FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas—Auburn freshman Kanyinsola Ajayi became the third Tiger SEC Champion in the last four years in the men's 60m dash, claiming gold Saturday winning in a time of 6.60 during the final day of competition at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Ajayi's win was the first by an Auburn male freshman at SEC indoors since Sajay Ayre won in the 400m dash 24 years ago. He joined Favour Ashe (2023) and Dante Brown (2021) to win the event for Auburn in the last four years. Auburn has
Junior transfer Simone Johnson won bronze in the women's triple jump with a leap of 13.06m/42-10.25 on her second jump, missing second place by less than an inch. Senior Amy Warren, seventh in the event last year, established her best finish at SECs, closing with a fourth place after a mark of 12.79m/41-11.5 on her fifth attempt.
Senior Sanaa Barnes equaled her personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.85m/6-0.75 to grab fourth place in the women's high jump. Barnes' fourth place finish was the Tigers' best in the event since Monica Carney was fourth in 2012.
In the women's mile, freshman Camila Gomes was fifth in 4:40.27, marking the school's fourth fastest time indoor time in AU history and the best finish by a Tiger freshman in the event since 2002.
Less than 24 hours after breaking the school record in the 400m, junior Vimbayi Maisvorewa finished sixth in 52.72. The Zimbabwe native established a new school best Friday night clocking a time of 52.16.
Sophomore Michael May finished the final day of the men's heptathlon with a personal best in the 1000m, crossing in 2:36.14 to finish with 5,559 points, good for sixth place overall. May, who finished fifth as a freshman gave Auburn its eighth consecutive year to have at least one scorer in the event.
Junior Makanakaishe Charamba, racing in his first SEC indoor meet, scored for the Tigers taking eighth place in the men's 200m in 21.37.
In the men's shot put, sophomore Matthew Rueff improved from 16th place as a freshman to eighth as a sophomore. On his sixth and final toss, Rueff posted an 18.17m/59-7.5 for a new lifetime best.
Senior Ryan Kinnane ran a strong 3000m race finishing in 7:55.28, the second fastest time in school history and less than a second behind Brian Abshire's school record of 7:54.66 set in 1986. Kinnane took sixth overall in the race, improving 13 spots from his finish a year ago.
The relay of Abasiono Akpan, Ashantae Harvey, Zuriel Reed and Vimbayi Maisvorewa ran the third fastest 4x400m relay in school history in 3:32.75 en route to a seventh place showing.
The Auburn women finished seventh with 41 points, the Tigers best finish at SEC indoors since 2012. Auburn's men were 11th in the team standings with 29 points. Host Arkansas swept the team titles.
Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships – Day 2
Randal Tyson Track Center – Fayetteville, Arkansas
February 23, 2024
Men's Heptathlon, Day 2
6. Michael May 5559 pts SB
60m Hurdles 8.29
Pole Vault 4.50m/14-9
1000m 2:36.14 PR
Men's High Jump
Kayden Slay NH
Men's 60m
1. Kanyinsola Ajayi 6.60 =PR
Men's Shot Put
8. Matthew Rueff 18.17m/59-7.5 PR
Men's 200m
8. Makanakaishe Charamba 21.37
Men's 3000m
6. Ryan Kinnane 7:55.28 PR
14. Max Hardin 8:04.79 PR
23. Louis O'Loughlin 8:13.60 PR
25. Carson Bedics 8:16.22
29. Nickson Chebii 8:19.39 PR
39. Evan Hill 8:34.77
Cooper Atkins DNF
Women's High Jump
4. Sanaa Barnes 1.85m/6-0.75 =PR
Women's Shot Put
9. Marley Raikiwasa 16.07m/52-8.75 PR
10. Megan Hague 15.54m/51-0
Women's Mile
5. Camila Gomes 4:40.27
9. Gene Coetzee 4:46.91
Women's 400m
6. Vimbayi Maisvorewa 52.72
Women's Triple Jump
3. Simone Johnson 13.06m/42-10.25
4. Amy Warren 12.79m/41-11.5
Women's 3000m
30. Hannah Tarwater 9:50.63
37. Mary Mac Collins 10:01.07 PR
Women's 4x400m Relay
7. Auburn 3:32.75
Abasiono Akpan, Ashantae Harvey, Zuriel Reed, Vimbayi Maisvorewa
Freshman Kanyinsola Ajayi wins 60m SEC Championship
