CLEMSON, S.C. (EETV)- The Auburn track and field team continued their indoor dominance with their second week spent in Clemson, South Carolina for the two-day Bob Pollock Invitational Meet.
Prior to this meet, Brenda Jepchirchir was named SEC freshman of the week after an impressive second place performance at the Orange and Purple Invitational 3000 meter race. Jepchirchir was also acknowledged for breaking the Auburn freshman record for the 3000 meter. Along with her honor, the men were ranked No. 20 in week one of the USTFCCCA Indoor Track and Field rankings.
The Tigers competed across 18 events while collected four event first place titles, three of which came from throwing events and one in pole vault. Of these event titles, three were earned by the women athletes.
In Women's Shot put, junior Megan Hague took the gold with a total distance of 16.41 meters. Following close behind and setting a season best distance for second place, Auburn senior Maura Huwalt threw for 16.31 meters. Dominating this event, another Tiger took third for an Auburn sweep in the top three. The sophomore Marley Raikiwasa closed out with 15.78 meters. Similarly, Women's Weight Throw featured a Tiger duo claiming the top two. Both setting personal best distances, Maura Huwalt took the title with 22.27 meters while senior Adrienne Adams was a close second with 20.00 meters. This event title marks Huwalt's third first place title in three consecutive meets for the Weight Throw event.
With three Auburn athletes competing in Women's Pole Vault, junior Alyssa Quinones-Mixon came out on top. Last season, Quinones-Mixon placed sixth in the Indoor SEC Championship clearing 4.28 meters. This weekend, she set a personal best of 4.38, claiming the event title and climbing the NCAA Pole Vault rankings with a place at No. 16. In fourth place, senior Rhiannon Held cleared 3.93. Sixth place went to sophomore Brooke Walden with a season best of 3.93 meters.
On the men's side, junior Matthew Rueff threw shot put for a distance of 18.18 meters for an Auburn event win. In ninth, senior John Murray threw for 14.95 meters. In the Weight Throw event, the Tigers took second, third, and fourth. In second, senior Kyle Brown threw 21.84 meters, junior John Leonard in third with 20.56 meters, and a season best distance for senior Kyle Moison with 20.28 meters for fourth.
For the Women's jumpers, sophomore Shonedra Richardson represented the Tigers in Long Jump for tenth place with a jump of 5.75 meters. The only athlete in Men's jumping events, freshman Asande Mthembu clinched third with 7.42 meters in Long Jump.
Picking up the pace, the Tigers set new best's in the sprints. Although senior Chante Clinkscale did not compete in the finals, Clinkscale came in first for the Women 60 Semis with a Personal best of 7.23. Richardson also set a personal best in the semis with a time of 7.59. Clickscale also competed in the Women's 200 with a fourth place score and another personal best of 23.49. Tenth and 12th place in the 200 meter went to senior Vimbayi Maisvorewa for a personal best of 23.97 and Deborah Oke for 24.00. The Lady Tigers had two top ten finishes for the 400 meter race. Maisvorewa securing second with a season best of 52.21 and sophomore Oke Opeyemi with a sixth place finish for a personal best time of 53.44. Holding onto to sixth place in both the prelims and semis, sophomore Ana-Liese Torian raced with a fastest time in the prelims with a 8.37 in the 60 meter hurdles.
For the men sprinters, the Tigers had two top ten finishes for the 200 meter. Dario Matau coming in fourth with a season best of 20.97 with Ian Meyers for a personal best of 21.07. Also, clinching top ten finishes in the 60 meter semis, Azeem Fahmi finished second with a season best of 6.65, Ian Myers in fourth with a season best of 6.69, and Dario Matau in seventh with a season best of 6.73. Despite these performances, the 60 meter athletes did not start in the finals for Auburn. The Men's 4x400 did place in third with a time of 3:09.76.
For the long haul, Auburn had four top ten finishes. The Women's Mile featured Hallie Porterfield with a 4:52.93 and a personal best from Mary Malone with 5:10.84. Senior Fuji Anday and junior Joseph Perry sealed a second place finish with 14:58.80 and a fifth place finish with 15:19.52. junior Hayden Judge setting a personal best and tenth place finish in the 3000 meter race with a time of 8:18.00.
With the NCAA Indoor Championships in sight, Auburn Track and Field continues their indoor journey to College Station for the Charlie Thomas Invitational February 7-8.
