Clemson, USA – Akeem Bloomfield broke his own school indoor record in the men’s 400m dash at the Tiger Paw Invitational Friday (9 Feb) to highlight Day 1 of competition for the Tigers’ track and field program.
Bloomfield crossed in 45.02, the second fastest time in the nation this year, the sixth-fastest time in NCAA history and eighth best ever in the world all-time list. A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Bloomfield, who finished second in the race to Southern California’s Michael Norman (45.00), broke the Jamaican National indoor record in the process.
Pete Coley, who ran 45.37 in 2002, held the Jamaican indoor record.
“Akeem’s performance running a 45.02 in the 400 was incredible,” Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. “To post a time like that and break the school and Jamaican National record is very, very impressive.
In Fayetteville, Ark., at the Tyson Invitational, senior Jonielle Smith ran a 7.18 in the prelims of the women’s 60m dash, posting the fastest time by an Auburn athlete in the event in 11 years. Auburn all-time great Kerron Stewart is the only Tiger to post faster times in the last 20 years than Smith’s 7.18, clocking a 7.14 and 7.15 in 2007.
Teammate Natalliah White also dropped a fast time in the event with a PR of 7.19, making her the fourth fastest in school history in the 60m.
Sophomore Raheem Chambers became the fourth fastest male in school history in the 60m dash, crossing in a PR time of 6.60 to finish third at the Tyson Invite.
Our sprinters Jonielle, Natalliah and Raheem posted some big-time runs, which I’m very pleased with,” Spry said
