LEXINGTON, Kentucky—Auburn senior sprinter Makanakaishe Charamba ran a 19.92 in the preliminaries of the men’s 200m dash to break his native Zimbabwe’s national record, to pace Auburn during day one of the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Kentucky, Friday.
Charamaba broke the Zimbabwe record of 19.93 set by Tapiwanashe Makarawu in August of last year and broke his own school record in the process. He broke the 24-year-old school record at 200m a year ago at the same facility during the NCAA East Preliminary round. Charamba’s 19.92 ran Friday is also the fastest time collegiately in 2025, surpassing his 19.99 posted last month in Gainesville, Fla.
"Going into the race, I was thinking just run,” Charamba said. “My philosophy is that I don't think about anything when I get in the blocks because I just execute. At the end of the day, this race is just muscle memory. I've already done everything in practice, and now it's time to go out there and put it all on the track."
The top qualifier in the event, Charamba and teammate Dario Matau both advanced to Saturday’s 200m finals. Matau earned a qualifying spot after running a personal-best 20.31, good for seventh best in prelims. It’s the first time since 2017 that the AU men will have two finalists in the event at SECs.
Auburn also advanced two runners in the women’s 400m hurdles as Zuriel Reed and Ashantae Harvey got the final two spots in Saturday’s finals. Reed ran a personal best time of 57.03, making her the number eight performer in school history, while Harvey crossed in 57.14. The last time the Tiger women had two or more SEC finalists in the event was 2010, when three advanced.
The senior duo of Kyle Moison and Kyle Brown finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the hammer throw, giving the Tigers eight points in the men’s team standings. Moison established a new personal best with a heave of 67.99m/223-0 on his third attempt, bettering his previous best set at the 2023 NCAA outdoor meet by nearly two feet. It was Moison’s best finish in the event at SECs and best hammer mark by a Tiger at the conference meet since 2008. Brown overcame fouls on his first two attempts, advanced to the finals on his third throw before recording his best mark of 67.25m/220-7 on his fifth of six attempts.
Senior John Murray had a strong first day in the men’s decathlon as he is third after five of 10 events. Murray had sold performances in the first four events, including a personal-best 6.98m/22-10.75 in the long jump. His mark of 15.66m/51-4.5 in the shot put was the top throw of all the decathletes. The Madison, Ala., native, who finished fourth last year at SECs, will return to action Friday at 11 a.m. ET with the 110m hurdles.
Field events on day two of the SEC Championships will start at 3:30 p.m. ET with the women’s long jump. The evening session will start at 5 p.m. local time with the preliminary heats of the men’s 110m hurdles. Friday’s action will air live streaming on SEC Network+.
2025 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility
Lexington, Kentucky
Day 1 Results
Men’s Hammer Throw
4. Kyle Moison 67.99m/223-0 PR
6. Kyle Brown 67.25m/220-7
11. John Leonard 62.51m/205-1
Men’s 200m Prelims
1. Makanakaishe Charamba 19.92 Q, PR, SR
7. Dario Matau 20.31 q, PR
14. Ian Myers 20.56
34. Tyler Davis 21.16
Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelims
8. Zuriel Reed 57.03 q, PR
9. Ashantae Harvey 57.14 q
Men’s Decathlon – Day 1 Results
3. John Murray 3943 pts
3. 100m 11.01
4. Long Jump 6.98m/22-10.75 PR
1. Shot Put 15.66m/51-4.5
3. High Jump 1.92m/6-3.5
9. 400m 52.22
Women’s Hammer Throw
10. Maura Huwalt 57.73m/188-9
Women’s 800m Prelims
21. Cady McPhail 2:12.91
Men’s 800m Prelims
24. Rex Green 1:52.09
Women’s 200m Prelims
28. Chante Clinkscale 23.63