LEXINGTON, Kentucky—Auburn qualified seven runners, including five sprinters and two distance athletes, to Saturday’s finals during the second day of the Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championships at the University of Kentucky. Other highlights for the Tigers included senior John Murray finishing fourth in the decathlon and junior Matthew Rueff placing eighth.
In the men’s 100m dash, freshman Israel Okon and sophomore Kayinsola Ajayi won their respective heats to earn an auto qualifying position. Both made easy work of their heat as Okon crossed in 10.12, while Ajayi finished in 10.15. The duo will vie to be Auburn’s first outdoor SEC 100m champion since Keenan Brock won in 2012.
SEC reigning 110m hurdles champion Ja’Kobe Tharp cruised to a time of 13.51, advancing to Saturday’s finals while finishing sixth overall in prelims. On the women’s side, sophomore Ana-Liese Torian ran 13.09 in the 100m hurdles to win her heat, good for an automatic qualifying spot.
Senior All-American Vimbayi Maisvorewa easily won her section of the women’s 400m to advance. Maisvorewa led over the final two-thirds of the race and finished in 51.38.
A pair of distance runners moved on in the 1500m as sophomore Camila Gomes automatically qualified on the women’s side after finishing second in her heat in 4:19.50. On the men’s side, last year’s SEC silver medalist, Max Hardin advanced from the fastest heat of the day, crossing the finish line in 3:45.43.
Senior John Murray finished fourth overall in the grueling, two-day decathlon with 7,315 points over the 10-event competition. Murray day was highlighted by finishing second among all decathletes in the discus throw (44.63m/146-5) and javelin throw (63.07m/206-11). Murray, who finished fourth in 2023 and sixth in 2022 becomes the first Auburn decathlete to score in three SEC outdoor championships since Jager Livingston (2007-10).
Junior Matthew Rueff scored for Auburn in the men’s shot put finishing eighth with a toss of 18.66m/61-2.75 on his third of six attempts. It marked the second straight year he scored in the event.
Auburn will have 24 athletes and two relays competing in the final day on Saturday. Action will start at 2:30 p.m. ET with the women’s discus throw while running will start with the men’s 4x100m relay at 6:15 p.m. ET. Saturday’s action will air live stream on SEC Network+.
2025 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility
Lexington, Kentucky
Day 2 Results
Men’s Decathlon – Day 2 Results
4. John Murray 7315 pts
4. 110m Hurdles 15.25
2. Discus Throw 44.63m/146-5
6. Pole Vault 3.95m/12-11.5
2. Javelin Throw 63.07m/206-11
8. 1500m 5 :28.56
Women’s Long Jump
25. Shonedra Richardson 5.55m/18-2.5
Men’s 110m Hurdles Prelims
6. Ja’Kobe Tharp 13.51 q
Women’s Shot Put
11. Megan Hague 15.62m/51-3
14. Camryn Massey 15.29m/50-2
Men’s Long Jump
14. Asande Mthembu 7.42m/24-4.25 PR
16. Aaron Davis II 7.25m/23-9.5
21. Jay Avery 6.90m/22-7.75
Men’s Shot Put
8. Matthew Rueff 18.66m/61-2.75
Women’s 100m Hurdles Prelims
7. Ana-Liese Torian 13.09 Q
Women’s 1500m Prelims
5. Camila Gomes 4:19.50 Q
14. Gene Coetzee 4:22.38
17. Samantha Rogers 4:27.00
Men’s 1500m Prelims
7. Max Hardin 3:45.43 q
33. Cooper Atkins 3:59.69
Women’s 400m Prelims
5. Vimbayi Maisvorewa 51.38 Q
14. Deborah Oke 52.57
Men’s 400m Prelims
36. Luke Roberts 47.30 PR
Women’s 100m Prelims
14. Chante Clinkscale 11.45 (w)
Men’s 100m Prelims
4. Israel Okon 10.12 (w) Q
6. Kayinsola Ajayi 10.15 Q
15. Ian Myers 10.28
18. Azeem Fahmi 10.35
31. Tyler Davis 10.59