JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Auburn seniors Kyle Brown and Erik Ebel and junior Kyle Moison earned a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as all three punched their tickets during the first day of the NCAA East Preliminaries meet at the Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus.
For the first time in program history, Auburn qualified three in the men's hammer throw. Just shy of qualifying in the event a year ago, Ebel secured his spot on his final attempt throwing a season-best 68.09m/223-4 to finish eighth. Qualifying for his second outdoor national championship in as many years, Brown finished nineth with a season-best mark of 67.35m/220-11. Rounding out the trio, Moison threw for 66.71m/218-10 on his first attempt to finish tenth and secure a trip to his first outdoor championships.
Sophomore Favour Ashe and freshman Azeem Fahmi earned automatic qualifying bids to Friday's quarterfinal in the men's 100m dash. Ashe clocked the fastest qualifying time of the six heats running a new personal-best 10.03, while Fahmi ran 10.21 to finish third in his heat and 22nd overall.
Senior Moitalel Mpoke qualified to Friday's quarterfinal in the men's 400m hurdles clocking 49.77 to finish third. A transfer from Texas A&M, Mpoke finished fifth at the NCAA West Prelims clocking 49.25 just a year ago.
Competing in their first preliminaries meet, sophomore Louis O'Loughlin was 27th in the men's 800m crossing the line in 1:50.08, while freshman Matthew Rueff was 28th in the men's shot put throwing for 17.86m/58-7.25.
Senior Matthew Asplund finished 20th in the men's pole vault clearing 5.05m/16-6.75.
Auburn's women will begin competing on Thursday with a total of 12 Tigers. Action will begin with Madi Malone in the women's hammer throw at 10 a.m. ET.
A live stream of the NCAA East Preliminaries can be found here. Live stats can be found at flashresults.com.
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARIES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 RESULTS
Men's Hammer
8. Erik Ebel 68.09m/223-4
9. Kyle Brown 67.35m/220-11
10. Kyle Moison 66.71m/218-10
Men's Shot Put
28. Matthew Rueff 17.86m/58-7.25
Men's Pole Vault
20. Matthew Asplund 5.05m/16-6.75
Men's 100m First Round
1. Favour Ashe 10.03 Q
22. Azeem Fahmi 10.21 Q
Men's 800m First Round
27. Louis O'Loughlin 1:50.08
Men's 400m Hurdles First Round
3.Moitalel Mpoke 49.77 Q
THURSDAY, MAY 25 (ET)
10:00 A.M. W Hammer – Madi Malone
1:30 P.M. W Javelin – Maura Huwalt, Shaniya Holley
6:00 P.M. W Shot Put – Maura Huwalt
6:30 P.M. W Pole Vault – Alyssa Quinones-Mixon
7:00 P.M. W 100m – Chante Clinkscale
7:25 P.M. W 400m – Ashantae Harvey, Arianna Sharpe, Amirah Sharpe
8:20 P.M. W 400m Hurdles – Abasiono Akpan, Lalah Hasbrouck
8:45 P.M. W 200m – Niya Benton-Andrews