AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn track and field opens the indoor season in Birmingham, Alabama at the Samford Invitational Friday, January 17. The meet will be held at the Birmingham CrossPlex with women’s weight throw kickstarting the field events at 10 a.m. CT and the women’s 60m trials signaling the start of the running events at 11:40 a.m. CT.
The men and women will compete against competitors from 17 other schools. The Tigers will face Alabama, Jacksonville State, Mississippi State, South Alabama, UAB and host Samford.
Led by third-year head coach Leroy Burrell, the Tigers are looking to build off their success from last season.
“Our team is a little different than last year,” Burrell said. “We lost some big names, but we also have some big-time performers who need to step up. We are going to be fighting and competing for the name on the front of the jersey, not necessarily the one on the back.”
Auburn will lean on their throws and sprints groups to deliver a solid outing for the first meet of the year.
“This will be a jumping off and point of growth for the women,” Burrell said. “And for the men, it’ll be a continuation of last season with some new leadership.”
Leading the Auburn men and women are sprinters Kayinsola Ajayi, Ja’Kobe Tharp, Azeem Fahmi, Maka Charamba, Dario Matau, Vimbayi Maisvorewa and Danae Nembhard as well as throwers Marley Raikiwasa, Megan Hague, Kyle Brown, Kyle Moison and Maura Huwalt.
The sprinting core is composed of two underclassmen and five upperclassmen, and the throwing core is made up of one underclassman and four upperclassmen.
“We’re looking forward to a good competition,” Burrell said. “We’re going to put our best foot forward.”
Live results for the meet can be found at xpresstiming.
Up Next
The Tigers will travel to Bryan-College Station, Texas to compete in the Ted Nelson Invitational at the R.A. “Murray” Fasken ‘38 Indoor Track, January 24-25.