EUGENE, Oregon—The Auburn men’s track and field team had a record-breaking first day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as three individuals and one relay posted the fastest preliminary times during day one of the championships at historic Hayward Field. The Tigers broke two school records in the process, while equaling an NCAA outdoor meet record in the 4x100m relay.
Advancing to Friday’s finals included the 4x100m relay, Ja’Kobe Tharp in the 110m hurdles, Makanakaishe Charamba in the 200m, and Kayinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon in the 100m. The 4x100 relay, along with Tharp, Charamba and Ajayi all ran the fastest preliminary times in their respective events.
Auburn’s defending national champion 4x100m relay team equaled a meet record running a 37.97 to win the third heat at automatically qualify for Friday’s finals at 7:02 p.m. CT. The quartet of Azeem Fahmi, Ajayi, Dario Matau and Charamba broke their own school record of 38.03 run in the finals of last year’s NCAA outdoors, while establishing the third fastest collegiate time ever.
“We haven’t run our team a lot this year, opposed to last year,” Matau said. “So, running the school record in prelims makes us know we can do it. It was a real confidence booster.”
In the men’s 100m prelims, Ajayi ran the fastest overall time in 9.92 to break the previous Auburn school record of 9.94. The 2024 NCAA outdoor bronze medalist, the sophomore and teammate Israel Okon will race in the finals Friday at 7:52 p.m. CT. A true freshman, Okon equaled a personal-best, crossing in 9.92 to finish second in his heat and seventh overall to earn an automatic qualifying position.
“The school record is special. I’ve been working all day, all night to get to this stage. I’m glad I got the school record,” Ajayi said. “Last year, we lost (the team championship) by one point. This year we’ve been working hard to get here. Now that we are here, we are going to do what we need to do to hopefully win a team title.”
Tharp, the NCAA outdoor runner up in the 110m hurdles as a freshman, cruised to the prelims top time in 13.15, equaling his second fastest time ever. The 2025 NCAA indoor champion in the 60m hurdles will race for his second national championship on Friday at 7:42 p.m. CT.
“I felt pretty good. My start was on the better side of my starts, I just need to clean up a few things towards the end (of the race),” Tharp said. “I’ve been here before and run against these guys all season. It feels good to know that I can go out there and do what I need to do.”
In the men’s 200m dash, Charamba ran a strong final half to run the second-fastest time in AU history, winning his heat in 19.94. The senior from Zimbabwe was two one-hundredths shy of equaling his own school record set at the SEC outdoor meet last month. Competing in his first NCAA outdoor meet as an individual, Matau was 20th in 20.76. Friday’s finals will be contested at 8:37 p.m. CT.
“I had a good set up and when I got off the turn in contention with everyone, I knew it was going to be a good, fast race,” Charamba said. “I’m going back to the drawing board and see Coach Ken (Harnden) to see what we need to fix going into the final so we can put on a good show.”
Senior Kyle Brown concluded his Auburn career with a lifetime best 68.51m/224-9 to finish ninth in the hammer throw. The Cumming, Ga., native started with consecutive throws of 68.34m and 68.51m to advance from the first section to the finals where he posted the 68.51m on his fifth of sixth throws. The ninth-place finish bested Brown’s previous two NCAA outdoor showings of 19th and 21st in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Senior Kyle Moison took 14th with a throw of 66.84m/219-3, bettering his 17th place two years ago.
Day two of the NCAA championships will turn to the women and the final five events of the decathlon on Thursday. Competing for the Auburn women will be five individuals and one relay.
Alyssa Quinones-Mixon is Auburn’s first participant in the pole vault at 6:35 p.m. CT. Sophomore Ana-Liese Torian will run in the 100m hurdles prelims at 7:08 p.m. CT followed by Vimbayi Maisvorewa in the 400m prelims.
Junior Megan Hague will be making her second consecutive NCAA appearance in the shot put at 8:10 p.m. CT, while freshman Brenda Jepchirchir will run in the 10,000m at 8:56 p.m. CT. The Tiger women will wrap up Day 2 at 9:36 p.m. CT with the 4x400m relay. ESPN will have live coverage beginning at 6 p.m. CT.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships – Day 1 Results
Hayward Field – Eugene, Oregon
June 11, 2025
Men’s Hammer Throw
9. Kyle Brown 68.51m/224-9 PR
14. Kyle Moison 66.84m/219-3
Men’s 4x100m Relay Semifinals
1. Auburn (Q) 37.97 SR, =MR, CL
Azeemi Fahmi, Kanynsola Ajayi, Dario Matau, Makanakaishe Charamba
Men’s 110m Hurdles Semifinals
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp (Q) 13.15
Men’s 100m Semifinals
1. Kayinsola Ajayi (Q) 9.92 SR, PR
7. Israel Okon (Q) 10.07 =PR
Men’s 200m Semifinals
1. Makanakaishe Charamba (Q) 19.94
20. Dario Matau 20.76
KEY
=MR – Equaled meet record
CL – Collegiate leader
SR – school record
PR – personal record
= PR – Equaled personal record