GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Auburn distance sensation Brenda Jepchirchir clocked 4:17.59 in the women’s 1500m invite Saturday to break the program's freshman record, highlighting a strong showing for the track & field team at the Florida Pepsi Relays.
Competing at the Percy Beard Track, Jepchirchir’s time of 4:17.59 broke Brenda Kigen’s record of 4:25.19 from 2017. She finished sixth overall and placed fifth on Auburn’s Outdoor Top Performers List in the event.
Including Jepchirchir’s dominant showing, the team delivered eight top 10 program performances and 13 collegiate personal bests over the weekend.
For the distance crew on the women’s side, sophomore Camila Gomes had two collegiate personal bests. Gomes took gold in the 1500m invite. Her time was the second fastest in program history (4:13.72). She went on to race in the 800m, where she claimed sixth overall and the No. 3 spot on Auburn’s Top 10 List (2:04.13).
Johannesburg, South Africa native, Gené Coetzee ran the fourth fastest 1500m time in program history (4:17.59) and placed sixth in the race.
Competing in their second meets this outdoor season, junior Hallie Porterfield and sophomore Audrey Dunn finished in the top 10 of the 5000m. Porterfield finished third (16:48.83) and Dunn claimed sixth (17:12.41).
The men also delivered solid outings in the 1500m invite. Sophomore Max Hardin ran his first 1500m of the outdoor season and earned silver (3:42.11). Senior Cooper Atkins claimed seventh, crossing the line in 3:44.26.
Running in the 5000m for the men, senior Carson Bedics took bronze (14:32.89).
With a time of 20.49, senior First Team All-American Dario Matau brought home gold in the 200m dash. His time is No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference.
Also competing in the 200m, juniors Azeem Fahmi and Ian Myers finished 13th and 17th, respectively, both having collegiate best performances of 20.79 and 20.96.
The 4x100m relay team of sophomore Ja’Kobe Tharp, freshman Israel Okon, Myers, and senior Tyler Davis ran the fifth fastest time of the preliminary round (39.05).
On the women’s side of sprints, sophomore Deborah Oke ran 52.53 in the 400m, the fifth fastest time in the SEC.
Senior Ashantae Harvey continues to improve upon her 400m hurdles performance. For the second time this outdoor season, she delivered a collegiate best, finishing ninth overall (57.57). Sophomore Zuriel Reed crossed the line 12th (58.44).
Competing in the 100m hurdles for the first time for the Tigers, sophomore Ana-Liese Torian had the second fastest time of the day in the prelims. Her time of 12.93 is the second fastest time in program history. She went on to run 13.28 in the finals.
Seniors Kyle Moison and Kyle Brown and junior John Leonard went fifth (64.53m), sixth (64.03m), and seventh (63.90m), respectively, in men’s hammer throw. Leonard’s best throw of the event was a personal record and moved him up to No. 8 on Auburn’s Top Performers list.
The men and women delivered solid performances in the discus throw. Junior transfer Seth Allen claimed second in the event with a mark of 59.30m. For the women, freshman Camryn Massey also claimed silver in discus (52.29m).
Shot put school record holder Megan Hague finished third overall in the shot put invite with a mark of 17.31m.
Competing in the shot put invite on the men’s side was junior Matthew Rueff. His best throw of the event was 18.68m
Other notable performances came from junior Alyssa Quinones-Mixon, and senior Rhiannon Held who finished fifth (4.05m) and sixth (4.05m), respectively, in the women’s pole vault.
The meet ended with a stellar race from the women’s 4x400m relay crew. The quartet of senior Vimbayi Maisvorewa, Harvey, Reed and sophomore Deborah Oke ran 3:27.92, the second fastest time of the day. Their performance is No. 2 in Auburn history and currently No. 3 in the NCAA.
Pepsi Florida Relays
Percy Beard Track; Gainesville, FL
April 4-5, 2025
Men’s Results
Hammer Throw
- Kyle Moison, 64.53m
- Kyle Brown, 64.03m
- John Leonard, 63.90m
200m
- Dario Matau, 20.49
13. Azeem Fahmi, 20.79
17. Ian Myers, 20.96
19. Tyler Davis, 20.97
400m Hurdles
Long Jump
- Asande Mthembu, 7.11m
1500m Invite
- Max Hardin, 3:42.11
7. Cooper Atkins, 3:44.26
5000m
- Carson Bedics, 14:32.89
Discus Throw Invite
- Seth Allen, 59.30m
800m
- Max Hardin, 1:50.58
38. Rex Green, 1:51.11
54. Cooper Atkins, 1:56.81
Shot Put Invite
- Matthew Rueff, 18.68m
400m
- LeBron Bessick, 47.73
41. Luke Roberts, 48.33
4x100m Relay Prelims
- Auburn, 39.05
Ja’Kobe Tharp, Israel Okon, Ian Myers, Tyler Davis
DNF. Auburn
Azeem Fahmi, Kayinsola Ajayi, Dario Matau, Makanakaishe Charamba
4x100m Relay Finals
FS. Auburn
Ja’Kobe Tharp, Israel Okon, Ian Myers, Tyler Davis
Women’s Results
Women’s Discus Throw Invite
- Maura Huwalt, 55.76
6. Adrienne Adams, 54.35
1500m
- Mary Mac Collins, 4:37.67
Pole Vault
- Alyssa Quinones-Mixon, 4.05m
- Rhiannon Held, 4.05m
200m
- Chante Clinkscale, 23.71
100m
- Chante Clinkscale 11.41
400m Hurdles
- Ashantae Harvey, 57.57
12. Zuriel Reed, 58.44
Long Jump
- Shonedra Richardson, 5.94m
1500m Invite
- Camila Gomes, 4:13.72
4. Gené Coetzee, 4:16.56
6. Brenda Jepchirchir, 4:17.59
5000m
- Hallie Porterfield, 16:48.83
6. Audrey Dunn, 17:12.41
100m Hurdles Prelims
- Ana-Liese Torian, 12.93
100m Hurdles Finals
- Ana-Liese Torian, 13.28
Shot Put Invite
- Megan Hague, 17.31m
800m
- Camila Gomes, 2:04.13
32. Samantha Rogers, 2:11.42
33. Cady McPhail, 2:11.85
Discus
- Camryn Massey, 52.29m
400m
- Deborah Oke, 52.53
Shot Put
- Maura Huwalt, 15.97m
7. Camryn Massey, 14.79m
4x400m Relay Invite
- Auburn, 3:27.92
Vimbayi Maisvorewa, Ashantae Harvey, Zuriel Reed, Deborah Oke