LEXINGTON, Kentucky —The Auburn men’s sprint squad meant business during day one of the NCAA East Preliminaries on Wednesday as eight individuals advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal rounds. Junior Kayinsola Ajayi broke his own school record in the 100m dash, running 9.90, while Ja’Kobe Tharp had the top 110m hurdles time in 13.15.
Ajayi made the 9.90 look easy as he pulled away from the field en route to running the world’s No. 2 time in 2026 at 100m. The time broke his own school record and set the Kentucky Track Facility record in the process.
He was not alone as sophomore Israel Okon (10.02), and seniors Tyler Davis (10.05), Azeem Fahmi (10.13) and Omari Lewis (10.21) also earned opportunity to race in quarterfinal action in two days.
Tharp had a clean race to run away with his heat and post another top 10 time in program history. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native will race on Friday at 6:15 p.m. ET, looking to earn an NCAA outdoors berth for the third consecutive year.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, senior Devin Nugent ran in an incredible final 150 meters to easily win his heat in a personal-best time of 49.19, the fastest time ran by an Auburn athlete in the event since 2008. The Pennsylvania native will run Friday at 7:25 p.m. ET.
Okon shifted from the 100m less than 90 minutes later to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals in the 200m after running 20.21. Teammate Mekhi Dupree ran 20.52 to also move on as the duo finished second and fifteenth overall in Wednesday’s first round.
Day two of the NCAA East Preliminaries will turn to the women as the Tigers will have three runners and six field athletes competing. Freshman Norah Lind will kick things off at 10 a.m. ET in the hammer throw.
NCAA EAST PRELIMINIARIES
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
DAY 1
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp 13.15 Q
Men’s 1500m
36. Max Hardin 3:50.39
Men’s 100m
1. Kayinsola Ajayi 9.90 Q, SR, PR, FR, 2026 World #2
3. Israel Okon 10.02 Q
5. Tyler Davis 10.05 Q, PR
12. Azeem Fahmi 10.13 Q
19. Omari Lewis 10.21
Men’s 200m
2. Israel Okon 20.21 Q
15. Mekhi Dupree 20.52 Q
2. Devin Nugent 49.19 Q, PR, AU #7
27. Njabulo Mbatha 51.05
19. Nickson Chebii 29:28.56
Men’s Long Jump
23. Daramola Ibukun 7.47m/24-6.5
Men’s Shot Put
13. Matthew Rueff 18.63m/61-5.5
39. Kai Twaddle-Dunham 17.09m/56-1
Men’s Hammer
John Leonard FOUL