BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Auburn junior Ana-Liese Torian and senior Danae Nembhard both ran 7.91 in the women’s 60m hurdles Friday, breaking a 26-year-old school mark, to highlight the Tigers’ efforts during day two of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field meet. The duo’s time broke the old school record of 7.94 set by Vonette Dixon in 2000.
Auburn had seven athletes Friday qualify for Saturday’s finals, including six sprinters and one miler. The final day of competition will have 17 Auburn individuals and two relays in competing, including nine men and eight women.
Running in the first heat, both ran an outstanding race with Torian edging her teammate by five one-thousandths of a second to break the facility record and earn the automatic berth in Saturday’s final at 5:15 p.m. The time was also the second fastest in the country this season.
On the men’s side, defending SEC and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp cruised to victory in his heat of the 60m hurdles, equaling a season-best 7.46, to advance to Saturday’s final at 5:22 p.m. Tharp and Ja’Qualon Scott of Texas A&M and Kendrick Smallwood of Texas also ran 7.46 in prelims to post the fastest time in prelims. Tharp will vie to become Auburn’s first repeat SEC champion since Corey Martin in the weight throw in 2006 and ’07.
Auburn had an impressive showing in the men’s 60m, sending three to Saturday’s finals. Junior Kayinsola, the SEC champion as a freshman in the event, ran a 6.52 to join Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins with the fastest prelims time. Sophomore Israel Okon ran a season-best 6.53 to advance on time, while senior transfer Omari Lewis automatically qualified by winning his heat in 6.61. Saturday’s final will be run at 4:32 p.m.
Junior John Leonard became a first-time SEC indoors scorer finishing fifth in the men’s weight throw. The Cumming, Ga., native fouled on his first two attempts before coming through in the clutch with a throw of 21.80m to advance to the finals. On his fourth throw, Leonard established a new personal-best 22.02m/72-3 to earn four points for the Tigers.
In the women’s mile, junior Camila Gomes advanced to Saturday’s finals after finishing sixth in prelims with a time of 4:39.12. Gomes, who was fifth in the event as a freshman in 2024, will race in the finals on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
The final day of the SEC indoor championships will start Saturday at 2 p.m. CT with the men’s high jump, while track events will begin at 4:05 p.m. with the women’s mile.
2026 SEC INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
FASKEN INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
Friday, February 27
Women’s Weight Throw
13. Camryn Massey 18.58m/60-11.5
Men’s Weight Throw
5. John Leonard 22.02m/72-3 PR
14. Seth Allen 19.87m/65-2.25
Women’s High Jump
Alvah Lind NH
Women’s Mile
5. Camila Gomes 4:39.12 Q
21. Arianna Roy 4:46.84 PR
22. Hallie Porterfield 4:46.89
28. Gene Coetzee 4:51.97
Men’s Mile
19. Joshua Kosgei 4:07.90
Women’s 60m
11. Reese Webster 7.26
Men’s 60m
T-1. Kayinsola Ajayi 6.52 Q
4. Israel Okon 6.53 q, SB
6. Omari Lewis 6.61 Q
10. Azeem Fahmi 6.64
25. Jehlani Gordon 6.77
Women’s 400m
36. Cassidra Thompson 54.18 PR
Men’s 400m
21. LeBron Bessick 46.73
39. Devin Nugent 47.83
Women’s 800m
28. Cady McPhail 2:13.11
Women’s 60m Hurdles
1. Ana-Liese Torian 7.91 SR, PR, FR, Q
2. Danae Nembhard 7.91 SR, PR, q
Men’s 60m Hurdles
3. Ja’Kobe Tharp 7.46 Q, =SB
Key:
PR = Personal Best
SR = School Record
FR = Freshman Record
SB = Season Best