pole Vault
2. Alyssa Quinones-Mixon 4.08m
3. Rhiannon Held 4.08m
6. Lexie Leinneweber 3.83m
Discus Throw
3. Marley Raikiwasa 53.94m
6. Megan Hague 47.32m
Shot Put
2. Megan Hague 16.06m
3. Marley Raikiwasa 15.58m
11. Elise Heddens 10.77m
5000m
2. Hannah Tarwater 17:35.02
5. Audrey Dunn 17:50.50
9. Hannah Thuss 18:27.35
DNF. Ava McIntosh
100m Hurdles
1.Paula Grauvogel 13.82
2. Ashanti Harvey 13.84
6. Elise Heddens 14.56
4x100m Relay
1. Auburn 44.87
D. Nembhard, C. Clinkscale, Ashanti Harvey, O. Opeyemi
1500m
1.Hailey Marston 4:44.12
5. Kali Holden 4:47.56
400m
10. Ariel Sharpe 57.49
100m
1.Chanté Clinkscale 11.72
8. Janaya Jones 12.37