AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn track and field team returns to action this weekend with split competition, as the Tigers head back to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Invitational (April 17–18), while a group of distance runners travels to Winston-Salem for the Wake Forest Invitational (April 16–17).
Auburn will send 15 middle and long-distance runners to compete at Wake Forest, while the sprints, throws, and jumps squads make the trip to Gainesville.
Competition at the Wake Forest Invitational begins Thursday at 2 p.m. CT with the women’s hammer throw, followed by running events at 5:15 p.m. Friday’s slate starts with the men’s pole vault at 10 a.m., while track events begin at 12:30 p.m., opening with the women’s 4x100m relay.
“The distance runners have specific points in the season where they aim to peak and post strong times,” head coach Leroy Burrell said. “They’ll be fresh and ready to compete, with enough time to recover before championship season. We’re excited about where that group is right now.”
Action in Gainesville begins Friday at noon with the men’s hammer throw and women’s 200m. Saturday’s events open at 9 a.m. with women’s discus, followed by track events at 9:30 a.m., starting with the women’s 100m hurdles.
“We should see some fireworks there in the 100m with Ajai and Israel, and of course Jacoby in the hurdles,” Leroy Burrell said. “Really excited about the throws as well. Matthew Rueff has had an outstanding early part of the season. Megan Hague, on the women’s side, we’re looking forward to seeing her continue her record-setting run.”
In Gainesville, junior Ja’Kobe Tharp is set to make his outdoor season debut in the men’s 110m hurdles. Tharp begins the defense of his NCAA title after capturing both SEC and NCAA individual championships during the indoor season.
“Ja’Kobe will make his outdoor season debut in the hurdles,” Burrell said. “This weekend, the focus is to put up a national qualifier, which I have no doubt he’ll be able to do.”
Last time out, three Tigers competed at the Dick Roberts Invitational in Tallahassee on April 11. Freshman Sophia Efetobore led the way with a personal-best 23.73 in the women’s 200m, while junior Jehlani Gordon earned bronze in the 100m (10.43).
Two weeks ago, the Tigers turned in an impressive team effort in Gainesville at the Florida Relays, recording 15 new personal bests, 13 podium finishes, and eight top-10 AU performances.
The sprints group led with two individual event wins and four new personal bests over the weekend, highlighted by standout efforts by junior Ja’Kobe Tharp and senior Danae Nembhard.
Tharpe captured gold in the men’s 200m, crossing in 20.61 in just his second collegiate 200m race. Sophomore Mekhi Dupree joined him on the podium. On the women’s side, Nembhard claimed victory in the 100m hurdles with a personal best 12.93, the fourth fastest time in the NCAA this season.
The quartet of Tharp, Omari Lewis, Austin Kresley, and Dupree claimed victory in the men’s 4x100m relay, posting the second fastest time in the nation this season.
The field events were highlighted by senior Megan Hague’s victory in the women’s shot put. The All-American set a new personal best mark of 17.87m/58-7.5, the third best mark this season. In women’s discus, Sophomore Camryn Massey secured her first collegiate victory with a throw of 51.36m/168-6.
On the men’s side, senior John Leonard earned bronze in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 65.15m/213-9, making him the No. 7 performer in Auburn history in the event. Fellow senior Seth Allen set a new personal best mark of 61.63m/202-2 in the discus throw, earning second in the process. Junior Matthew Rueff added silver in the shot put invite with a throw of 18.93m/62-1.25.
In the middle-distance events, sophomore Camila Gomes etched her name into the record books, recording the third-fastest times in Auburn history in the women’s 800m (2:03.95) and in the women’s 1500m (4:13.00).
Live results from the Wake Forest Invitational can be found HERE.
Live results for the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational can be found HERE.