Nov. 13, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Sophomore Lauren Diaz of the No. 2 Auburn equestrian team represented Auburn and the National Collegiate Equestrian Association at the 2016 AQHA Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge Sunday at the AQHA World Championship show in Oklahoma City.
"We are so proud of Lauren for qualifying and of the effort she put forth today," head coach Greg Williams said. "All of the competitors came ready today and thank you to the AQHA for putting together such a great group of horses."
Diaz, of Heath, Ohio, was one of eight riders selected from NCEA institutions, while eight riders were also chosen to represent the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association institutions. All 16 riders competed on unfamiliar America Quarter Horses.
Diaz opened with a 150-145 win over IHSA representative Kayla Magrum (University of Findlay). She just missed the finals after a 145-147 loss to Texas A&M's Avery Ellis.
"Lauren and Coach Mary Meneely laid out a great plan in the first round and Lauren executed it perfectly," Williams said. "In the second round, the horse had an unfortunate break of gate which cost Lauren a win. But we are still happy with how she represented Auburn today."
This season, Diaz is 4-2 in Horsemanship for the Tigers. She is coming off an impressive 79-76.5 win at Georgia Friday.
Auburn returns to The Plains for another SEC meet, hosting No. 7 South Carolina at the Auburn University Horse Center, Nov. 18. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will face off at 3 p.m. CT and admission is free.
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