Fayetteville, Ark.—Auburn freshmen Joyce Kimeli and Madi Malone led the Tigers during the final day of the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships with second-place and record-breaking performances.
Kimeli, who claimed silver in the 5000m on Friday evening, came back less than 24 hours later to finish second in the 3000m Saturday afternoon crossing in 9:24.59. She broke her own school freshman record in the event and it was the second school freshman record in as many days. She shattered Angela Homan's previous 5000m record by 15 seconds.
Malone had an equally impressive showing, taking second in the women's weight throw with a school record throw of 22.11m/72-6.5. The Wichita, Kan., native crushed the previous record by almost two feet. She entered the meet holding the AU freshman mark, but crushed it on her first throw of the day with a toss of 21.01. She maintained second thru all six throws including her record 22.11m on the sixth and final attempt.
Junior Presley Weems ran a strong race in the finals of the women's mile, crossing in a personal-best time of 4:47.44, to become Auburn's first top-four finisher in the mile since Spring Dawson was fourth in 2002.
Natosha Jordan, competing in her first SEC championship event, finished in a six-way tie for sixth in the women's high jump after clearing 1.72m/5-7.75. The showing comes on the heels of her sixth place in the pentathlon Friday where she established three PRs and one collegiate best in the five-event completion to tally a personal-best 3810 points.
Junior Brenda Kigen joined Kimeli as a scorer in the 3000m, winning the first heat in 9:42.56 to claim eighth place.
On the men's side, senior Chris Stone finished fifth in the men's heptathlon with 4877 points. It is the third consecutive year that the Oreland, Pa., native has scored in the event after finishing eighth in 2017 and fifth in '18. Senior jumper Mark Rubalcaba scored for the Tigers in the men's triple jump with a leap of 15.16m/49-9. Rubalcaba posted a top seven finish indoors for the second time of his career. He was fourth as a freshman in 2016 in the long jump at the same venue.
Auburn finished ninth on the women's side (37 points), while the men were 13th (8 points). Host Arkansas won the women's title with Florida grabbing the win on the men's side.
Day 2 Auburn Results
SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Fayetteville, Ark. * Randal Tyson Indoor Track
Heptathlon
5. Chris Stone, 4877 pts
60m Hurdles, 8.71
Pole Vault, 4.74m/15-6.5
1000m, 3:18.83
Women's Mile
4. Presley Weems, 4:47.44
Women's 3000m
2. Joyce Kimeli, 9:24.59
8. Brenda Kigen, 9:42.56
27. Frances Patrick, 10:01.82
39. Hannah Tarwater, 10:09.87
Men's 3000m
24. Tommy McDonough, 8:27.54
26. Kevin Wyss, 8:29.30
29. Jack Rogers, 8:34.77
Men's Weight Throw
16. Erik Ebel, 17.44m/57-2.75
Women's High Jump
t6. Natosha Jordan, 1.72m/5-7.75
t12. Skyler Daniel, 1.72m/5-7.75
t14. Caroline Lawrence, 1.67m/5-5.75
Women's Weight Throw
2. Madi Malone, 22.11m/72-6.5
** School Record **
11. Erin Perkins, 18.24m/59-10.25
18. Tori McKinley, 17.01m/55-9.75
Men's Triple Jump
7. Mark Rubalcaba, 15.16m/49-9
10. Noah Igbinoghene, 14.81m/48-7.25
11. Khalil Hasan, 14.38m/47-2.25
Women's Triple Jump
16. Kennedy Brown, 12.03/39-5.75