Auburn University’s track and field athletes set new records during the second day of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championships in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Junior Ana-Liese Torian and senior Danae Nembhard both ran the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 7.91 seconds on Friday, breaking a school record that had stood since 2000.
The previous Auburn record of 7.94 seconds was set by Vonette Dixon. Running in the first heat, Torian edged out Nembhard by five one-thousandths of a second to also break the facility record and earn an automatic berth in Saturday’s final at 5:15 p.m. Their time is currently the second fastest nationally this season.
Defending SEC and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp won his men’s 60m hurdles heat with a time of 7.46 seconds, matching his season best to advance to Saturday’s final at 5:22 p.m. Tharp tied for the fastest prelims time with Ja’Qualon Scott of Texas A&M and Kendrick Smallwood of Texas. Tharp aims to become Auburn’s first repeat SEC champion since Corey Martin won back-to-back titles in the weight throw in 2006 and 2007.
In men’s sprints, Auburn advanced three athletes to Saturday’s finals for the 60 meters. Junior Kayinsola Ajayi ran a time of 6.52 seconds, tying Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins for fastest in prelims. Sophomore Israel Okon achieved a season-best 6.53 seconds to qualify on time, while senior transfer Omari Lewis secured his spot by winning his heat in 6.61 seconds.
Junior John Leonard finished fifth in the men’s weight throw with a personal best of 22.02 meters after fouling his first two attempts but qualifying for finals on his third throw.
In other events, junior Camila Gomes placed sixth in her preliminary heat for the women’s mile with a time of 4:39.12, advancing to Saturday’s final scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
The SEC indoor championships conclude Saturday starting at 2 p.m., with track events beginning at 4:05 p.m.
