Knoxville, Tenn. – Auburn sophomore All-American Nathon Allen made history Sunday when he won the men’s 400m dash at the SEC Outdoor Championships in a school-record time of 44.28.
The Jamaican posted the NCAA’s top outdoor time in 2018 and No. 4 time in the world outdoors this season.
“I came out with the intention of doing the best,” said Allen, who beat Nathan Strother of Tennessee, 44.34.
“Today is Mother’s Day, so it was nice to call my mom and tell her I won for her on her day. It was a pretty good feeling. Last year I was second, this year I’m first. It’s all about progression, I hope I can keep running better and stay healthy, and hopefully, I can do my best when it matters most.”
Allen became Auburn’s first 400m SEC Champion since Avard Moncur in 2001 and his time broke Moncur’s previous school best of 44.45, achieved at the 2001 NCAA Championships. The time is also a new Tom Black Track record and second fastest ever run at the SEC Championships.
Two other Jamaicans were also at their best at the SEC Championships
Raheem Chambers took second in the men’s 100m dash in a PR time of 10.10s, besting his 10.15 ran in Saturday’s prelims. Kendal Williams of Georgia won the event in 9.99
Chambers’ silver is the highest finish at SEC Outdoors in the 100m by an Auburn man since Keenan Brock won the event in 2012.
Sophomore Natalliah Whyte grabbed the bronze medal in the women’s 100m dash with a personal-best time of 11.04, the third fastest time in school history. Whyte’s times trail only Olympian Kerron Stewart’s 11.03 ran in 2006 and 2007.
LSU’s Aleia Hobbes took gold in 10.92 ahead of Shania Collins of Tennessee, 10.99
All three former St. Jago students, Whyte, Chambers and Allen are having the best season so far at Auburn
The Auburn women’s 4x100m relay posted the second-fastest time in school history to finish fifth in the event. The team of Renae Shaw, Jonielle Smith, Dominique Bullockand Whyte finished in 43.28.
The men’s 4x100m relay team of Mark Rubalcaba, Raheem Chambers, Xavier Coakley and Chiason Tenkiang finished seventh in 39.76.
The Auburn men finished 10th with 41 points, while the women were 11th with 38.5 points. Florida swept the team titles.
