ATLANTA, Georgia—The Auburn track and field opened the 2026 outdoor season with 11 individual event wins and two relay gold medals at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on the Georgia Tech campus this weekend.
Auburn sprints had a solid opening performance, combining to win six individual races and two relays, including a sweep of the women’s 100m and 200m by senior Reese Webster. Webster ran 11.40 and 23.35 to post the NCAA’s No. 2 and No. 7 times, respectively, in the events.
Sophomore transfer Mekhi Dupree matched Webster’s 200m win on the men’s side, running 20.34, which is the nation’s top collegiate outdoor time this season. The Pensacola, Florida, native’s time made him the No. 6 performer in Auburn school history.
The Tigers not only swept the 200m dash but took both the men’s and women’s 400m behind PR performances from LeBron Bessick and Zuriel Reed. Bessick won in 46.50, while Reed 52.69 made her the No. 7 performer all-time at AU. In his first outdoor race of his Auburn career, freshman Njabulo Mbatha claimed gold in 50.76.
The quartet of Azeem Fahmi, Alejandro Cardenas, Ian Myers and Tyler Davis took the men’s 4x100m relay in 39.75, while the foursome of Brienna Boyce, Zuriel Reed, Shakynah Tresvant, and Cassidra Thompson notched the nation’s No. 4 time in the 4x400m relay winning in 3:35.85.
Auburn senior Matthew Rueff and junor Marley Raikiwasa swept the men’s and women’s shot put on Friday. Rueff won with a mark of 17.88m/58-8, while Raikiwasa, competing for the first time since missing the last year with an injury, claimed gold with a winning toss of 15.68m/51-5.5. The Tigers also snagged a field event win in the men’s discus throw as senior Seth Allen outclassed the competition, winning by nearly 10 meters with a mark of 59.27m/194-5.
In the middle-distance events, sophomores Nickson Chebii and Camila Gomes had solid opening weekend performances. Chebii won the men’s 1,500m in 3:44.17, while Gomes ran 1:06.79 to claim the women’s 800m
The Tigers will return to action in two weeks when they travel to Gainesville, Florida, for the Pepsi Florida Relays on the University of Florida campus.
YELLOW JACKET INVITATIONAL
ATLANTA, GA – GEORGE C. GRIFFIN TRACK & FIELD
Friday, March 20
Men’s Hammer Throw
3. John Leonard 65.30m/214-3
Women’s Hammer Throw
2. Norah Lind 58.82m/193-0
Women’s Shot Put
1. Marley Raikiwasa 15.68m/51-5.5
Women’s Javelin
3. Sophia Mazzoni 51.18m/167-11
Women’s Long Jump
4. Shonedra Richardson 5.55m/18-2.5
Men’s Shot Put
1. Matthew Rueff 17.88m/58-8
Women’s 100m
1. Reese Webster 11.40
3. Shonedra Richardson 11.57
6. Sophia Efetobore 11.78
Men’s 100m
2. Azeem Fahmi 10.33
5. Austin Kresley 10.41
6. Jehlani Gordon 10.44
Women’s 1500m
5. Cady McPhail 4:27.02
18. Ava Fields 4:35.16
24. Kennedy Hamilton 4:38.44
28. Mary Malone 4:40.79
Men’s 1500m
1. Nickson Chebii 3:44.17
Max Hardin DNF
Women’s 5000m
2. Mary Mac Collins 16:43.93
3. Audrey Dunn 16:51.26
4. Addison Boyer 16:55.34
10. Olivia Stedl 17:30.98
Arianna Roy DNF
Saturday, March 21
Women’s High Jump
3. Alvah Lind 1.67m/5-5.75
Women’s Pole Vault
3. Elizabeth Dowdy 3.75m/12-3.5
7. Brooke Walden 3.60m/11-9.75
Women’s Discus
2. Marley Raikiwasa 55.65m/182-7
Men’s Discus
1. Seth Allen 59.27m/194-5
Men’s 4x100m
1. Auburn 39.75
Azeem Fahmi, Alejandro Cardenas, Ian Myers, Tyler Davis
Auburn DNF
Ibukun, Kresley, Gordon, Dupree
Women’s 400m Hurdles
2. Brieanna Boyce 59.57
4. Shakynah Tresvant 1:00.98
Men’s 400m Hurdles
1. Njabulo Mbatha 50.76 PR
Women’s 400m
1. Zuriel Reed 52.69 PR; No. 7 AU performer
3. Cassidra Thompson 53.22
21. Sophia Efertobore 58.81
Men’s 400m
1. LeBron Bessick 46.50 PR
Women’s 800m
1. Camila Gomes 2:06.79
14. Arianna Roy 2:14.02
16. Kennedy Hamilton 2:14.88
20. Ava Fields 2:15.72
34. Mary Malone 2:23.81
Cady McPhail DNF
Men’s 800m
8. Rex Green 1:54.01
Max Hardin DNF
Women’s 200m
1. Reese Webster 23.35
Men’s 200m
1. Mekhi Dupree 20.34 No. 6 AU performer; NCAA No. 1
3. Tyler Davis 21.05
9. Alejandro Cardenas 21.80
Women’s 4x400m Relay
1. Auburn 3:35.85