AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Eight event wins, one school record and 23 personal bests marked another successful weekend for Auburn track and field at the South Carolina Open.
"I'm really, really pleased with the team as a whole and how we completed this weekend. As a team we fought hard and competed," head coach Ralph Spry said.
"We had a lot of event wins, a school records and several national marks. That's always a good thing headed into SECs."
Junior Madi Malone had yet another record-breaking weekend, surpassing her weight throw best she set earlier this season. Malone's winning toss of 22.56m/74-0.25 was one of two over 22.00m, as well as one of the four over 21.50m. Her sixth and final throw beat her previous best by over a foot, earning Malone gold and cementing her mark at No. 2 in the country.
Maura Huwalt, Jocelynn Budwig and Danielle Gregory accounted for the other three Tigers to finish in the top-5 for the event. Huwalt's throw of 18.77m/61-7 finished second, and Budwig placed third with a PR throw of 17.46m/57-3.50. Gregory rounded out the Tiger medalists with a fifth place throw of 16.56m/54-4.
Huwalt also earned her third consecutive shot put win with a throw of 15.89m/52-1.75. Budwig took the second place spot with a 14.48m/47-6.25 mark.
The first place finishes continued for the Tigers when high jumper Dontavious Hill earned gold with a PR mark of 2.18m/7-1.25. With the jump, Hill advanced to No. 4 of all-time for the Tigers and No. 8 nationally for this season.
Auburn once again swept the competition with the top-3 places for the men's 60m dash. Dante Brown's PR sprint of 6.66 was fast enough to garner gold and tie him at No. 13 nationally. Christopher Grant finished close behind with 6.72, and Jason Reese's 6.79 set a new indoor personal best.
"As a whole, I'm happy to see the progressions we've made throughout the season and how we have continued to become more competitive," Spry said.
"We've ended the regular season on a high note and now we need to carry that over to SECs in two weeks."
Auburn will have a bye weekend before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., February 25-27 for the SEC Indoor Championships.
