Three event wins and school record highlight Tigers’ efforts at Tom Jones Invite

Three event wins and school record highlight Tigers’ efforts at Tom Jones InviteThree event wins and school record highlight Tigers’ efforts at Tom Jones Invite
Photo by Cat Wofford

AUBURN, AlabamaThe Auburn track and field team posted three event wins and broke a two-decade old freshman school record during the Tom Jones Invitational meet on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville over the weekend.
 
Freshman phenom Keyshawn Strachan continued his winning ways, claiming the men's javelin throw with a best mark of 76.97m/252-6. Strachan, who won the event by 20 feet, also had a throw of 76.96m. The national leader in the event, Strachan's marks were the second and third best in school history behind his school record of 84.27m set two weeks ago at the Texas Relays.
 
Senior All-American Madi Malone remained undefeated this outdoor season as she won her fourth consecutive hammer throw event claiming the invitational section with a throw of 68.15m/223-7. Four of Malone's six tosses were better than the second-place finisher.
 
Abasiono Akpan, a freshman from Nigeria broke Auburn's 20-year-old freshman school mark in the 400m hurdles, posting a time of 56.93, surpassing the previous record of 57.81 held by Josanne Lucas (2003).
 
The quartet of Akpan, junior Ashantae Harvey and freshmen Arianna Sharpe and Amirah Sharpe ran the fastest Auburn women's 4x400m relay in 12 years, crossing in 3:32.00 to finish sixth in a very competitive field. Previously ranked 22nd nationally in the event, the time moved the Tigers into the top 20 in the country.
 
Sophomore Chante Clinkscale ran an 11.26 in the women's 100m dash entering Auburn's all-time performance list at No. 10 while posting the school's fastest time in the event in five years.
 
Junior Ryan Kinnane won a tightly contested men's 1500m race, crossing in 3:43.42 to outdistance North Florida's Timothy Doyle and Florida State's David Mullarkey, who finished in 3:43.51 and 3:43.56, respectively. Three other Tigers, Hayden Judge (3:50.23), Dustyn Lewis (3:51.24) and Benson Atkins (3:56.46) posted personal bests in the race.
 
Senior Sanaa Barnes, who is eighth nationally in the high jump, finished second in the women's invitational, clearing 1.81m/5-11.25.
 
In the men's hammer throw, senior Erik Ebel took silver with a mark of 67.40m/221-1, while teammate Kyle Moison was fourth (66.54m/218-3).
 
Senior Maura Huwalt, the No. 4 performer all-time at AU in the shot put finished sixth in the invitational section with a new personal-best of 16.43m/53-11.
 
At the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, junior John Murray notched a new career-best in the decathlon with 7138 points to finish 10th among the 29 competitors that completed the grueling 10-event competition. Murray had two personal bests during the two-day meet and his point total moved him into the No. 10 spot on Auburn's all-time performance list.

Up Next
The Tigers will compete at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, April 22. A smaller group of distance runners will toe the line at the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Virginia, April 20-22.
 
 
 
 
Tom Jones Invite
Gainesville, Florida
Friday, April 14
 
Women's Results
200m
30. Niya Benton-Andrews                 23.37*
 
1500m
19. Hallie Porterfield                        4:30.30
28. Hannah Tarwater                     4:34.57*
35. Hailey Marston                         4:36.95*
 
400m Hurdles
12. Abasiono Akpan                           56.93*
** Auburn Freshman Outdoor Record **
 
Long Jump
7. Amy Warren                          5.79m/19-0
 
Shot Put Invitational
6. Maura Huwalt                 16.43m/53-11*
 
Javelin Throw
6. Shaniya Holley               46.01m/150-11
 
 
High Jump Invitational
2. Sanaa Barnes                   1.81m/5-11.25
 
Discus Throw Invitational
5. Maura Huwalt                   55.39m/181-8
 
 
Men's Results
200m
57. Ian Myers                                       21.58
 
1500m
1. Ryan Kinnane                               3:43.42
20. Hayden Judge                            3:50.23*
25. Dustyn Lewis                            3:51.24*
42. Benson Atkins                           3:56.46*
 
400m Hurdles
7. Mo Mpoke                                         49.61
 
Long Jump
14. Jeremy Zammit            6.97m/22-10.5*
 
Javelin Throw
1. Keyshawn Strachan         76.97m/252-6
 
High Jump Invitational
10. TJ Funches                     2.09m/6-10.25
 
 
Tom Jones Invite
Gainesville, Florida
Saturday, April 15
 
Women's Results
100m
12. Chante Clinkscale                          11.26
 
400m
19. Ashante Harvey                           52.67*
28. Amirah Sharpe                               53.84
36. Arianna Sharpe                              54.54
 
4x400m Relay
6. Auburn                                          3:32.00
Abasiono Akpan, Ashantae Harvey, Arianna Sharpe, Amirah Sharpe
 
Triple Jump
13. Chantoba Bright          12.26m/40-2.75
Amy Warren                                         FOUL
 
High Jump Invitational
2. Sanaa Barnes                   1.81m/5-11.25
 
Discus Throw Invitational
5. Maura Huwalt                   55.39m/181-8
 
Hammer Throw Invitational
1. Madi Malone                     68.15m/223-7
 
 
Men's Results
100m
39. Ian Myers                                      10.58*
Favour Ashe                                           DNF
 
400m
23. Mo Mpoke                                      46.51
 
800m
10. Louis O'Loughlin                      1:48.79*
32. Rex Green                                  1:50.66*
55. Davis Plowden                            1:53.97
 
110m Hurdles
27. Tray Reynolds                              14.28*
 
Hammer Throw Invitational
2. Erik Ebel                           67.40m/221-1
4. Kyle Moison                      66.54m/218-3
7. Kyle Brown                     65.04m/213-4*
 
 
 
Bryan Clay Invitational
Azusa, California
Thursday, April 13
 
 
Men's Decathlon—Day 1
2. John Murray                                3854 pts
3. Alex Spyridonidis                       3800 pts
8. Michael May                                3588 pts
 
Decathlon, 100m
4. John Murray                                   10.87*
8. Alex Spyridonidis                            11.18
9. Michael May                                   11.22*
 
Decathlon, Long Jump
2. Alex Spyridonidis                 7.16m/23-6
5. Michael May                     6.94m/22-9.25
7. John Murray                   6.81m/22-4.25*
 
Decathlon, Shot Put
1. John Murray                     14.36m/47-1.5
2. Alex Spyridonidis             13.36m/43-10
10. Michael May               11.28m/37-0.25*
 
Decathlon, High Jump
3. John Murray                       1.86m/6-1.25
6. Alex Spyridonidis                    1.83m/6-0
6. Michael May                           1.83m/6-0*
 
Decathlon, 400m
5. Alex Spyridonidis                            50.65
7. John Murray                                     51.06
9. Michael May                                   51.19*
 
 
 
 
Bryan Clay Invitational
Azusa, California
Friday, April 14
 
 
Men's Decathlon
4. John Murray                              7138 pts*
Alex Spyridonidis                                  DNF
Michael May                                           DNF
 
Decathlon, 110m Hurdles
10. John Murray                                   15.63
5. Alex Spyridonidis                            14.95
2. Michael May                                   14.67*
 
Decathlon, Discus Throw
1. Alex Spyridonidis             42.67m/140-0
2. John Murray                      41.19m/135-1
11. Michael May                  31.42m/103-1*
 
Decathlon, Pole Vault
9. John Murray                     4.10m/13-5.25
Alex Spyridonidis                                   DNS
Michael May                                           DNS
 
Decathlon, Javelin Throw
1. John Murray                   59.39m/194-10
2. Alex Spyridonidis             54.35m/178-3
Michael May                                           DNS
 
Decathlon, 1500m
7. John Murray                                  5:20.69
Alex Spyridonidis                                   DNS
Michael May                                           DNS
 
* Personal Best