AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn track and field opened competition at the | with four wins and four personal bests on Friday at the Hutsell-Rosen Track.
“The day started off gloomy with the rain, but it didn’t affect our kids,” head coach Ralph Spry said. “Brianna (Heilsnis) started it off first with a good qualifying mark. She had a huge day as three or four throws topped her personal best. We competed well across the board. Ty (McCormack) had to push himself in the 5000m, but he and Kane (Grimster) both recorded good times. Emily Stevens did will in the 1500m and the triple jumpers jumped well. I am really pleased with how we performed today andtomorrow will be even better.”
Sophomore Brianna Heilsnis set a new personal best in the weight throw at 184-8/56.30m, to finish as the top collegiate participant. In the women’s seeded 1500m, sophomore Emily Stevens won with a time of 4:29.79, and juniors Sage Blackwell and Kristin Sheehan placed second and third at 4:37.54 and 4:38.89, respectively.
Sophomore Veronica Eder clocked a 17:04.22 to claim the 5000m title as freshman Kenzley Defler placed second with a personal-best time of 17:35.02. Freshman Jakayla Hand was runner-up in the triple jump with a distance of 39-3.75/11.98m, and freshman Deja Hillman finished fourth at 38-6.25/11.74m.
In the men’s 5000m, senior Ty McCormack won with a time of 14:00.10, followed by senior Kane Grimster, who was runner-up, at 14:15.42. Freshman Kevin Wyss recorded a new personal best with a time of 15:09.47.
Freshman Wesley Curles placed runner up in the men’s seeded 1500m with a time of 3:53.00 and freshman Wesley Pectol set a new personal best at 3:55.88.
Saturday’s action is slated to begin at 11 a.m. CT with the women’s pole vault, while running events will begin at 12:30 p.m.with the women’s 4×100 relay.
