AUBURN, Ala. – Fresh off breaking Auburn’s program record in the 100m hurdles, Ana-Liese Torian joins five Tiger track and field teammates and a relay team this week at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
“I’m happy that I get to represent my school,” said Torian, a sophomore from Chicago who transferred to Auburn after her freshman year at Alabama A&M. “This is my first outdoor nationals so I’m ready to see what it’s about.
“The SEC is probably the most competitive conference in the nation right now. The SEC is basically the competition you’ll have at nationals, so it gives you a good preview and a good practice for when you get there.”
Training with Auburn’s sprints group and fellow hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp brings out her best, Torian says.
“Their energy is infectious,” said Torian, whose 12.81 time at NCAA East Preliminaries broke Vonetta Dixon’s 25-year-old school record. “You have no choice but to be good because of the energy they bring. If they’re winning, it makes you want to win too.”
Competing at NCAA Outdoors for the second consecutive year, pole vaulter Alyssa Quinones-Mixon hopes to capitalize on the experience she gained a year ago at Hayward Field.
“It’s a big stage,” she said. “It’s my goal of the season to make it there, so being there, I can finally relax, do what I know I can do and have fun. I’m excited to do that this year.”
A gymnast growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Quinones-Mixon began pole vaulting as a 12-year-old.
“Out of any track event, I think it’s the most fun,” she said. “It’s fun to do it and that’s what keeps me doing it. A lot of us used to be gymnasts so this is a bit of a calm down from gymnastics. You’ve got to be a little bit fearless.
“The upper body strength, muscle awareness and discipline you get from gymnastics all has contributed to my track career.”