AUBURN, Alabama—Coming a strong weekend at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships where the Tiger men finished tied for fourth and the women tied for 22nd place, Auburn had eight athletes earn first or second team All-America honors, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday.
Of the eight, five earned first team All-America honors, including NCAA Champions Kayinsola Ajayi and Ja’Kobe Tharp. Ajayi won the men’s 60m title while equaling the collegiate record of 6.45 that he set two weeks prior at the SEC indoor meet. Tharp broke the collegiate record and posted the world third fastest time ever while winning the 60m hurdles title in 7.32.
Also earning first team honors were Israel Okon on the men’s team and Megan Hague and Ana-Liese Torian on the women’s squad. Torian earned a bronze medal in the 60m hurdles, her first podium finish at indoor nationals after receiving second team honors last season. Hague had her best NCAA outing of her career, finishing fourth in the shot put, while Okon was fifth in the men’s 60m dash.
The three Tigers that earned second team All-America honors including Omari Lewis, Camryn Massey and Danae Nembhard, all who were making their first NCAA championship appearance. Lewis was 14th in the men’s 60m dash while Nembhard was 10th in the 60m hurdles and Massey was 15th in the women’s shot put.
USTFCCCA ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM
Kayinsola Ajayi, First Team, 60m
Megan Hague, First Team, Shot Put
Israel Okon, First Team, 60m
Ja’Kobe Tharp, First Team, 60m Hurdles
Ana-Liese Torian, First Team, 60m Hurdles
SECOND TEAM
Omari Lewis, Second Team, 60m
Camryn Massey, Second Team, Shot Put
Danae Nembhard, Second Team, 60m Hurdles