EUGENE, Ore.—Auburn junior javelin thrower Cade Antonnuci is no stranger to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In fact, no other thrower in school history has made more appearances at the championships than this three. On Wednesday night the Mays Landing, N.J., native delivered the biggest throw of his life, with just two throws remaining, breaking the Auburn school record en route to a bronze medal during Day 1 of the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
Antonucci's third place was the highlight of a strong first day at the championships. Decathlete Alex Spyridonidis established four personal bests in five events to finish the first day with 3985 points, good for seventh place with one day remaining. Auburn also had two runners automatically qualify for Friday's finals as Eric Brown made in through in the men's 800m and Malik Metivier moved on in the men's 400m Hurdles.
On his fifth of six throws, Antonucci surpassed his lifetime best by nearly nine feet with a heave of 76.14m/249-10, to jump six places from eighth to second. He not only set a lifetime best but shattered the school record by six feet, held by teammate Nils Fischer. Antonucci held on to the second position until the fifth to last throw when he was passed, moving him into third place and a bronze medal. It was the highest finish by an Auburn javelin thrower in school history and the best finish at nationals by a Tiger thrower since Stephen Saenz was second in the shot put nine years ago.
A total of 11 Auburn student-athletes will be competing at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon, starting on Wednesday and concluding on Saturday. It will be the first outdoor championships in two years after the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spryidonidis got off to a great start in the first event of the day with a personal best 11.12 in the 100m dash. After a solid effort in the long jump, he notched his second PR as he exceeded his previous best in the shot put by over a foot with a toss of 14.02m/46-0.
Despite changing weather that saw sunny skies turn overcast and rainy during the event, Spyridonidis was able to notch his third PR of the day in the high jump. The Hannover, Germany, native successfully cleared four bars, including on his first attempt at 1.98m/6-6, before three close misses at 2.01m. After a hour-plus break, on the fifth and final event of the first day, Spyridonidis ran a 50.25 in the 400m for his fourth of five lifetime bests on the day.
Brown ran a lifetime-best 1:47.89 in the 800m to finish second in the third and final heat to guarantee a spot in Friday night's finals. Brown had an unbelievable kick down the homestretch to move from seventh place with 100 meters to go, to outstretch Notre Dame's Samuel Voelz by two one-hundredths of a second at the tape for second in the heat. Brown is Auburn's first 800m finalist since Sherridan Kirk in 2005.
Metivier got out early and ran well to finish second in his heat of the men's 400m hurdles in 49.79 to automatically qualify to finals on Friday. The time was the fifth fastest over and Auburn's first finalist in the event in 13 years.
Senior Nils Fischer missed the finals by just over a foot as he finished 10th overall with a best mark of 69.69m/228-7 to earn second team All-America honors.
Day two action will start at 9:30 a.m. PT with Spyridonidis in the decathlon's 110m hurdles.
The Auburn women will take to the track on Thursday with Madi Malone in the hammer throw at 1 p.m. local time. Presley Weems will run in the 1500m semifinals at 3:46 p.m. and Joyce Kimeli will compete in the 3000m Steeplechase semifinal round at 4:02 p.m.
Ashley Carter and Kylee Carter will compete in the women's javelin throw at 4:45 p.m.
Live results will be available via Flash Results here.
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
HAWARD FIELD – EUGENE, OR
DAY 1 RESULTS
Men's Decathlon—Day 1
7. Alex Spyridonidis, 3985 pts
100m, 11.12 (PR)
Long Jump, 7.08m/23-2.75
Shot Put, 14.02m/46-0 (PR)
High Jump, 1.98m/6-6 (PR)
400m, 50.25 (PR)
Men's Javelin Throw
3. Cade Antonucci, 76.14m/249-10 (PR, School Record)
10. Nils Fischer, 69.69m/228-7
Men's 800m Semifinal
Q. Eric Brown, 1:47.89 (PR)
Men's 400m Hurdles Semifinals
Q. Malik Metivier, 49.79
Thursday, June 10 Schedule
9:30 a.m. — 110m Hurdles, Decathlon (Alex Spyridonidis)
10:20 a.m. — Discus, Decathlon (Alex Spyridonidis)
11:30 a.m. — Pole Vault, Decathlon (Alex Spyridonidis)
1 p.m. — Women's Hammer, Final (Madi Malone)
2 p.m. — Javelin, Decathlon (Alex Spyridonidis)
3:46 p.m. — Women's 1500m, Semifinal (Presley Weems)
4:02 p.m. — Women's 3000m Steeplechase, Semifinal (Joyce Kimeli)
4:45 p.m. — Women's Javelin, Final (Ashley Carter, Kylee Carter)
5:56 p.m. — 1500m, Decathlon (Alex Spyridonidis)