COLUMBIA, S.C.—Auburn sophomore thrower Maura Huwalt had the best performance of her collegiate career, not once, but twice including claiming her first collegiate win at the South Carolina Invitational Saturday. Huwalt won the women's shot put and finished seventh in the weight throw posting big personal bests in both events. The meet saw Auburn athletes collect a combined 27 collegiate or career best efforts.
The South Park, Pa., native won the shot put on her fourth throw with a toss of 16.41m/53-10.25, nearly three feet further than her previous PR entering the meet. Huwalt's mark moved her into 11th nationally and first in the Southeastern Conference. Later in the day, Huwalt went 18.90m/62-0.25 in the weight throw, surpassing her career best by nearly four feet.
Huwalt was one of several Tiger throwers with strong outings and personal bests at the South Carolina Invitational. All-American Madi Malone was second in the women's weight throw (21.41m/70-3), while sophomore Jocelynn Budwig PR'ed in the shot put and finished fifth with a best throw of 15.96/52-4.5
Sophomore Kyle Brown, having a tremendous indoor season, notched his third consecutive meet with a PR in the men's weight throw. Saturday he surpassed the 21 meter mark for the first time, finishing third in 21.04m/69-0.5, good for the eighth best mark in the country.
In the sprints, Auburn had five individuals advance to finals including two each in the men's and women's 60m dash. Junior Dante Brown was fifth in the men's 60 in 6.75, while All-SEC sprinter Christopher Grant, making his season debut, was sixth in 6.78. On the women's side freshman Niya Benton-Andrews (7.58) was seventh while Tylar Colbert was eighth in a PR time of 7.64. Transfer Oquendo Bernard competing in an Auburn uniform for the first time was eighth in the men's 60m hurdles (8.33).
Junior Dontavious Hill continued his consistent work of the indoor season with his second mark of 2.15m/7-0.5 of the season to finish second. Hill has posted one gold medal and two silvers in three events in 2021. Junior Caroline Lawrence and freshmen teammates Kamiya Dendy and Allison Tanner all cleared 1.66m/5-5.25 in the women's high jump to finish third, fourth and fifth respectively on misses.
James Courson was third in the men's pole vault clearing 5.01m/16-5.25, while freshman Matthew Asplund cleared the same height for a personal best but was fifth based on misses.
The Tigers will compete in the same venue next week at the USC Open, February 6.
SOUTH CAROLINA INVITATIONAL
SOUTH CAROLINA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX
COLUMBIA, SC
February 5-6, 2021
MEN'S RESULTS
60m
5. Dante Brown 6.75
6. Christopher Grant 6.78
15. Jason Reese 6.96
18. Brandon Smiley 7.04
Prelims: Brown, 6.80; Grant, 6.81
200m
11. Dante Brown 21.42
12. Brandon Smiley 21.42
18. Malik Metivier 22.13
20. Jason Reese 22.20
32. Jevony Murray 22.91
800m
5. Evan Rogers 1:53.61
17. Silas Kipngetich 1:57.31
Malik Metivier DNF
Mile
12. Ryan Kinnane 4:12.40
3000m
7. Tommy McDonough 8:18.42
10. Jack Rogers 8:40.35
60m H
8. Oquendo Bernard 8.33
12. Alex Spyridonidis 9.05
Prelims: Bernard, 8.20
High Jump
2. Dontavious Hill 2.15m/7-0.5
8. TJ Funches 2.00m/6-6.75
Pole Vault
3. James Courson 5.01m/16-5.25
T5. Matthew Asplund 5.01m/16-5.25
Shot Put
8. Kyle Moison 15.26m/50-0.75
Weight Throw
3. Kyle Brown 21.04m/69-0.5
7. Erik Ebel 18.28m/59-11.75
8. Kyle Moison 17.87m/58-7.5
Heptathlon
6. David Edmondson 4789 pts
60m 7.23
Long Jump 6.20m/20-4.25
Shot Put 11.25m/36-11
High Jump 1.94m/6-4.25
60m Hurdles 8.69
1000m 2:51.17
Pole Vault 3.50m/11-5.75
9. John Murray 4209 pts
60m 7.50
Long Jump 6.14m/20-1.75
Shot Put 14.13m/46-4.25
High Jump 1.91m/6-3.25
60m Hurdles 9.38
1000m 3:09.15
Pole Vault 2.20m/7-2.5
WOMEN'S RESULTS
60m
7. Niya Benton-Andrews 7.58
8. Tylar Colbert 7.64
13. Destiny Charles 7.79
14. Hope Igbinoghene 7.80
15. Sarah Little 7.82
Prelims: Benton-Andrews, 7.60; Colbert, 7.64
200m
10. Destiny Charles 24.58
16. Tylar Colbert 25.23
25. Myra Mack 25.86
800m
16. Jennifer Dietrich 2:14.52
21. Faith Bett 2:18.65
23. Abbey Zane 2:19.86
24. Samantha Rogers 2:20.04
Mile
6. Presley Weems 4:50.40
16. Samantha Rogers 5:05.00
21. Faith Beth 5:09.54
Pole Vault
8. Lexie Leinneweber 3.78m/12-4.75
Long Jump
8. Janaya Jones 5.62m/18-5.25
9. Imani Jones 5.55m/18-2.5
11. Sarah Little 5.32m/17-5.5
High Jump
3. Caroline Lawrence 1.66m/5-5.25
4. Kamiya Dendy 1.66m/5-5.25
5. Allison Tanner 1.66m/5-5.25
Triple Jump
Imani Jones FOUL
Shot Put
1. Maura Huwalt 16.41m/53-10.25
5. Jocelynn Budwig 15.96m/54-4.50
Weight Throw
2. Madi Malone 21.41m/70-3
7. Maura Huwalt 18.90m/62-0.25
10. Jocelynn Budwig 17.27m/56-8
14. Danielle Gregory 16.39m/53-9.25
Pentathlon
12. Kiera McCarrell 2255 pts
60m H 9.31
High Jump 1.59m/5-2.5
Shot Put 12.36m/40-2.75
Long Jump FOUL
800m DNF
Huwalt’s gold leads Auburn at South Carolina Invitational
